During the pandemic, employees suddenly working from home accelerated their use of videoconferencing, home computers, and other connected devices. Similarly, those not employed outside the home sought ways to stay connected with others or help their students continue their education. Communication activities ranging from videoconferencing to video calls, email, group chats, and text messaging are at the heart of these connections. Market adoption has not been assured nor evenly distributed, as only some segments adopted behaviors they continued. Meanwhile, other segments dallied with new communication methods and then returned to their old ways.
This TUP Highlights report includes the following sections: communication activities by device type, communication activities among those working from home, devices used for work-related communication, and top communication activities.
Highlights: Mobile Phones
This TUP Highlights Report profiles smartphones – their market penetration, user demographic profile, their regular activities, usage profile, key competitors, and purchase plans.
Highlights: Wearables, Hearables, Listening & Speaking
Entertainment, communication, and smart homes have all evolved beyond requiring typing on a keyboard or sitting near PC speakers. Wearable and hearables have extended a broad range of audible activities further towards a more personal convenience. However, active usage of any wearables or hearables has varied considerably across market segments. While Bluetooth headphones are widespread, VR headsets persist as niche products among a younger, more affluent, and tech-savvy segment. Smart speakers, in contrast, are showing signs of having peaked after rising in use among a middle market.
This TUP Highlights report includes the following sections: wearables penetration, hearables penetration, wearable devices used, trends in wearables and hearables, purchase plans for wearables, listening activities, penetration of voice assistant usage, the profile of voice assistant users, the profile of hearables users, and the profile of wearables users.
Profile of American gaming desktop PC users
Having fun and winning is essential to many Americans, and some buy specialized desktop PCs designed for optimal performance and upgradeability. This MetaFAQs profiles the small, hardy group of intensive mobile gamers, the 8% of online Americans actively using gaming desktops, detailing the critical demographic and behavioral factors distinctive from the average American online adult: age group and age within gender, employment status, household size, number of home PCs used, and mix of technology ecosystems.
Highlights: Consumer Electronics
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 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.