AARP Hearing Center
AGETECH
AgeTech is the growing category of technology solutions designed to meet the needs of the world’s aging population and the more than $45 trillion economy it represents.
- Sitting at the intersection of longevity and technology, AgeTech includes products, services, and experiences across industries that contribute to longer, healthier lives and empower people to choose how they live as they age. [Source: AARP AgeTech Collaborative, updated March 23, 2023.]
- AgeTech is technology that’s designed to meet the needs of older adults and those who care for them, and includes older adults (and other stakeholders) in the design process. It includes tech that’s designed to help older adults achieve non–health-related goals in later life, such as financial wellness or lifelong learning. [Source: 2024 Agetech Market Map, The Gerontechnologist.]
- According to some estimates, the AgeTech Market Is Expected to Reach $2 Trillion. [Source: AgeTech market slated to double from $1 to $2 trillion, LongevityTechnology.com, updated October 28, 2019.]
TECH SPENDING
Older adults’ tech spending has doubled compared to prepandemic levels.
- Nearly two-thirds (67%) of older adults made a tech purchase in 2024. They spent a yearly average of $753, which is down 8% from 2021 ($821), but almost twice as much compared to prepandemic spending in 2019 ($394).
- The main trigger to purchasing new technology is not needing a new tech item (16%) but needing to replace an older or broken device (52%).
[Source: 2025 Tech Trends and Adults 50-Plus, fielded September 2024.]
By 2030, tech spending among those 50-plus is expected to reach $120 billion.
[Source: 2023 Tech Trends and the 50+ Survey, fielded October 2022.]
TECH DEVICES
Tech devices are becoming integral parts of daily life for older adults, who continue to rely on technology to stay connected to family and friends.
- Nearly all (99%) of those 50 and over own at least one of the top tech devices.
- Adults 50-plus own an average of seven tech devices and report using them daily. The most prevalent: smartphones (91%), smart TVs (78%), laptop computer or netbook (72%), tablets (62%), Bluetooth headset/ear buds (52%), desktop computer (50%), wearable device (38%).
- One in three (35%) older adults now owns a home assistant.
- A quarter (27%) own smart home tech or security tech such as home monitoring security or safety devices, internet connected home thermostats, and appliances.
- More than 6 in 10 use some kind of smart device to help with security (38%), utilities (22%), appliances (20%) or lighting (20%).
- About half (46%) use any type of home safety tech, such as door alarms and doorbell cameras.
- Adults 50-plus own devices at about the same rate as those 18–49.
- 76% of older adults rely on technology to stay and in touch with friends and family.
[Source: 2025 Tech Trends and Adults 50-Plus, fielded September 2024.]
Many older adults prefer to remain in their own homes and communities as they age.
- 75% of adults 50 and older want to remain in their homes for the long term — a number that has been consistent for more than a decade.
- Most older adults in the U.S. (71%) own their own homes and about half have paid off their mortgage.
- 90% of all U.S. adults50 and older drive cars themselves.
[Source: 2024 Home & Community Preferences Among Adults 18 and Older, updated March 31, 2025.]
Several types of tech are available that will allow older adults to age in place.
- Older adults can monitor and control their home using their voice or a mobile app or device, such as security and monitoring technologies, home safety, and home automation. Home safety can include sensors that detect falls, sensors that detect when a stove is on, etc.
- Adoption of technology that promotes independence and security continues to grow (smart home tech ownership is up from 10% in 2019 to 27% in 2024) as does growth in home safety devices.
- Telehealth and remote monitoring tech allow older adults to receive medical care and support remotely without leaving home.
- Wearable devices allow older adults to track various health metrics.
- Communication technology, such as smartphones and video chat, enable older adults to stay connected with friends and family.
- Health and mobility technologies focused on assistive design such as stairlifts and adaptive clothing can help older adults with mobility issues. Home safety tech devices, such as doorbell cameras, encourage independence and safety are most popular, particularly among consumers 50–59.
- One in three (35%) older adults use a doorbell camera and another 34% expressed interest in owning them.
[Source: 2025 Tech Trends and Adults 50-Plus, fielded in September 2024.]
DIGITAL ENTERTAINMENT
Technology has made it easier for older adults to stay connected, informed, and engaged in the world around them.
- 89% of older adults have engaged with social media in the past three months. Facebook (72%) and YouTube (50%) remain the most popular. One in six use TikTok (16%).
