Social networking isn't only for the under 40s. More than 25 percent of Americans 50 years and older stay connected using sites such as Facebook, MySpace and Twitter, according to new research.
And nearly half of older adults, aged 50 to 64, say they are savvy about the Internet.
"The latest data tells us that more and more, social networking is becoming a part of everyday life for Americans 50 plus, and boomers in particular," said Kevin Donnellan, the chief communications officer at AARP, which released the report.
The powerful lobbying group for older Americans said Facebook is by far the most popular networking site, followed by MySpace, LinkedIn and Twitter.
Nearly a quarter of older Americans are on Facebook and 73 percent said they use it to stay in touch with relatives, but not just their children and grandchildren.
"They are using the Internet to keep up with the world and the people who are important to them," said Jean Koppen, the author of the report.
She added that older adults are also on Facebook to stay connected, not only with their family, but with their friends and peers.
Almost 50 percent of older adults were introduced to the social networking sites by a family member, mainly a child or grandchild.
"Just under one-fifth of adults age 50 and older say they do not use the Internet," according to the report.
The findings are based on a telephone survey of 1,863 adults. In addition to keeping up on Facebook and Twitter older adults are also aware of the latest technology.
Eighty-three percent had heard about the Apple iPad and 11 percent intended to buy one, mainly for browsing the web, reading news, magazines and books and for sharing photos and watching movies and TV shows.
Despite the popularity of the Internet among the over 50s, print newspapers and magazines are still their preferred source for news. Only one percent said they followed blogs.
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(Agencies)
社交網站並不是40歲以下人群的專利。一項最新調查顯示，美國50歲及50歲以上的人群中，有超過25%的人使用Facebook、MySpace和Twitter等社交網站與外界保持聯繫。
在50歲至64歲年齡較大的受訪者中，近一半的人表示他們能熟練使用網絡。
發布此份報告的美國退休者協會（AARP）的首席聯絡官員凱文•唐納蘭說：「最新數據顯示，社交網站日益成為美國50歲以上人群日常生活的一部分，尤其是嬰兒潮時期出生的人。
美國這一頗具影響力的老年人遊說團體稱，Facebook是迄今為止最受歡迎的社交網站，其次是MySpace，LinkedIn和Twitter。
美國近四分之一的年長人士使用Facebook，73%的人稱他們通過該網站與親友保持聯繫，但不僅是和他們兒女和孫輩。
調查報告撰寫者吉恩•科本說：「他們是通過網際網路與外界及對於他們來說重要的人保持聯繫。」
她說，年長人士不僅通過Facebook與家人保持聯絡，還通過該網站與他們的朋友和同齡人保持聯繫。
近一半的年長人士經由家人介紹加入社交網站，主要是自己的兒女或孫輩。
報告指出：「在50歲及以上的受訪者中，僅有不到五分之一的人稱自己平時不上網。」
該報告基於對1863名成年人開展的一項電話調查。除了使用Facebook和Twitter外，年長人士還緊跟科技潮流。
83%的受訪者聽說過蘋果的iPad，11%的人表示想買一臺，主要用於瀏覽網頁，閱讀新聞、雜誌和書籍，以及分享照片、看電影和電視節目。
儘管網絡在50歲以上的人群中頗為流行，但報紙和雜誌仍是他們首選的消息來源。僅有1%的受訪者稱他們關注別人的博客。
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（中國日報網英語點津 Julie 編輯蔡姍姍）