Comments on: Baby Boomers Are As Internet Savvy As Anyone http://www.jgsullivan.com/2009/11/17/boomers-are-as-internet-savvy-as-anyone/ JGSullivan Interactive Mon, 06 Feb 2012 15:42:23 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Marston Gould http://www.jgsullivan.com/2009/11/17/boomers-are-as-internet-savvy-as-anyone/#comment-21 Marston Gould Fri, 27 Nov 2009 03:23:27 +0000 http://blog.jgsullivan.com/?p=1262#comment-21 Be careful how you interpret this information. Yes, they are using online services more and are using them in similar proportions to other generations (albeit somewhat less) - what they are doing on those sites is quite different. For more information - go read the following research by Pew Research http://www.pewinternet.org/Presentations/2009/41--The-Democratization-of-Online-Social-Networks.aspx http://www.pewinternet.org/Presentations/2009/19-Similarities-and-Differences-in-Online-Social-Network-Use.aspx For example, this research shows that Boomers are using Social Networking sites more, but they haven't changed their activities significantly. In otherwords, most older adults are voyeuristic on these sites and are not participating in any reinforcing way. Be careful how you interpret this information. Yes, they are using online services more and are using them in similar proportions to other generations (albeit somewhat less) – what they are doing on those sites is quite different.

For more information – go read the following research by Pew Research

http://www.pewinternet.org/Presentations/2009/41–The-Democratization-of-Online-Social-Networks.aspx

http://www.pewinternet.org/Presentations/2009/19-Similarities-and-Differences-in-Online-Social-Network-Use.aspx

For example, this research shows that Boomers are using Social Networking sites more, but they haven’t changed their activities significantly. In otherwords, most older adults are voyeuristic on these sites and are not participating in any reinforcing way.

]]> By: Lynn http://www.jgsullivan.com/2009/11/17/boomers-are-as-internet-savvy-as-anyone/#comment-20 Lynn Sat, 21 Nov 2009 01:13:49 +0000 http://blog.jgsullivan.com/?p=1262#comment-20 I do not agree that paying bills indicates significant trust in online financial transactions. On the contrary, I think it indicates that many baby boomers are ignoring what we all know about how easily data is compromised when security is breached. They are doing some chores strictly for convenience, or because there is a savings of postage by using online bill paying systems. I do not see that activity as a fair example which can be generalized to a broad engagement with retail services. Baby boomers are wary about giving up information online. Even retail stores are trying to get people's email along with their zipcode information when they make a purchase. Technology competence is higher among baby boomers than most businesses suspect, but fear of security breaches keep us sanguine about expanding our transactions online. Until security on line is stronger, I think this demographic will be more cautious than younger internet users. I do not agree that paying bills indicates significant trust in online financial transactions. On the contrary, I think it indicates that many baby boomers are ignoring what we all know about how easily data is compromised when security is breached. They are doing some chores strictly for convenience, or because there is a savings of postage by using online bill paying systems. I do not see that activity as a fair example which can be generalized to a broad engagement with retail services. Baby boomers are wary about giving up information online. Even retail stores are trying to get people’s email along with their zipcode information when they make a purchase. Technology competence is higher among baby boomers than most businesses suspect, but fear of security breaches keep us sanguine about expanding our transactions online. Until security on line is stronger, I think this demographic will be more cautious than younger internet users.

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