Technology Usage By American Baby Boomers

Baby boomers are those people who were born after the World War II between 1946 and 1964. The post-World War II period was known as the“boom.” Most baby boomers are currently in their 60s and 70s and have either retired or are soon retiring. By extension, the baby boomers may also include those aged 50 and above. The lack of tech savviness in baby boomers is not intentional. It is attributed to the slow advancement in technology during the 1970s, the 80s, and 90s. During this time, most baby boomers were in school, raising families, and curving their career niches. The technological advancement at the time was slow.

Today, technology changes at the blink of an eye which makes it difficult for baby boomers to catch up. Nevertheless, statistics show that the baby boomers are making strides in their effort to adapt to the use of modern technology.

Technology Usage By American Baby Boomers

The four popular devices used by baby boomers today are smartphones, laptops, desktops, and tablets. According to research undertaken by the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), 7 out of 10 baby boomers own a smartphone. Additionally, 9 out of 10 people aged 50 and above own either a Personal Computer (PC) or a laptop. As a percentage, those who own smartphones are 78% of those aged 50-59, 73% of those aged 60-69, and 55% of those aged above 70. On the other hand, the baby boomers who own laptops are 66%, 63%, and 56% of those aged 50-59, 60-69, and above 70 respectively. Regarding the ownership of desktop computers, 58%, 59%, and 66% of baby boomers aged 50-59, 60-69, and above 70 respectively have desktops. The seniors also own tablets such that 46% of those aged 50-59, 40% of those aged 60-69, and 40% of those aged above 70 have tablets.

Reasons for their success in using technology

Firstly, most baby boomers have discretionary spending available for the purchase of tech products. Consequently, they can afford smartphones, tablets, and laptops among others. Secondly, the positive attitude of most baby boomers towards technology has led to their eagerness to adopt it. Thirdly, the baby boomers receive support from their peers, children, and grandchildren in learning how to use the new technologies in the market.

The Purpose Of Using Technology

The baby boomers use technology to access the internet for news and government information. Furthermore, they engage in charitable works such as making online donations. For their pastime, baby boomers listen to music and pursue their hobbies online. Technology also enables the baby boomers to keep connected to their family members and friends. They can chat and call their family members from anywhere in the world. In the case of any emergencies, the smartphones make it easy for them to receive assistance as fast as possible. Some technological devices can even trace the users to their locations. Hence, just like the millennials, most baby boomers are now enjoying the benefits of technology. However, some are yet to adopt the technology.