Online population rises by 2m users in past year

Figures from UKOM revealed that 1.9m more people went online last year, with 53% of new users aged over 50. The UK internet population grew from 36.9m to 38.8m.

The majority of new users were men over 50 (38%), women over 50 (15%), women aged 21-34 (14%) and girls aged 12-20 (12%).

According to UKOM, people over 50 now account for 31% of all internet users.

Alex Burmaster, communications director for online at Nielsen, said, "The internet is getting older in more ways than one. Not only is the medium itself maturing but the audience is shifting towards older age groups. This growth is a reminder that it's very much a form of media utilised by all age groups. The fact that a quarter of Britons who use the internet today are 50-64 years old proves it's no longer the sole preserve of the young and technically literate."

Published by: Charlotte McEleny

Published 30th June, 2010

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