| Baby boomer is the term used for individuals | | | | on socializing with friends and acquaintances |
| born between 1946 and 1960. When the | | | | from the past. |
| second world war finished this saw a big rise | | | | |
| in the amount of babies born. In 2004, | | | |  |
| these baby boomers held 80% of the UKs | | | | |
| wealth, purchased 80% of luxury vehicles and | | | | Historically, an issue in everyday lives the |
| bought 50% of all skincare products | | | | elderly face is loneliness and isolation |
| purchased. The baby boomers are seen as | | | | caused by restrictions which make them house |
| the first generation to grow up with a TV set | | | | bound. The baby boomers are often computer |
| at home, this is why many seem to have | | | | savvy. They often will book their holidays |
| similar humor and ideas throughout larger | | | | online, perhaps check their finances and to |
| geographical regions. | | | | stay in touch with their family via email and |
| | | | other electronic options. It appears |
| Â | | | | inevitable that this older, more technical |
| | | | elderly bunch will extend to making social |
| Baby boomers are slowly shifting into their | | | | relationships and interacting online. |
| retirement years. Market research tells us | | | | |
| that more and more will search the internet | | | | Â |
| for online dating and chat rooms. Baby | | | | |
| boomers are a generation shown to be | | | | Mature online dating and chat, including free |
| wealthier, more outgoing, more confident, | | | | online dating is set for massive growth in |
| also discriminating in their purchase | | | | this demographic. Many baby boomers, for |
| decisions. They are willing to live their | | | | different reasons are finding themselves |
| lives and do not view retirement as finishing | | | | single in their twilight years. Many |
| their lives, instead as the start of an age | | | | elderly singles who are no longer in a long |
| of freedom and happiness. | | | | standing relationship are looking to enter |
| | | | the dating market for the first time in |
|  | | | | possibly decades. Online dating and chat |
| | | | rooms provide reliable and less stressful |
| Based on research by comscore and hitwise | | | | solutions for single baby boomers. Pushed |
| data, sites such as Facebook and My Space | | | | by high divorce rates, the comfort of |
| have only 10% of users that are over 55. | | | | contacting old friends using the internet and |
| This indicates that although the current | | | | the ready availability in many homes of |
| older generation are using the net, there is | | | | modern computer hardware, online dating is |
| less chance to chat or to mingle online. | | | | certain to grow in popularity in the over |
| FriendsReunited and Genealogy sites for | | | | 50's age group. Contacting old friends via |
| example though, the member base is older and | | | | social network sites has suggested leading to |
| this shows that moving forward, chat and | | | | post-divorce partnerships, and indeed |
| social websites are likely to develop in | | | | divorces; online dating and chat services are |
| popularity for the older generations. Baby | | | | geared to become an important tool of |
| boomers give strong attention to tracing | | | | retirement life in the future. |
| their family trees via online resources, and | | | | |