A recent study by not-for-profit aged care provider Benetas has revealed that older Australians are increasingly tech-savvy, but remain wary of online security risks.

The survey of over 1,000 Australians aged 65 and above highlights the growing importance of digital literacy among seniors.

Elyssia Clark, General Manager of Customer, Insights and Marketing at Benetas, emphasised the significance of technology in seniors’ lives with 81% saying tech is important in helping them keep in touch with family and friends. However, she noted a critical concern: “80% of older Australians being concerned about the security of their personal information when they are online.”

The study found that mobile phones (94%), emails (98%), and texts (93%) were nearly ubiquitous among seniors. Social media usage is also high, with 76% of women and 62% of men actively engaged. Video calls (48%) have even surpassed landline usage (45%).

Despite this widespread adoption, cyber safety remains a significant issue. Clark explained, “We found privacy and security concerns are the most common limitation to using technology, well above physical, financial, or language related limitations.” Alarmingly, 17% of respondents reported falling victim to online scams resulting in financial losses.

The research also revealed a strong desire among seniors to enhance their digital skills. Clark stated that 55% of older Australians say they would like to improve their knowledge further so they can do more things online. There’s particular interest in learning about avoiding online scams (58%), recognising phishing attempts (49%), and safe online banking practices (45%).

In response to these findings, Benetas is developing a targeted cyber safety training program. “We are using the insights and findings from our research to develop a cyber safety training program that caters to the needs of older Australians and helps keep them and their families safe online,” Clark said.

“Benetas is proud to play a leadership role in understanding the needs of older Australians and sharing insights and evidence-based recommendations that address and support community needs.”

This article also appears on Comms Room. For more details, click here.

Editors Publicspectrum

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