Social website for over-50s launches

Last Modified: 31 Oct 2007
Source: PA News

A Facebook-style social networking site aimed at people over the age of 50 has been officially launched.

Users can create their own personal profiles complete with pictures, then message each other and join discussion groups.

Called Saga Zone, the new site was developed by the Saga Group company which specialises in products and services for the over 50s.

The website's national launch follows data released by Ofcom in August which showed "silver surfers" spend increasing amounts of time online. Around 16% of over-65s use the internet, while the over-50s account for 30% of all time spent online by people in the UK, the communications regulator said.

Saga Zone includes web forums on subjects ranging from gardening tips to relationship advice. Around 13,000 people signed up to the website when it launched as a trial four months ago.

Saga Group chief executive Andrew Goodsell said: "The internet is a place where the over 50s are thriving. Saga Zone is a place where they can mingle and chat about issues important to them, be they amusing or serious."

The oldest person signed up to the Saga Zone website is aged 87.

A poll of 15,740 people aged over 50 in the UK showed that the "grey pound" was helping to drive the online economy.

Nearly three-quarters (73%) of respondents had bought flights online while the same percentage had bought books over the internet and 67% had bought electrical items.

The poll was carried out for Saga by market researchers Populus in August.

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