Silver Surfers

It seems I am not alone at this lark....

Here come the silver surfers
By Harry Wallop

Grey-haired internet users - known as silver surfers - will become the dominant group using the worldwide web by the end of the year, according to online analysts Hitwise.

The firm's latest monthly statistics show that people aged 55 and over make up 22 per cent of all British users online, just a touch behind the most active users, who are between 35 and 44 in age.

Heather Hopkins, of Hitwise, said: "It's phenomenal how quickly silver surfers have increased in numbers."

A year ago the 55-plus category accounted for just 15.7 per cent of internet users, but in the last year, as broadband has become more and more prevalent, pensioners have been logging on in greater numbers.

They have already overtaken their grandchildren, in terms of market share, but will become the number one users "some time this year", said Hitwise.

Search engines, shopping and pornography are the three most common websites that are visited by silver surfers.

"A desire to view salacious content does not decrease with age," said Miss Hopkins.

Other popular websites are travel, news and media pages.

Meanwhile, stocks and shares and other investment websites are a particular favourite along with yachting and boating sites.