# Older Internet users close to being largest group online

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2007/06/06/older-internet-users-close-being-largest-group-online/
- Published: 2007-06-06T23:00:00+01:00
- Author: Howard Lake

“Silver surfers”, UK Internet users aged 55 or over, are about to overtake 35-44
year olds as the most common age group online, according to the May 2007 newsletter
of online monitoring service Hitwise UK.
In the four weeks to 12 May 2007, Internet
users aged 55 or over accounted for 22% of UK visits to all categories of websites
monitored by Hitwise UK, compared to 23.5% of visits by 35-44 year olds. This represents
a rise in older users’ use of the Interent of 54% since 2005 and 40% since 2006.

It is not just wealthier older people using the Internet more. Hitwise UK say that
the Experian Mosaic groups Twilight Subsistence (pensioners subsisting on meagre
incomes) and Grey Perspectives (pensioners enjoying retirement with savings to supplement
their pensions) increased their Internet visits by 29% and 30% respectively over
the past two years.

Hitwise UK added that “silver surfers show a particular fondness for Travel and 
News and Media websites… Last week, 27% of visits to Travel websites and 24% of 
visits to News and Media websites were from those aged 55+.”

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