In 2016, AARP conducted its first technology survey. Back then, just owning a smartphone set you apart from the crowd, wearables and smart speakers were newfangled devices for the rarified few, and most online activity revolved around email and browsing the internet.
Fast-forward a decade, and how far we’ve come! In the span of just 10 years, much of what was visionary “future tech” in 2016 has not only been realized, but integrated into daily life for millions of people — including adults 50-plus, who have evolved from sometimes-skeptical basic internet and email users to fully engaged participants in a mobile, always-connected world. At the same time, continuing advancement in tech — such as artificial intelligence (AI) — is opening up whole new frontiers for making aging easier for everyone.
Innovation in AgeTech moves fastest when it’s anchored in real-world behavior. AARP’s newly released 2026 Tech Trends and Adults 50-Plus report provides a data-rich look at how older adults are engaging with technology today — and how those patterns have evolved over the last 10 years. For the AgeTech Collaborative™ ecosystem, this research can validate assumptions, surface gaps in understanding, and identify areas ripe for impact. In this post, we spotlight some key insights from the report, findings that are especially relevant for those building and scaling solutions for longevity.
A Decade of Tech Trends
The landscape of tech device ownership has changed significantly since 2016. A decade ago, a small majority (55%) of adults 50-plus owned smartphones. Today, 90% own a smartphone. The average number of screens owned has nearly doubled — from an average of 4 in 2016, to 7 in 2025 — as modern devices such as laptops, tablets and wearables have become ever more popular and useful.
As smartphones became more commonplace and a pocket-sized tool for managing daily life, their everyday use increased; 98% of smartphone owners now use them every day. Wearables maintained their utility as they adapted to complement smartphones, providing users with convenience and quick access to notifications, health tracking and other functionalities. Meanwhile, daily use of desktop computers and tablets has waned: Only 58% use their desktop computers every day (compared to 89% in 2016), and 55% use their tablet daily (versus 68% in 2016).
Those who adopted technology a decade ago to stay connected have continued to do so as they have aged, and the oldest adults (ages 70-plus) experienced the sharpest jump in using technology to stay connected with loved ones — 74% today compared to 51% in 2016. And while email and social media remain popular ways to stay in touch, texting and video chatting have increased significantly to 94% and 46%, respectively.
Many “future tech” aspirations a decade ago — such as automated home cleaning, an ever-present internet, centralized home entertainment and a health alerts system — have been realized, but the desire for tech that can manage, monitor and personalize health care still exists. For example, 33% of older adults are interested in the ability to use a mobile phone to diagnose common health conditions, and 29% want to see an automated alert system that would be on the user’s body and that would monitor health and send alerts to doctors.
Tech Ownership Today
Device ownership is remarkably consistent across age groups, with older adults (aged 50-plus) owning devices at the same rate as younger adults (aged 18–49). The most significant discrepancy is wearables, which are more commonly owned by young adults. Overall ownership rates of key tech categories, broken down by age groups, includes:
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Smartphones: 92% (adults 18–49); 90% (adults 50–plus)
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Smart TVs: 78% (adults 18–49); 77% (adults 50–plus)
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Tablets: 55% (adults 18–49); 58% (adults 50–plus)
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Wearable devices: 44% (adults 18–49); 36% (adults 50–plus)
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Home assistants: 38% (adults 18–49); 35% (adults 50–plus)
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Smart home technology/security: 28% (adults 18–49); 27% (adults 50–plus)
Moreover, adults aged 70–79 are narrowing the tech-ownership gap with their younger peers aged 50–69 across the spectrum of devices, and even surpass them in tablet ownership. Significantly, 99% of all older adults now own at least one piece of technology, with smart phones being the most common (90%), followed by smart TVs (77%), laptop computers or netbooks (70%), tablets (58%) and bluetooth earbuds or headset (51%).
Tech Spending
Tech spending in 2025 remained strong, with 71% of older adults making at least one purchase, up from 67% in 2024, accounting for a $94.5 billion estimated tech spend value. While more people made purchases, they spent on average $756, virtually unchanged from 2024. The top selling tech items also remain unchanged from 2024; in 2025 those items were:
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Smartphone (26%)
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Smartphone accessories (26%)
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Bluetooth headset or earbuds (21%)
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Smart TV (20%)
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Laptop computer or netbook (15%)
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Tablet (13%)
Two in five older adults plan to make a tech purchase in 2026, with big-ticket items such as a computer (23%) leading the list. Notably, streaming services are also high on the list for 2026 purchases (19%).
Concerns about data privacy remain a chief barrier to tech purchases, with 25% of older adults saying they worry about what personally identifiable information is collected and whether it is secure. They are also now more interested than ever about what technology solutions can do for them, with 20% scrutinizing new options for the value they can provide (up from 12% in 2024). Installation and support, cost and ease of use also remain top concerns.
