Over-50s get social online

Saga Zone, as it is called, has around 13,000 members following a beta period earlier this year. Now that the social networking site has officially launched that number is predicted to increase.

Paul Green, a spokesman for Saga said, “Thirteen thousand is just a drop in the ocean - in theory the membership is practically limitless. Social networking isn’t going to be for everyone, but the feedback so far has knocked our socks off.”

Data from U.K. communications watchdog Ofcom showed that over-50s accounted for 30 percent of all time spent online in the U.K., and that 16 percent of over-65s use the Internet.

Furthermore, results showed that, of the 15, 740 people aged 50 who took part in the study, 73 percent had bought books and flights online, and 67 percent have purchased electrical goods.

The social network is already producing results. Recently, 16 Saga Zone members organized a Saga vacation to Malta using the site’s message boards.

Tags: message boards, Saga, seniors, social network, U.K.