TUP 2019 – MetaFacts TUP Client Portal

March 4, 2024April 15, 2024

Americans continue trend with more smartphone than computer hours

Dan Ness, Principal Analyst, MetaFacts, March 4, 2024

Summary

There is a certain stability among Americans, at least when it comes to the many hours they use connected devices. Since 2019, Americans used a collection of connected devices – computers, smartphones, and tablets – for more than 10 billion weekly hours. This number has remained largely steady in total, although it has shifted between the types of devices Americans use. Computers have continued to decline in use as Americans increasingly turn to smartphones.

This MetaFAQs reports on the millions of weekly hours Americans use smartphones, computers, and tablets, as well as the mean hours they use these devices.

A stable total with underlying shifts

The total number of hours Americans use smartphones grew strongly from 2019 through 2022, and has leveled off in 2023. Total smartphone hours surpassed hours using computers in 2022, mostly due to reduced computer usage.
Hours using tablets has remained a steady, if minor, part of the American experience.

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February 28, 2024April 24, 2024

Computer penetration rates drop, but less so among older adults in many countries

Computer usage has declined among adults across many countries as an increasing number rely on their smartphones for activities from shopping to checking email. To the extent active computer penetration rates have been sustained, they have been supported mostly by older adults in Germany, Japan, and the US. In the UK and China, the age gap is less pronounced.

This MetaFAQs reports on the percentage of online adults who actively use a home computer, employer-provided computer, or any other computer such as one owned by a cybercafé, school, or library. The results are split by country and age category. Report [TUP_doc_2024_0228_agpt] in TUP Lenses: Devices; PCs; User Profile

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February 18, 2024April 22, 2024

In most countries, age is a factor explaining declining active printer use

Dan Ness, Principal Analyst, MetaFacts, February 18, 2024

Summary

Even the most generous measure of printer use – whether any adult has used any printer in the prior 90 days – shows a substantial decline. In most countries surveyed, the deepest drop in active printer use has been among younger adults.

This MetaFAQs reports on the percentage of online adults actively using a printer split by country (US, Germany, UK, Japan, China) and age group (18-24, 25-34, 35-49, 50+).

Active printer usage by age group

Fewer online American adults of all ages are actively using a printer in 2023 as they were using one in 2018. Younger Americans aged 18 to 34 have reported the steepest decline.
Printer usage among German adults has softened among online adults aged 25 to 49, and in 2023, it returned to 2018 levels among adults aged 18 to 24 and 50+.
All age groups of adults in the UK and Japan have lowered printer usage levels below 2018 levels
In China, usage among online adults aged 50 and up in 2018 were low in large part because this cohort included adults who were relatively new to technology use. In 2023, rates are higher than the past in part because the 50+ group is starting to include a higher share of adults with technology experience. Still, this group has some of the lowest printer usage levels of any age group across all countries surveyed.

February 14, 2024April 24, 2024

Work PCs still trail home PCs even as home PC usage drops

Many more workers use a home PC than a work PC, although the trend in some countries is that some medium-sized and larger employers are providing computers. Even as home PC usage continues its decline, employed home computer users still far outnumber work PC employees.

This MetaFAQs reports on the percentage of US, German, UK, Japanese, and Chinese workers who use a home PC and an employer PC, split by employer size. Report [TUP_doc_2024_0214_hwpt] in TUP Lenses: PCs; Work/Life Balance; User Profile

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February 13, 2024April 24, 2024

Apple deepens its loyalty in Germany and the UK

One hallmark of Apple’s success with its technology ecosystems is the breadth of Apple products that customers use. Using the most straightforward measure of market penetration—those adults who use at least one Apple product—Apple shows stable market penetration globally and in the US, the UK, Germany, and Japan. Looking one level deeper, the share of customers using two or more Apple OS devices shows a similar pattern, a positive sign for Apple. User penetration trends in China are less optimistic.

