Social networking isn't only for the under 40s. More than 25 percent of Americans 50 years and older stay connected using sites such as Facebook，MySpace and Twitter，according to new rearch.
And nearly half of older adults，aged 50 to 64，say they are savvy about the Internet.
"The latest data tells us that more and more，social networking is becoming a part of everyday life for Americans 50 plus，and boomers in particular，" said Kevin Donnellan，the chief communications officer at AARP，which relead the report.
The powerful lobbying group for older Americans said Facebook is by far the most popular networking site，followed by MySpace，LinkedIn and Twitter.
Nearly a quarter of older Americans are on Facebook and 73 percent said they u it to stay in touch with relatives，but not just their children and grandchildren.
"They are using the Internet to keep up with the world and the people who are important to them，" said Jean Koppen，the author of the report.
She added that older adults are also on Facebook to stay connected，not only with their family，but with their friends and peers.
Almost 50 percent of older adults were introduced to the social networking sites by a family member，mainly a child or grandchild.
"Just under one-fifth of adults age 50 and older say they do not u the Internet，" according to the report.
The findings are bad on a telephone survey of 1，863 adults. In addition to keeping up on Facebook and Twitter older adults are also aware of the latest technology.
Eighty-three percent had heard about the Apple iPad and 11 percent intended to buy one，mainly for browsing the web，reading news，magazines and books and for sharing photos and watching movies and TV shows.
Despite the popularity of the Internet among the over 50s，print newspapers and magazines are still their preferred source for news. Only one percent said they followed blogs.
社交网站并不是40岁以下人群的专利。一项最新调查显示，美国50岁及50岁以上的人群中，有超过25%的人使用Facebook、MySpace和Twitter等社交网站与外界保持联系。
在50岁至64岁年龄较大的受访者中，近一半的人表示他们能熟练使用网络。
发布此份报告的美国退休者协会（AARP）的首席联络官员凯文•唐纳兰说：“最新数据显示，社交网站日益成为美国50岁以上人群日常生活的一部分，尤其是婴儿潮时期出生的人。
美国这一颇具影响力的老年人游说团体称，Facebook是迄今为止最受欢迎的社交网站，其次是MySpace，LinkedIn和Twitter。
美国近四分之一的年长人士使用Facebook，73%的人称他们通过该网站与亲友保持联系，但不仅是和他们儿女和孙辈。
调查报告撰写者吉恩•科本说：“他们是通过互联网与外界及对于他们来说重要的人保持联系。”
她说，年长人士不仅通过Facebook与家人保持联络，还通过该网站与他们的朋友和同龄人保持联系。
近一半的年长人士经由家人介绍加入社交网站，主要是自己的儿女或孙辈。
报告指出：“在50岁及以上的受访者中，仅有不到五分之一的人称自己平时不上网。”
该报告基于对1863名成年人开展的一项电话调查。除了使用Facebook和Twitter外，年长人士还紧跟科技潮流。
83%的受访者听说过苹果的iPad，11%的人表示想买一台，主要用于浏览网页，阅读新闻、杂志和书籍，以及分享照片、看电影和电视节目。
尽管网络在50岁以上的人群中颇为流行，但报纸和杂志仍是他们首选的消息来源。仅有1%的受访者称他们关注别人的博客。
