British 'silver surfers' choose web over gardening
Retired people are starting to prefer browsing the internet to more traditional pastimes such as gardening, travel and DIY, according to a survey.Those questioned by insurance company AXA said they spend an average of six hours a week online, shopping,...
Retired people are starting to prefer browsing the internet to more traditional pastimes such as gardening, travel and DIY, according to a survey.
Those questioned by insurance company AXA said they spend an average of six hours a week online, shopping, doing research and e-mailing friends or relatives.
Forty-one per cent listed surfing the internet among their favourite pastimes, slightly ahead of the second choices, gardening and home improvements (both 39 per cent), and travel and walking (28 per cent).
Their top internet activity was e-mailing (84 per cent) and looking for information (83 per cent).
Nearly half have booked travel tickets online, a third have tried internet banking and 28 per cent catch up with the news online. Two thirds regularly contact their children via the internet, while four in 10 keep in touch with their grandchildren.
AXA said older people were attracted by the internet's convenience.
"It is encouraging to see British pensioners embracing technology," said AXA spokesman Alison Green. "This report highlights how pensioners are using the internet to support a less stressful approach to life in later years."
Those questioned by insurance company AXA said they spend an average of six hours a week online, shopping, doing research and e-mailing friends or relatives.
Forty-one per cent listed surfing the internet among their favourite pastimes, slightly ahead of the second choices, gardening and home improvements (both 39 per cent), and travel and walking (28 per cent).
Their top internet activity was e-mailing (84 per cent) and looking for information (83 per cent).
Nearly half have booked travel tickets online, a third have tried internet banking and 28 per cent catch up with the news online. Two thirds regularly contact their children via the internet, while four in 10 keep in touch with their grandchildren.
AXA said older people were attracted by the internet's convenience.
"It is encouraging to see British pensioners embracing technology," said AXA spokesman Alison Green. "This report highlights how pensioners are using the internet to support a less stressful approach to life in later years."