Despite a common conception that older people are more reluctant to trust technology, especially when it comes to money matters, it seems the so-called “Silent Generation,” or those in their 70s and 80s, are the most likely to save their payment information on websites or mobile apps.
A recent survey showed that 94 millions Americans keep their credit or debit card information stored online, either via desktop computer, laptop computer, tablet, or smartphone. Of these nearly 100 million, 14 million say they “always” save their payment information electronically, and older folks were more than twice as likely as people in other demographics to store their data.
Generation X and Baby Boomers were the demographics most skittish about saving their payment information online; two in five people in those age brackets said they never save credit or debit card information for future purchases.
Young people and high-earners are biggest online shoppers
While older folks may be fans of storing their payment information, they do not actually shop online with the same frequency as younger people. Seventy-six percent of Millennials shop online, compared with just 26% of the Silent Generation. And families who make more than $75,000 per year are twice as likely to shop online as those who made less than $30,000 annually.
The most-purchases items online tend to be personal electronics, rather than clothing, groceries, or furniture. Thirty-three percent of people who shop online said they primarily purchase electronics online, while 22% said they prefer to shop for clothes, shoes, and accessories online, 6% said they buy furniture via the Internet, and 4% do their grocery shopping online.
Saving information can leave people vulnerable to hackers
While shopping online is certainly convenient, experts warn that storing payment information online can leave consumers open to having their information stolen if hackers get access to the retailer’s database. For this reason, if shoppers are going to store their account information, they are better off using a credit card than a debit card; credit cards offer better protection in case of fraudulent charges.
The study was conducted via telephone and included responses from 1,000 adults across the continental United States.