While Generation Y (those ages 18 to 32) is seen as the “Net Generation,” those in this age group do not dominate every aspect of online life. Generation X (those ages 33 to 44) is the most likely group to bank (67%), shop (80%) and look for health information online (82%). In contrast, the younger generation dominates when it comes to using the internet for fun, as they are far more likely than members of Gen X to watch videos, play games and use social networking sites online. As they grow older, though, Generation Y is catching up with Gen X in some of the more mature aspects of internet life. In 2005, only 38% of Generation Y participated in online banking; currently 57% use the internet for money matters. There has been no significant growth among older generations when it comes to banking online. Read More

Russell Heimlich  is a former web developer at Pew Research Center.