2023 Tech Trends: No End in Sight for Age 50+ Market Growth – AARP

Smart phones, smart TVs, tablets — you name it: Americans age 50-plus are embracing technology. A new AARP survey finds older adults are usually not only increasing their spending on technologies, they would buy even more of it if devices were geared to their needs.

This year, the average adult age 50-plus expects to spend $912 on tech purchases, up 11% from 2021 ($821) and a 130% rise from 2019 ($394), according to a national online poll of about 3, 000 Americans conducted last fall.

Nearly eight in 10 respondents say technology has become an integral part of their life, and they use it frequently to connect with loved ones. The need in order to replace or upgrade items for the home prompted more than seven in ten to make a tech purchase in 2022.

Room to Grow the Market

Older adults have an appetite for a lot more tech, but many find it difficult to learn and navigate. Indeed, 68% of those 50-plus do not believe today’s technology is designed with them in mind.  

While cost and data privacy are concerns, respondents most often say it’s the particular complexity associated with devices, software and hardware, as well as the lack of clear benefit, that makes them hesitant to buy, the AARP study shows.

Still, tech ownership and use are high among old Americans. The particular survey finds 86% own a smart phone, 70% have a smart TV, 59% use a tablet, 31% have a home assistant, 28% own a wearable device, and 24% have the smart home-tech device.

To stay in touch along with others, 94% text, 88% email, 74% are on social media, plus 67% video chat.  

The most popular social media platforms among adults 50 and over are Facebook and YouTube. Use of Instagram increased from 24% in 2021 to 28% in 2022 among this age group; TikTok use also rose, from 10% to 15%.

More than 80% engage within at least some form associated with streaming with regard to entertainment, and 65% do so on a smart TV. Regular use of daily streaming is significantly up amongst older Americans: About 35% of those age fifty and over stream daily, compared to 29% last year.  

While People in america love their own technology as a way to stay connected, consume entertainment plus shop, the particular AARP research indicates that those over age group 50 are also increasingly open to using it to support their particular well-being. About one in five state they are interested in using health apps for meditation, eliminating bad habits, or improving sleep.

Caregivers also see promise in the benefits of tech, according to the survey. Among those age 50-plus caring for loved ones, more than half (52%) are interested within tech in order to help them with their caregiving needs.

The most popular home-tech safety devices encourage independence and safety, such as doorbell cameras. Other items that garner interest include residential alarms plus small electronic devices to turn off products.

Need to Address the Information Gap

Lack of information about what tech to use often keeps consumers through leveraging technology-based solutions regarding health and wellness, AARP discovered. While 24% of these 50-plus observe doctors as a good resource, only 9% are getting information from them regarding using tech to improve their health.

The AARP results reflect a need to educate older consumers on the particular available technology, how this will benefit them, where to get it, and how to use it. Considering the potential barriers to tech adoption facing older consumers, the research suggests they need to be convinced that the product is easy to use plus to clearly understand the benefits.

When deciding what to purchase, respondents say they rely on personal research (25%), recommendations through friends and family (17%), and in-store or online promotions (15%); for others seamless integration or interoperability with other tech devices influences them (13%).

Methodology

The AARP technology survey was conducted on the internet between September 23 plus October 6, 2022 inside English and Spanish. The particular survey sampled 2, 979 adults, weighted to reveal the range associated with demographics about U. S. adults age group 18-plus age 50-plus.

Suggested citation:

Kakulla, Brittne. 2023 Tech Trends and the 50-Plus. Washington, DC: AARP Research, January 2023.   https://doi.org/10.26419/res.00584.001