This MetaFAQs reports on the percentage of online adults using one or more Apple OS devices—an iPhone, iPad, or MAC—and those using two or more Apple OS devices. The data is split by country. Report [TUP_doc_2024_0213_aplt] in TUP Lenses: Technology Ecosystems; PCs; Mobile Phones; Tablets

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February 7, 2024April 22, 2024

Younger adults continue to drive computer acquisition

Dan Ness, Principal Analyst, MetaFacts, February 7, 2024

Summary

Online adults in most countries worldwide boosted their computer buying during the pandemic, only to return to near prepandemic levels. In the US and Germany, the peak was in 2021; in the UK, the highest refresh was not until 2023. Online adults in Japan maintained low levels. The highest shares of recently acquired computers were younger adults aged 18 to 24 or 25 to 34.

This MetaFAQs reports on the percentage of online adults who acquired a primary PC in the previous 12 months, split by country and age group.

A pandemic rise for Americans, Germans, and Chinese, with the UK delayed

Adults in each country responded differently to the pandemic in their computer acquisition, with Americans, Germans, and Chinese at the forefront of increasing their replacement rates
The rise has been followed by a return to previous levels for Americans
Adults in the UK maintained low yet stable rates through 2022 and then stepped up in 2023 in a big way

February 6, 2024March 19, 2024

American printing trends affected by employment, generation, education

As a chilling trend for the printer industry, one of the fastest growing segments among Americans is the growing percentage of those who do not use a printer at home, at their workplace, in a school or library, or anywhere else. Furthermore, Gen Z adults, often considered a forerunner of market adoption, stand out for their disadoption.

This MetaFAQs reports on the percentages of Americans based on their active printer and home printer usage in two mutually exclusive ways: those using any printer or no printer and those using a home printer or not using a home printer. We have split the results by generation – Gen Z, millennial, Gen X, Boomer, and Silent/Greatest – from 2010 through 2023. Report [TUP_doc_2024_0206_otpr] in TUP Lenses: Printers; User Profile

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February 5, 2024February 29, 2024

The unbundling of American home PCs and home printers

The unbundling of American home PCs and home printers – One of the biggest home technology shifts among American adults involves their use (or non-use) of home computers and home printers. Only a decade ago, it was widespread practice to have both a home computer and home printer, and often to buy them at the same time. That has changed dramatically, as the number of Americans using both has plummeted. Instead, there has been substantial growth in the share of Americans using only a home printer or neither a home computer nor a home printer. This shift has played out differently among Gen Z and millennial Americans than among Gen X or Silent/Greatest generations.

This MetaFAQs reports on the number and percentage of Americans by their combination of use and non-use of home computers and home printers. These are split by generational age group. Report [TUP_doc_2024_0205_core] in TUP Lenses: PCs; Printers; User Profile

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February 4, 2024April 22, 2024

Most digital work collaboration progress is supported by Gen Z and Millennials

Dan Ness, Principal Analyst, MetaFacts, February 4, 2024

Summary

The practice of working across the web using collaborative platforms such as Google Docs has remained largely unchanged since 2018. Among millennials in China and the US, the activity has even decreased. Gen Z adults across most countries surveyed have the highest or second-highest penetration rates.

This MetaFAQs reports on the percentage of online adults who regularly collaborate on work files in the US, Germany, the UK, Japan, and China split by age generation.

Collaborating on work files has only crept into later generations

There’s a corporate motivational statement: Teamwork makes the dream work. Gen Z adults in the UK and Germany appear to be taking this more to heart than earlier generations
The regular use of collaborative platforms has not substantially changed since 2018, except for nominal growth in Germany and China’s Gen Z and Gen X adults
In the US, Japan, and China, Gen Z adults are just as likely or less likely than millennials to have the highest shares of those regularly using collaborative platforms for work-related files
Across all countries surveyed, the Boomer/Silent generations have the lowest levels of work file collaboration

January 30, 2024March 26, 2024

Game console usage sags among each generation; not game over among Gen Z

Game consoles have been a fixture among a sizable portion of adults for decades, although each earlier generation continues to lose interest. Since 2018, fewer adults in later generations have actively used a game console with each passing year.

This MetaFAQs reports on the multi-year change in the percentage of online adults in the US, Germany, the UK, Japan, and China who actively use a game console, split by age generation. Report [TUP_doc_2024_0130_cont] in TUP Lenses: User Profile; Activities; Game Consoles, Gaming PCs, and Game-Playing; Home Entertainment

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