A third of people over 74 have never been online

In 2024, the use of the internet by senior citizens (aged 75 to 89) was studied for the first time as part of the survey on ICT usage in households carried out by Statbel, the Belgian statistical office. This shows that 35% of people aged between 75 and 89 have never been on the internet. For 5% more, the last connection was more than three months ago.

This means that only 60% of 75-89-year-olds use the internet, compared to 96% of the population aged 16-74. And the difference between men and women is more marked among our elders: 69% of men aged 75-89 use the internet versus only 52% of women, while these rates vary between 97% of men and 95% of women in the rest of the population.

Online activities also vary. The use of the internet for banking transactions reaches 46%, and 34% of senior citizens make phone calls or video calls via the internet. 25% use instant messaging services and 19% social media, while 16% engage in e-commerce.

e-Commerce: number of users stable, but volume down

The share of the population aged 16-74 buying online remains stable at 66%. However, significant expenditure online are falling, with 11% of consumers having spent more than €1,000 in the last quarter, versus 14% the previous year.

Ecology and ICT: what do we do with our ICT devices when we are no longer using them?

When they reach the end of their life, 55% of old phones (smartphones or mobile phones) and 39% of tablets unused are stored at home. 18% of unused desktops, despite taking up much more space, remain somewhere in the house.

If we want to get rid of such a device, it usually ends up at the e-waste collection or recycling centre. Nevertheless, there has been a slight decline in environmentally-friendly waste collection. In 2022, only 12% of these devices ended up in ordinary waste, compared to 16% this year.

Connected objects become widespread

The adoption of connected devices has almost doubled in four years. The use of energy management applications has risen from 10% in 2020 to 18% in 2024, and home security devices from 12% to 17%. Virtual assistants are now used by 12% of households.