Hearables are having a tumultuous time during the pandemic, and users adapt to shifting situations. Webcams are a significant force, as are wireless Bluetooth headsets, both pivotal for users working or schooling from home. Meanwhile, voice-enabled speakers have reached a plateau, reaching their largest share among neither the youngest nor oldest adults. Smartwatches have made inroads across nearly all age groups, especially younger employed adults.
This TUP Highlights report includes the following sections: purchase plans for wearables, hearables penetration, wearables penetration, trends in consumer electronics, the profile of hearables users, the profile of wearables users, the profile of key consumer electronics users, and device activities compared to consumer electronics.
Profile of Americans who bought a home PC during the pandemic
The pandemic brought with it a lot of changes to how Americans live and work. Many had to adjust to working from home for the first time, and this often meant a new need for tech—especially home PCs. 56.4 million Americans—26% of all online American adults—bought a home PC during the pandemic. This MetaFAQs profiles those who bought a home PC during the pandemic by several critical demographic and behavioral factors distinctive from the average American online adult: age and gender; employment status; presence of children; household size; life stage (age, employment status, presence of children); number of home PCs; work from home status (current, expected, and before the pandemic); and
brand of home PC. Report [TUP_doc_2022_0506_pand] in TUP Lenses: Work/Life Balance, PCs.
Profile of American Chromebook users
Chromebooks have maintained a larger-than-life aspect, acting as a looming threat to Windows & Apple computers. However, their promise of lower price and connected collaboration has not yet been proven since the products are only being regularly used by 6% of American adults. This MetaFAQs profiles the small, hardy group of active Chromebook users, numbering 12.7 million online Americans, detailing the critical demographic and behavioral factors distinctive from the average American online adult: age group within gender, employment status, life stage, and mix of technology ecosystems.
Profile of Americans actively using a Google assistant or Google-brand speakers
Google aims to be ubiquitous and have competitive offerings to Apple, Amazon, and others. As a class, voice assistants and speakers have expanded in use by fits and starts. Only one in four Americans use a Google voice assistant or Google-brand speaker. This MetaFAQs profiles these active voice users by their age, age within gender, employment status, presence of children, life stage, number of computers used, and mix of technology ecosystems.
Profile of Americans using Instagram
Meta’s active reach has declined over time and has been bolstered by its active Instagram base. Instagram users are different from active Facebook or WhatsApp users, complementing shortfalls in Meta’s other two platforms. Thirty-nine percent of online Americans actively use Instagram. This MetaFAQs profiles active Instagram users by their age, age within gender, employment status, household size, life stage, and mix of technology ecosystems.
Profile of Americans actively using Amazon Alexa or Echo speakers
Making it easy to buy products goes well beyond Amazon’s 1-click online screens – with Amazon’s Alexa voice assistant. Amazon offers its voice assistant and smart speaker competitors to Apple, Google, and others. Only one in five American adults regularly use Amazon Alexa or an Amazon-branded smart speaker. This MetaFAQs profiles American active Amazon Alexa & Echo smart speaker users by several critical demographic and behavioral factors distinctive from the average American online adult: age group and age within gender, employment status, presence of children, life stage, number of PCs used, and mix of technology ecosystems.
Profile of Americans using WhatsApp
WhatsApp is one of the cornerstone services keeping many Americans within the Meta sphere. Working Dads have the highest penetration rates. This MetaFAQs report profiles American WhatsApp users by several critical demographic and behavioral factors distinctive from the average American online adult: age group and age within gender, employment status, household size, life stage, number of home PCs used, and mix of technology ecosystems.
Profile of Americans who actively use Twitter
Twitter hits above its weight in serving a tech-savvy and media-rich audience. Most tweeps admit and pride themselves on not being average. This MetaFAQs reports on their market size and how different they are concerning their age, gender, employment, life stage, and other characteristics. Further, it details several technological attitudes that separate Twitter users from the average online American.
Profile of Americans using Facebook
Facebook is the legacy service of the Meta family. With a nearly two-thirds penetration rate, Facebook mirrors the American online population in many respects except two. Middle-aged and older female homemakers have the highest penetration rates. This MetaFAQs report briefly profiles American Facebook users by two vital demographic factors distinctive from the average American online adult: age group and age within gender, and employment status.
Profile of Americans writing/managing text/notes/documents
Text messaging, emailing, and using platforms like Slack and Teams have grown as a substitute for preparing finished documents. Almost half of online Americans regularly use their connected devices to write and manage documents. This MetaFAQs profiles these writers by several critical demographic and behavioral factors distinctive from the average American online adult: age group and age within gender, employment status, number of PCs used, employer-provided PC, and mix of technology ecosystems.