Tech and Daily Life
Digital services are deeply woven into the daily lives of adults 50-plus and are essential to how they manage their lives. On average, older adults use 14 different digital services, with internet browsing, retail shopping and communication all tying for the top slot (79% of older adults use each of these services). Nearly as popular are maps and navigation services (75%), social media (73%), photos (72%) and weather (71%). Most notably, the use of medical services has increased significantly from 35% in 2024 to 46% in 2025.
Apps provide quick, on-the-go access to some of the most-used services. Many of the apps that older adults pay for are for entertainment purposes: 69% use apps for streaming movies; 42% for music; 33% for books; and 28% for sports. Apps also play a critical role for retail shopping, with 83% using apps to shop at online-only stores, and 80% using apps to shop at stores that have both brick-and-mortar stores and an online presence. A whopping 96% use apps to conduct online banking, and more than half (57%) use peer-to-peer money transfer apps. The use of generative AI apps is up significantly to 15% in 2025 from 10% in 2024.
Nearly half of older adults believe that tech can empower a healthy life, and a full two-thirds agree that technology can make their daily lives easier, enrich their lives, make aging easier and help them age in place. Half of adults aged 50-plus use at least one type of smart home tech such as security devices (30%), Wi-Fi extenders (28%), smart home lighting (16%) and Wi-Fi connected appliances (14%).
Among 50-plus adults who are also caregivers, half view technology as essential for providing care, managing routines, tracking health and providing peace of mind. The most popular resources in this category are telemedicine services (29%) and location detectors (such as GPS) to keep track of loved ones (26%), followed by motion sensors, remote monitoring solutions and emergency response systems (12% each).
Tech and Social Connection
Social media goes beyond connection, providing users with entertainment, education and a sense of community. On average, older adults engage with three social media platforms, with Facebook being the clear favorite (72%), followed by YouTube (53%), Instagram (34%) and WhatsApp (23%). Only 9% use no social media whatsoever.
Streaming remains nearly universal (83%), with adults using a mix of devices to watch content both at home and on the go. Amazon’s Prime Video (63%) and Netflix (60%) are the most popular streaming platforms.
Even though older adults are active online, more than one-third still say they lack both the skills and the speed to make the most out of their experience. In addition, 60% — virtually the same number as in 2024 — believe that technology is not designed with their age group in mind.
Tech and the Future
There is interest in and use of a variety of AI tools among older adults, especially voice personal assistants (51%), AI health monitoring devices (43%), generative AI platforms or apps (40%) and chatbots (40%).
Generative AI use in particular continues to expand with adults of all ages. Usage has nearly doubled again among older adults who are 50-plus, up from 9% in 2023 and 18% in 2024, to 30% in 2025. Two in five adults in their 50s have used AI, and employed adults are twice as likely as those not in the workforce to have engaged with generative AI. For many, generative AI has become a go-to companion for research, health guidance, career support and creativity.
Perceived helpfulness of AI has climbed sharply among users — 75% now say AI is helpful, up from 55% in 2024. Even non-users show signs of warming to it, with 25% saying AI is helpful, up from 16% in 2024. Moreover, 77% of AI users say they are likely to use AI in the near future, versus 66% in 2024. Among non–AI users, 21% say they plan to use it, compared to 11% a year ago.
Despite growing exposure to AI, trust in the information it provides remains fragile, particularly in areas that matter most, such as finances and health. For general questions, about one-third of users trust the answer, another third distrust it, and the final third are neutral. Interestingly, though many seek help from AI for health questions, few appear to trust the information it provides. More broadly, the top reasons cited for not trusting AI in general include a fear of scams, a preference for human judgment, doubt in AI accuracy, and a concern that people will become too reliant on AI.
Implications
Over the last decade, technology has evolved from being just a helpful add-on to being an embedded tool that makes life easier. It is proving to help older adults stay socially connected, age in place and live better lives. Many are now integrating smart home, health, and digital services into their daily lives to support independence, connection and safety.
Yet concerns about trust, privacy, data use and usability remain key barriers. For many, the design of the tech keeps it out of reach, and while those who see AI as helpful are leaning into its potential, skeptics largely remain unconvinced.
The opportunity for AgeTech is to connect innovation to impact, translating complex capabilities into tangible, everyday value. Doing so means designing technology that feels intuitive, trustworthy and personally meaningful; educating users on the real-world benefits; and demonstrating how digital tools can enhance, rather than replace, the human connections and independence that matter most as people age.
You can check out all the details and insights in the full report.
We also invite AgeTech Collaborative participants to join us on Feb. 4, 2026, at 1p.m. EST for a virtual discussion and Q&A with the report's author, Dr. Brittne Kakulla from AARP Research. You can find more details and RSVP for the event here.
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