OLDER PERSONS INTERNET USE
Statistics presented in this section are a subset of the 2012–13 Multipurpose Household Survey, for persons aged 65 years or over (older persons). Data on older persons internet use were presented in the 2010–11 HUIT using the 2009 Survey of Disability, Ageing and Carers data for persons aged 60 years and over. For 2012–13, older persons were redefined as being 65 years or over. The increase of age for older persons was driven by social factors such as increases in life expectancy and changes to aged care policy and the retirement age.
In 2012–13, 46% of older persons were internet users and 44% accessed the internet from home in the previous 12 months. Despite there being a larger number of females than males in the older persons age group, a greater proportion of male older persons (50%) accessed the internet at home than female older persons (38%) in 2012–13.
The four most popular types of online activities undertaken at home by older persons in 2012–13 were: Paying bills or banking online (55%); Accessing government services (50%); Social networking and Voice or video calls over the internet (both at 30%). The popularity of various online activities undertaken by men and women varied significantly in some cases, as seen in the graph below.
Older persons online activities at home(a), by sex(b), 2012–13
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