Member Article

Fraud putting 'silver surfers' off net

Fear of fraud and confusion about internet jargon are stopping people over 50 going online. Eight out of ten who took part in a Post Office survey admitted some anxiety about using the internet.

Fraud was cited as a worry by 41% and confusion about terminology by 31%. The poll of 942 adults aged 50-plus was carried out for the Post Office by telephone last month. As a result, the Post Office says millions of people in the UK are facing digital social exclusion.

A spokesman said: “The 17 million UK households that are not yet internet-enabled will become increasingly excluded as more services are delivered online.”

A report by think-tank Demos commissioned by the Post Office recommends mentoring schemes to help potential silver surfers. The report suggests that tailored IT support for people over 50 would boost the confidence of older internet users, as would age awareness training for computer sales staff.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .