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 | | Friday, 10 May, 2002, 10:20 GMT 11:20 UK Elderly take up net surfing  Pensioners are finding new ways to amuse themselves Forget bowls or knitting, surfing has become the number one hobby for British pensioners. More retired people are spending time online than pursuing any other hobby, with 83% surfing on a regular basis, according to a survey by BTopenworld. These silver surfers are finding the internet an excellent way to stay in touch with friends and family and clock up an average of four e-mails a day. The web is proving particularly popular with older women. Nearly half of them go on the internet for the first time after stopping work. Mellowing They are logging on for social reasons and 35% report that the net has offered them a wider circle of friends after retirement.
Almost two-thirds of silver surfers said they felt more open to new experiences and 42% felt they were more tolerant to the way the world was changing. Duncan Ingram, Senior Vice President at BTopenworld, believes it is an excellent idea for older people to get tech-savvy. "Many people fear they may be bored or lonely when they retire, but the internet helps to combat this, a message that has clearly resonated among silver surfers," he said. | | See also:  Top Sci/Tech stories now:  Links to more Sci/Tech stories are at the foot of the page. | ||||||||||||||||
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