- The share of older adults who avoid social media has declined to 11% in 2024, down from 15% in 2021.
- Streaming entertainment continues to gain popularity with older adults as 88% engage in some streaming entertainment. Amazon Prime (63%), Netflix (60%), and Hulu are the top platforms (35%).
[Source: 2025 Tech Trends and Adults 50-Plus, fielded September 2024.]
DIGITAL SERVICES
Digital services offered on apps and websites are vital for adults 50+ but fee aversion persists.
- Digital services are indispensable for managing various aspects of life: 81% of older adults use them for engaging with the world, 80% for social connections, and 65% for handling finances.
- Paid app categories are led by video streaming (74%), followed by music (45%), fitness classes (42%), smart home tech (41%), and food delivery (40%). Although 60% are unwilling to pay for apps they currently use for free, around one in ten would pay for navigation/maps (12%) or communication apps (11%).
[Source: 2025 Tech Trends and Adults 50-Plus, fielded September 2024.]
BARRIERS TO ADOPTION AND AGE-FRIENDLY DESIGN
Nearly six in 10 (59%) older adults do not believe today’s technology is designed with them in mind, and poor user experience is one of the biggest barriers to expanding the older adult market.
- When considering a new tech purchase, data privacy is the biggest barrier to tech adoption, according to about one-third (29%) of older adults. Other barriers keeping people from engaging with new technology include design and ease of use (20%), set-up and support (19%), cost (16%) and awareness (12%).
- Almost three-quarters (71%) of adults age 50-plus are interested in tech support services for older adults.
- Two-thirds (66%) see technology as a means for enriching their lives by making daily life and aging easier.
[Source: 2025 Tech Trends and Adults 50-Plus, fielded September 2024.]
GEN AI
Generative AI awareness grows rapidly among adults 50-plus, but few are enthusiastic.
- Nine in ten (90%) older adults have heard of generative AI, and use of the tool has doubled in the past year, rising from 9% in 2023 to 18% in 2024.
- Among AI users, 55% find it a helpful tool to simplify life, compared to just 16% of nonusers. Most (63%) users expect to use AI again within six months, while only 11% of nonusers have similar plans.
[Source: 2025 Tech Trends and Adults 50-Plus, fielded September 2024.]
TECH AND HEALTH
Adults 50-plus are beginning to see the benefits of using tech to assist in maintaining their health and well-being.
- Older adults are embracing new technologies that allow them to age in place and receive medical care in the home. Nearly half (46%) of adults 50-plus say tech enables them to lead a healthy life.
- Many adults 50-plus also recognize the benefits of health-related tech. The top digital services used for health and fitness include health-tracking (71% ) and fitness classes (59%), medical services (58%), telemedicine (58%) , and a variety of mental health and wellness services (49%).
- About half (47%) of older adults serving as caregivers are interested in using tech to help with their caregiving needs.
- Top barriers to using tech to better their health include a preference to focus on nontech solutions (35%) and being unaware of the tech options (29%).
- The introduction of emerging tech and advances in medical tech can extend our lifespan. New tech such as adaptive clothing, wearable exoskeletons, anti-aging drugs, artificial organs are all examples of the variety of ways tech can be used to help people live longer.
- Tech can help older adults track health indicators, manage health conditions, provide motivation for managing a health condition, and create opportunities to learn about and address health concerns.
- The technology is right there in their hands or on their wrists. Among adults 50-plus, 91% own a smart phone, 78% have a smart TV, 62% use a tablet, 35% have a home assistant, 38% own a wearable device, and 60% have a smart home-tech device.
[Source: 2025 Tech Trends and Adults 50-Plus, fielded September 2024.]
FINANCIAL TECHNOLOGY
Some older adults are using their smartphones to shop and manage their finances.
- 91% of the people 50-plus own a smartphone. Smartphones continue to be the most common purchase, made by 26% of respondents.
- Most (62%) having upgraded their phones in the past two years. When it comes to apps with a fee, respondents are most likely to pay for video or movie streaming, music, fitness classes or smart home security.
- Three in five (65%) adults 50 and over have used a financial app or website in the past three months.
[Source: 2023 Tech Trends and the 50+ Survey, fielded October 2022; 2025 Tech Trends and Adults 50-Plus, fielded September 2024.]
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