Over 50s using web for communications

The spread of broadband has made keeping in touch with family and friends much easier for us all, but it has been suggested that this has proven especially useful for the over 50s.

The editor of New Age Media magazine, Justin Pearse, highlighted the substantial numbers of older people using the internet everyday.

"The classic use of the internet [for this age group] is for keeping in touch across the world," he said.

"People are able to keep in touch with their grandchildren who may be not be in the country... if you wanted to contact somewhere like Australia for example, it is much cheaper to do so across the web."

Calls made using IP telephony and VoIP are therefore helping keep these older people engaged in the social sphere, Mr Pearse suggested.

"There have been instances in the past where it has come to light that elderly people are cut off from the rest of society," he said, adding that "the internet is a great way of connecting" for these people.