For vast majority of seniors who own one, a smartphone equals ‘freedom’

When it comes to tech adoption, seniors generally lag behind their younger counterparts. But for Americans ages 65 and older who own a smartphone, having one in their pocket is a liberating experience. Asked if they feel that their phone represents “freedom” or “a leash,” 82 percent of smartphone-owning seniors described their phone as freeing, compared with 64 percent of those ages 18 to 29. By contrast, 36 percet of adult smartphone owners under the age of 30 described their phone as a leash, double the 18 percent of adults ages 65 and older who chose this term to describe their phone. Similarly, when asked to describe their smartphone as “connecting” or “distracting,” older users are significantly more likely to choose “connecting” as the best descriptor. On the other hand, younger smartphone users are twice as likely as older adults to view their phone as “distracting” (37 percent vs. 18 percent).