New data from an AARP broadband affordability survey finds that most adults 50 and older rely on high-speed home internet, but the cost of staying connected is creating pressure on household budgets. Another new report from AARP on digital literacy finds high rates of confidence for “everyday tasks like online banking,” but less confidence in more complex ones like telehealth and identifying scams.
The broadband affordability survey results reveal that 90% percent of adults 50 and older have a high-speed home connection, and 87% say having that connection is personally important to them. At the same time, 64% say their internet bill creates at least some financial strain, and 72% are concerned that the cost will increase in the coming year. In the survey, AARP also asked older adults about making financial change because of the cost of home internet services and 49% reported they have either reduced discretionary spending, cut back on driving or gas, switched to lower-cost providers/plans or fell behind on other utility bills.
Eighty-five percent of adults 50 and older agree that the federal government should work to ensure all Americans have access to low-cost internet service and 84% support government programs that help make home internet more affordable for households with lower or fixed incomes.
More info is available in the broadband affordability survey data infographic here.
Meanwhile, the digital literacy survey found that confidence in spotting scams drops from 88% among adults ages 50 to 64 to 74% among those 65 and older, and confidence in telehealth falls from 92% to 77%. Aside from online banking, older adults report high rates of confidence for accessing medical information online, accessing social media platforms, streaming entertainment and accessing government benefits.