Deloitte has officially published the results from its fifth annual “Connected Consumer” survey, which reveals that consumers have a positive perception of their technology experiences and are increasingly embracing GenAI.
Having said that, they are also increasingly looking to seek balance in their digital lives and expect trust, accountability, and transparency from technology providers.
Talk about the given report on a slightly deeper level, we begin the prospect of digital boundaries where the survey discovered that, while most consumers surveyed (78%) believe their digital experiences have a positive impact on their lives, they are also suffering from the downsides of technology and setting more boundaries on their digital use, as well as that of their children.
Next up, the report uncovers a rise in the popularity of GenAI. You see, GenAI’s use has more than doubled over the past year. Almost 4 in 10 consumers (38%) are now experimenting with or using GenAI for personal, work-related, and educational tasks, and 83% of those using GenAI for work say it boosts their productivity.
Another rise, however, was also seen in privacy and security concerns. This became evident after 48% of respondents said they experienced at least one kind of security failure in the past year (up from 34% in 2023). Meanwhile, 85% have actively taken steps to protect themselves from such incidents.
Moving on, the report also reinforced the importance of trust. Basically, consumers who trust their technology providers to protect their data spent 50% more on connected devices in the past year than those with low trust in their providers.
“With GenAI usage doubling over the past year, it’s clear that the more consumers interact with GenAI, the more they grow to appreciate its value. At the same time, consumers are becoming increasingly discerning about the role that technology plays in their lives. Privacy and security concerns are a priority that can’t be ignored. Companies that can demonstrate a commitment to both innovation and user privacy will be the ones that thrive in this evolving digital landscape,” said Jana Arbanas, Principal, Deloitte & Touche LLP.
More on the same would be how, on an average, survey respondents report spending eight hours online daily. This was backed by another piece of data which said that US households spent approximately $760 on acquiring connected consumer devices during the past year, as well as approximately $175 monthly on technology subscriptions, services, and software.
An estimated 78% of consumers believe technology positively impacts their lives, but at the same time, there is also a rising awareness regarding the potential negative consequences of excessive screen time.
To expand upon this, Deloitte’s survey found that many consumers (44%) struggle to limit their screen time to a level they are comfortable with (up from 38% last year). On top of that, 56% of Gen Zs and Millennials said that they struggle to limit screen time (up from 52% last year).
A vast majority of the consumers were also found to be taking measures to keep their device usage in check (83% have taken at least one step to set digital boundaries, up from 78% last year). In fact, almost half reportedly put their devices away when they’re with family or friends. This they do while taking regular breaks away from screens.
Alongside that, it was discovered that, even though 67% of parents believe their children’s digital activities help them build meaningful connections, over half (51%) struggle to limit their children’s screen time. Markedly enough, almost all surveyed parents (94%) report setting digital boundaries for their children.
Hold on, there is more as the survey in question learnt that teens have the most upbeat impressions of digital life (86% of teens reported that their digital experiences have a positive impact on their lives), but at the same time, they also show signs of concern about its negative effects. Going by the available details, most teens (62%) are worried about being tracked through their devices, and 44% worry they may be exposed to harmful or inappropriate content or people online.
