Pensioners prefer the internet ...

AXA Insurance has conducted a survey that reveals something something all companies should take note of - pensioners are now describing use of the internet as their favourite hobby, taking over from DIY and gardening!

Challenging the stereotype that the internet is purely for the younger generations, the survey shows that in fact 41% of those questioned say internet usage is their 'preferred pastime' - a figure that places retired Britons amongst the top 5 users of 'web time' out of the 11 nations studied.

Activities such as email and searching come top (inline with general usage trends regardless of age) and on average retirees are spending 6 hours online every week, organising their finances, reading the news - in fact, everything that their younger contemporaries do.

What this serves to highlight is that the stereotype we have of our elder generation is wildly inaccurate. Those internet savvy pensioners are embracing their PC's and using the web to enhance their social lives and improve their communication with family and friends.

Alison Green, at AXA says: "It is encouraging to see British pensioners embracing technology. This report highlights how pensioners are using the internet to support a less stressful approach to life in their later years. The potentially arduous task of struggling with the shopping is becoming less of an issue as retirees can simply log onto their computers and select groceries at their leisure.

"Furthermore, the myth that spending hours at your PC is anti-social can be dispelled once and for all. Our study shows a large proportion of retired people go online to keep in contact with friends and relatives. It appears you can teach old dogs new tricks after all!"