The following line graph illustrates the methods used in the United Kingdom to stay in touch among different age groups, from under 18 to 60 and over, in 2011.
In general, it can be seen that the four types of communication experienced different trends across the age groups. While methods such as telephone and post use rose steadily with age and followed a similar pattern, internet and mobile phone use fell as people got older.
As the graph shows, internet use started at 50 percent in the under-18 age group and then fell rapidly, reaching a low point of nearly 5 percent in the older age groups. In contrast, telephone use showed a dramatic increase, starting at slightly under 20 percent and reaching approximately 45 percent in the 60-and-over age group. Interestingly, mobile phone use did not experience significant changes over the first three age groups. It then declined steadily by about 15 percent.
By contrast, post use displayed a gradual rise across all age groups, following a similar pattern to telephone use. It increased gradually from 5 percent to roughly over 30 percent at the end of the graph.