75% of expats over 55 are addicted to the Internet

An incredible 75% of British expats over 55 years old are addicted to using the internet to socialise and stay in touch with events back home, according to the latest Natwest International Personal Banking Quality of Life Index.

The numbers indicate a marked contrast to the “silver surfers” back in the UK, where as few as three in every ten people over the age of 65 have never even used the internet, and over half don’t possess the basic online skills.

The rising trend for internet adoption among the older generation living abroad are doing so as a means to enrich their lives, according to the study, with 78% using social media to keep in touch with friends back in the UK and 63% using social groups and forums to help connect with fellow local expats.

Getting smarter

Facebook leads the way for popular sites, highlighting the dramatic shift to online services which have only recently existed.

“It’s fair to say the Internet has had an incredible impact on the life of your average British expat, since our Quality of Life Index began seven years ago, “said Dave Isley, the Head of Natwest International Personal Banking. He continued, “Being separated from home comforts and family and friends, has clearly motivated older expats to adapt to a new way of communicating, as they are forced to embrace new forms of technology at a faster rate than their British based counterparts.”

British expats over 55 now account for 26% of all those going online, while their overall usage has increased by 11% in the past twelve months. Part of this shift in online usage has been driven by new technology including smart phones, with 72% now owning and using a smart mobile device (whether tablet or mobile phone).