Smartphone instant messaging usage, by age group

Smartphone-based social media usage is dominated by the younger set, according to Deloitte’s Global Mobile Consumer Survey. This may be explained in part by older smartphone owners preferring to use desktop computers for social media and even instant messaging, in addition to other forms of more traditional communication, such as phone calling.

That being said, Deloitte projects a much more highly penetrated smartphone app usage in 2014 among all users, particularly the 55 and over age groups.

World Newsmedia Network has published Global Digital Media Trendbook each year since 2006. The 2014 trendbook contains 500 data sets and 230 pages of analysis about digital media usage and revenue patterns, including this data set. To download the GDMT free executive summary, go to www.wnmn.org