The NanaBlogs, a new online community for grandmothers who want to participate in social networking with other grandmothers as well as blog, is a testament to the growing numbers of seniors, or "matures" on the web.
The idea for NanaBlogs, the brainchild of Teresa Bell Kindred, a retired high school history teacher, author and magazine columnist, came in part from one of Kindred's magazine columns entitled NanaHood: The Second Half of the Motherhood Journey. "I noticed there were lots of quality blogs for moms but sites and blogs for grandmothers were few and far between," she said.
The site allows users to create their own blogs, with tutorials and free phone support available for questions.
Other senior-oriented websites are focusing on specials and bargains in a particular area. LocalSeniorDiscounts in the Tallahassee, Fla area is dedicated to seniors age 50 and over. It offers up restaurant specials and other local offers. To receive the discount, seniors mention the website or show a free membership card affiliated with the site.
Senior Social Networkers on the Rise
Such sites are reflective of new statistics by Nielsen that show the growing number of people 65 and older moving to the web. In the last five years, the number of seniors actively using the internet has increased by more than 55%, from 11.3 million active users in November 2004 to 17.5 million in November 2009, it said.
Furthermore, the growth of women in the last five years in this group has outpaced the growth of men by 6 percentage points. Seniors are also spending more time on the web, according to Nielsen. Time spent on the internet by seniors increased 11% in the last five years, from approximately 52 hours per month in November 2004 to just over 58 hours in 2009.
"The over 65 crowd represents about 13% of the total population and with this increase in online usage, they are beginning to catch up with their offline numbers," according to Chuck Schilling, research director, agency & media, Nielsen’s online division.
Shopping Online
Another study found more than three-fourths (77%) of online Americans ages 65+ shop online, the highest percentage among any generational group. According to a Cable & Telecommunications Association for Marketing (CTAM), older Americans - including both seniors and the younger Baby Boomer cohort - have overwhelmingly made the internet an integral part of their everyday lives and often rival younger generations in online activities.
Online seniors regularly use email (94%), go to the internet to look up health and medical information (71%), read news (70%), and manage their finances and banking (59%). They also turn online for gaming: Approximately half (47%) of online Matures regularly play free online games.
