In a perfect blog world ChurchCrunch.com and my other blog would speak to all peoples in all circumstances in all cultures in all languages all at the same time.
That’s obviously not possible.
And so one of our goals, collectively, is to find the particular people group online that we feel like we’ve been “called” to engage with. Some feel particularly compelled to blog for the youth, some the singles, some married peoples.
What about the “older” (but wiser) generations?
According the the Pew Internet and American Life Project:
[T]he largest jump in adoption of Internet usage was by users ages 70 and older. Internet penetration among people ages 70 to 74 increased by 19 percentage points from 2005 to 2008. For people 75 and older, the increase was 10 percentage points.
It’s not your job to spread yourself so thin as to be relatively ineffective online, it’s to match who you are, your gifts, your time, and your calling to the people who need it on the web.
Collectively, no one will be “missed” in our effort.
[Just found a great article today about a 67 year old on video… and finding a “cure” for her isolation via CNN]
Ancoti says
These charts are somewhat depressing now that my age bracket is in the bottom half and seems to be moving south at an accelerating pace!
But it gives me comfort to know that i can contribute, both to reach others in the bottom half as well, and to help teach and coach top-halfers into making it to the bottom in a better fashion than I.
A post like this will keep me blogging for another day! Thanks!
Jim says
I'm still in the top 5 until June and then we are going to be chilling on the other side. We need Online Elders as well.
Jim_Hughes says
Good point. And remember, percentages are somewhat misleading as not all age segments have the same number of people. Boomers (45-63 yo's) are the largest single segment of the population, and climbing fast in internet usage, including social media.
Jim says
We are at a church that was build by the Boomers and the other folks in the far bottom half. I heard a story from Unifyer about a 80 year old who went out and bought a computer because everyone had got online and was talking about all the time. Most of our folks do email. So I have them set up with subscriptions and I send them links all the time. They love being in the loop. And usually they have the life-experience to gauge if something will work.
Ancoti says
The best thing to do is design a position and feign surprise and humility at how well you fill it!
Jim says
Sounds like duck hunting…Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry
From: IntenseDebate Notifications
Connie Reece says
Thanks for your interest in reaching this age group! My 85-year-old mother is on Facebook and loves connecting with former church members, old friends (literally!), and far-flung family members. When someone comments about her being active online, especially if they express surprise, she usually says, "We (seniors) aren't stupid. We just need someone to show us how."
Here in Austin I remember reading about a 95-year-old in a local nursing home who had an email ministry. She had plenty of time, basic computer skills, and a desire to minister.
I plan on teaching a Facebook workshop to our ladies' groups, to help them learn how to connect online and use social networking tools as part of their outreach.
davidnorman says
weird. my grandmother (70-something), took her cordless phone on a trip to dallas in case anyone called her. i'm thinking facebook might be a little "advanced" for her.
Ron_Tuffin says
slightly off topic, but worth remembering. Data like this can be a bit misleading. Remember that everybody in the 70 -> 74 year bracket will move into the 74+ bracket in the next 4 years. so you should expect the 74+ % to jump by at least 45% over the next 4 years (all other things being equal)
human3rror says
perhaps. but i suck at math.
good reminder tho.