Seniors in the USA Are Surfing the Web 15/07/00 US citizens aged 55 and over have wholeheartedly embraced the Internet, using the Web for everything from communication to shopping to participation in online sweepstakes and contests, according to Greenfield Online's latest Surfing Seniors Digital Consumer study. Among the most interesting findings of the survey of nearly 3,000 respondents: A massive 90% of online 'seniors' are entering cyber sweepstakes and contests. Almost a third (30%) of those that enter contests or sweepstakes will enter for prizes as little as US$5 to $10. One third (33%) of seniors that have visited an online drugstore/pharmacy have made a purchase, a slight increase on the 27% that had purchased in the last study in July 1999. However, only 21% of the seniors that purchased from an online drugstore/pharmacy said they were likely to repeat buy, due to complications with the online drugstores/pharmacies accepting medical insurance. 93% have shopped online and 89% have purchased online ­ both higher percentages than the general Internet population based on other Greenfield Online research. The items seniors most often shopped for are computer software (56%), books (54%) and CDs/tapes (42%). In addition, 95% send and receive email; 70% check weather reports; 57% find coupons and special offers and 56% read the news/newspapers According to Rudy Nadilo, CEO at Greenfield Online, "The majority of the seniors surveyed are not just dabbling on the Internet. Nearly a third (29%) spend two to three hours each day online, the majority (57%) have owned their computers for four years or longer, 90% own a colour printer and 61% own a scanner." This study is part of Greenfield Online's ongoing Digital Consumer®d; series that examines attitudes and usage of the online public. The Surfing Seniors II study was conducted online between March 28, 2000, and April 3, 2000, with a sample of 2,808 respondents.