MetaFacts TUP/Technology User Profile analysis results for subscribers
The market for used or refurbished computers is healthy, steady, and widespread. It is a common and ongoing practice among adults in the US, Germany, UK, and Japan. There is a youthful skew, especially among younger Americans.
This MetaFAQ reports on the percentage of home PCs acquired as used or refurbished, split by country and user age group.
Playing games is a regular activity for around half of online adults in the US, Germany, the UK, and Japan, a practice that has remained relatively steady since 2021. What has changed is the play platform of choice, as smartphones grow in favor while PCs and game consoles diminish. While Gen Z leads in gameplaying activity, the Boomer/Silent generations have increased their fun behavior, especially with smartphones.
This MetaFAQ reports on the percentage of online adults who regularly play games using a game console, smartphone, PC, gaming PC, or other connected device from 2021 through 2023. This information is split into generational age groups among Americans. Report [TUP_doc_2023_1227_gamt] in TUP Lenses: Mobile Phones; User Profile; Activities; Game Consoles, Gaming PCs, and Game-Playing
Americans and Germans in larger households tend to have newer devices than those in smaller households, a trend that has been forming since 2019. For example, the average age of an American adult’s primary device in households with four or more people is 1.7 years, a full year newer than the age in 2018. Similarly, among adults in larger households in Germany, the current device age is 1.9 years versus three years in 2018. There’s less difference in the UK, Japan, and China.
This MetaFAQ reports on the average (mean) age of the primary device in active use – smartphone, feature phone, computer, tablet, or game console. The averages are split by country and household size. Report [TUP_doc_2023_1222_famt] in TUP Lenses: Devices; User Profile; Households
Communication methods have evolved over the past few decades. While landlines were once predominant, they’ve now taken a back seat. Asynchronous communication, like email, offers the advantage of connecting without simultaneous availability, often more convenient and effective. Text messaging, in particular, has experienced a significant rise, now standing as a leading communication method alongside emails.
Interestingly, while smartphones are labeled “”phones,”” their initial use leaned more toward texting than calling. However, synchronous communication methods are making a comeback on these devices. Email, text messaging, and phone calls share nearly equal user numbers, showcasing varied preferences among users.
Our communication choices often depend on reciprocation, given its two-way nature. As a result, user groups may flock together toward specific communication modes, either adopting new methods or moving away from older ones.
Later generations, specifically Gen Z, have been experimenting with alternative communication modes beyond email, texting, and phone calls, only recently returning to levels nearly as high as those before the onset of the pandemic. Earlier generations have increased their use of these three communication modes even while navigating a shift from computers to smartphones.
This TUPdate reports on the share of online adults using their connected devices for any of the three major communication activities – personal phone calls, emails, or text messages. It reports on the trends from 2017 through 2023, highlighting the shifts that took place following the onset of the pandemic. Furthermore, it details the differences in communication behaviors between generational age groups. Report [TUP_doc_2023_1212_comt] in TUP Lenses: Activities; Communication
Later generations heavily favor game consoles. Only a fourth of Gen X has embraced game consoles, while most millennials and Gen Z generations actively play with them. Console games are intriguing to these later generations for their immersion, demanding video, and the social aspect of sharing game-playing.
This MetaFAQs reports the percentage of online adults in the US, Germany, UK, Japan, and China using a game console by generation. Report [TUP_doc_2023_1203_cons] in TUP Lenses: User Profile; Activities; Game Consoles, Gaming PCs, and Game-Playing
Game consoles are a youngster thing – Using a game console to play games is much more prevalent among younger adults than older ones. That’s the case across all countries surveyed: the US, UK, Germany, Japan, and China. Adults aged 25 to 34 have similar game console usage rates to those aged 18 to 24, which reflects the continued interest and habit energy of continued, if declining, use from younger ages. Playing games often have a social aspect, as groups of younger adults convene (in person or online) to play together. It’s important to note that game-playing with connected devices is widespread across all age groups, just less so by using game consoles and more so with computers, smartphones, and tablets.
This MetaFAQs reports on the percentage of online adults actively using a game console by age group and country. Report [TUP_doc_2023_1117_cons] in TUP Lenses: User Profile; Game Consoles, Gaming PCs, and Game-Playing
Apple iPads dominate the market for tablets, with a higher penetration than Android tablets among online adults around the world. Among millennials and Gen Xers, however, Android tablets have their strongest foothold, especially in the US. Among online Germans, Android tablet users outnumber iPad users among millennials, Gen Xers, and Boomers, and the reverse is true among Gen Z adults.
This MetaFAQs reports on the number and percentage of online tablet users by operating system family, country, and age generation in the US, UK, Germany, Japan, and China. Report [TUP_doc_2023_1103_andp] in TUP Lenses: Tablets
Employers are saddling younger adults with used/refurbished computers. Over one-third of American adults aged 18 to 24 actively using an employer-provided PC are using one previously used by someone else. In the UK, that rate among younger adults is nearly as high. Older adults don’t have as high a rate.
This MetaFAQs reports on the percentage of PC users actively using a used/refurbished computer by computer ownership and age group within the US, UK, Germany, Japan, and China. Report [TUP_doc_2023_1101_used] in TUP Lenses: PCs; Mobile Phones; User Profile
Who hasn’t misplaced their phone or keys or wondered where their luggage was?
Using technology to help find items has reached a plateau. The percentage of online adults using a wireless item tracker such as Tile or Apple’s AirTag has remained flat between 2021 and 2023. Overall global active usage has subsided from one in six to one in eight online adults. Active penetration rates have dropped among groups such as Gen Z adults in the US, UK, Germany, and China.
This may have seemed like yet another device to help attract users into adopting or staying with technology ecosystems. It’s too early to see if it’s making a difference. The market penetration is too small.
This MetaFAQs reports on the percentage of online adults in the US, UK, Germany, Japan, and China who actively use a wireless item tracker such as from Tile or Apple’s AirTag. Report [TUP_doc_2023_1025_tile] in TUP Lenses: Consumer Electronics; Technology Ecosystems
Gamers pass the halfway mark – Over half of the online adults in the US, UK, and highly-educated segments in China regularly play games using their connected devices. While Generation Z leads in game-playing rates, it’s a popular activity across all age groups. Interestingly, there’s no single predominant device for gaming. Smartphones are more prevalent for gaming than consoles among adults in many countries, particularly among Gen X and Boomers. While gaming PCs are gaining traction, their presence is still less than most platforms, barring tablets. Notably, only a minority of Gen X and Boomer players prefer tablets over gaming PCs. This MetaFAQs provides the detailed penetration of game-playing activity, segmented by platform, country, and generation. Report [TUP_doc_2023_1009_game] in TUP Lenses: User Profile; Activities; Game Consoles, Gaming PCs, and Game-Playing