DIGITAL LITERACY:  A GATEWAY COMPETENCERon Bridges, AARP Kentucky State Director

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Personal Technology Use Among the 50-Plus

78% of boomers and 52% of seniors are online

Avg. of 19 hours on the Internet each week

71% of boomers and 59% of seniors are on social

networking daily -- 2013 Google/Ipsos poll

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The flip side, of course, is that millions of people over 50 are not online.

22% of boomers and 48% of seniors.

Barriers include: Cost, Lack of perceived relevance and Concern that they can’t catch up.

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AARP DIGITAL LITERACY APPROACH

First Tier

• The first tier consists of two flagship digital literacy initiatives – AARP TEK and AARP RealPad – designed to make digital engagement simple and user-friendly.

Second Tier

• The second tier consists of a combination of content, advocacy, and additional products/services that enable digital engagement and help put people 50-plus on a pathway to digital literacy.

With a view to boosting digital literacy along these lines, AARP has developed two tiers of resources for members and people 50-plus, more generally. 

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