MetaFacts TUP/Technology User Profile analysis results for subscribers
One of the fastest growing populations online, especially in the US, are adults aged 55 and up. This group exceeds 81 million Americans in 2023, up from 63 million in 2017–growth of more than 25%.
This MetaFAQs reports on the number and percentage of online adults that are aged 55 and over in the US, UK, Germany, Japan, and China. Report [TUP_doc_2023_1230_sent] in TUP Lenses: User Profile
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
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
Younger techies dominate? Seniors beg to differ – Seniors, those aged 55 and above, represent a significant portion of online adults and bring a rich history of technological experience. Their journey began with enhancements in landlines and the dawn of pricey, less reliable mobile phones. They witnessed PCs evolve from hobbyist creations to essential tools for work, education, and daily tasks. Television expanded from just a few networks to the vastness of cable, with streaming emerging more recently in their tech narrative. This demographic adapted as technology milestones like the Apple II, email’s surge, and the decline of paper maps. Their long-standing tech experience offers a unique perspective and challenges the notion that younger generations solely drive technological innovation.
This MetaFAQs reports on the number of online adults aged 55 and over in the US, Germany, UK, Japan, and China. Report [TUP_doc_2023_1013_seni] in TUP Lenses: User Profile
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
Having fun is one of the main activities for which online Americans use their connected devices – smartphones, home computers, or tablets. In the time prior to and since Covid, there has been a shift in which devices online Americans mostly use for entertainment.
This MetaFAQs reports on the percentage of online Americans who regularly use their connected devices for entertainment activities, showing the four-year trend from 2019 through 2022 and drilling down into generational age groups and device types: smartphone, home computers, and tablets.
Smartphones have risen to ubiquity from 2011 to 2022, although some generations of Americans have been faster to adopt. Apple iPhones or Android smartphones are stronger among some generations than others. A growing number of Americans are using their smartphones for activities formerly dominant on home computers and tablets, such as personal email and Internet browsing.
This MetaFAQs reports on the penetration of mobile phones, smartphones, Apple iPhones, and Android smartphones from 2011 through 2022, split by generational age group: Gen Z, Millennials, Gen X, Boomers, and Silent/Greatest. Furthermore, it reports on the top five smartphone activities overall and for each of these generations.
Since 2018 and through the pandemic, fewer online Americans have been using computers, game consoles, feature phones, and tablets. Smartphones, already near saturation levels, have continued to increase market penetration.
Is the smartphone headed towards being the last device standing, or is there some other device combination that is more widely used?
This TUPdate looks at the market penetration of key devices – computers, smartphones, feature phones, game consoles, and tablets – among American adults. Beyond their overall penetration rates, this analysis dives deeper into identifying the device combinations used by three of four American adults, and profiling who uses them.
Older Americans have discovered laptops as they increasingly see the appeal of mobile computing. Americans working from home had a momentary surge in laptop usage while working at home.
Market penetration rates have dropped to pre-pandemic levels or below. Historically disadvantaged groups have had the sharpest decline in active laptop use.
This TUPdate looks at the profile of American adults who currently use a notebook/laptop along several lines: the socioeconomic group they are part of, their life stage, employment status, and age.
Fewer Americans are using a printer, although the distribution is not even. Most groups of traditionally advantaged Americans continue to have the highest active penetration rates, while usage among the traditionally disadvantaged has faded.
This MetaFAQs profiles American online adults using a printer by their employment status and age group, life stage, age group, and generational age group.