by Julie Hume

Created on: September 10, 2009

Silver Surfing Comes of Age

The Internet recently celebrated its 40th Anniversary. Imagine that! If it was the marriage of a committed couple that was being fted, they'd be enjoying their Ruby Wedding. Not many people get to do that before they reach the age of 60.

Many of the people involved in the birth of the internet are long since retired - even expired - and still there seems to be this old/young debate going on. As if the Internet is somehow the unique province of those under thirty.

Everything that the internet can do for the young, it can do for the elderly and then some. Many of those forced to retire because they reach a spurious age limit are deeply unhappy about doing so. They're not ready to don their slippers and doze the rest of their lives away by the fire. At the same time, especially in those penny-pinching days, there are fewer retirees who are left with enough disposable income to enjoy travelling and indulging in expensive hobbies.

For them, the Interent is the window into a world of opportunity. Those who are unhappily retired may enjoy finding themselves useful once more. There are many places on the Internet where those with experience can mentor others through learning and development courses. There are freelance opportunities for writers, trainers, artists or community websites where advice is sought and given completely free of charge.

Called Silver Surfers, older people make up an increasingly important segment of internet traffic. There are sites set up specifically to cater to them. Whether the sites are focussed on grandparenting, or holidays for over-55s, or even dating agencies for retirees those that design offers which are attractive to this market are ensured a never-ending supply of customers. After all, none of us are getting any younger. Today's young internet whiz kid is tomorrow's Silver Surfer.

Opening a blog or website is quite easy these days, requiring little in the way of design skills or special coding. Anyone can set up a Wordpress blog in the morning and with a little effort have it up and running by the afternoon. Retirees can dedicate the time to building up blogs or websites about their interests for fun, for mental stimulation or for profit.

One lady who did so, Patricia Hume, is a 70 year old retiree. She took up beading in 2007 but living as an English speaking expatriate on the small Spanish island of Tenerife, she had very few people to talk with about her new hobby. Patricia decided to open a blog and in doing so she has made friends all over the world. They swap stories and tutorials about the jewelry they make and Patricia is thrilled with success of her blog which she called Silver Surfer Tenerife. She comments, "The beading I do keeps my fingers dexterous. The blog does the same for my brain."

In many cases, older people are not as mobile. Through age or infirmity, getting from A to B is much harder than it once was. Here again, the internet is a valuable resource. Whether it is to take care of bills, order groceries, or just keep in touch with friends, having at-home access to the internet keeps older people in touch with the outside world.

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