The most recent annual National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) Internet Use Survey shows a significant increase in the number of internet users in the United States—including older adults. The findings were highlighted in a blog post by Older Adult Technology Services (OATS) in collaboration with AARP.
The survey shows a 4.2 percent increase in the number of older adults (65+) using the internet–about 550,000 people. Internet adoption also increased among those in lower-income households, from 69 percent in 2021 to 73 percent in 2023 among those in households making less than $25,000 per year.
The finding has profound implications for older Americans. Improved connectivity helps to mitigate social isolation, a key determinant of wellbeing, and allow for the use of Telehealth services, which have become an important aspect of healthcare and lead to better health outcomes and more effective management of health issues. Older adults who are connected can also benefit from improved financial resilience, and safety and security training to protect themselves from the ever-present and ongoing threat of online fraud and scams.
The NTIA survey highlights the importance of efforts to provide affordable internet service, appropriate devices, and digital skills training for all Americans to ensure equitable access to the digital world. It comes at a time when Digital Equity Act (DEA) Capacity and Competitive grant funds offer a once-in-a-generation opportunity to address the digital divide by making funds available to states to implement Digital Equity Plans. These plans are designed to enhance digital literacy and remove barriers to access and adoption of technology for older adults and other covered populations.
While the NTIA’s report on increased internet usage marks significant progress towards digital inclusion, with particular implications for older adults, there is still much work to be done to address the challenges of digital literacy, affordability, and accessibility.