Mobile devices have changed the way people go about their daily lifes. Last year for the first time there were more smartphones and tablets than humans.
According to the “2014 Mobile Behavior Report” 85%” of population said that their mobile devices are now a key element on their routine. This percentage is even higher if we consider just people around 18-24.
If take a look around you while you are commuting, in a restaurant or shopping you will see 2 of every 3 people using their smartphones or tablets. In fact we are becoming “mobile addicted” if we consider how the time we spend using our devices has increased in the recent past. Analyzing a recent survey made by eMarketer Americans will spend by the end of 2014 5 hours and 46 minutes on digital media.This means using mobile more than the TV that has been the preferred media for a long time.
There are relevant differences in how individuals use their mobile devices if we analysed them by age. We can’t be surprised by the fact that those who can be considered as “early-adopters” belong tho the two youngest age groups, 16 to 24 and 25 to 34.
Adults who belong to the second group have demonstrated to use their mobiles on daily activities such as purchasing services, Internet banking or check their social media accounts. In particular they user their devices to send and consult emails, search for products and access to their bank accounts.
During the last year the youngsters –adults between 16 and 24 –focused their mobile usage on recreation: social networking mostly but also to call friends and family either voice or video. Their favourites apps to use are: Whatsapp, Facebook, Youtube and Snapchat.
Around 77% of seniors nowadays own a cell phone, but the truth is that smartphones don’t have a high penetration on older population. Considering a recent Pew Research study just 18% of seniors own are smartphone adopters. We can say that inside this group we find similar behaviors according by age. Mobile device owners decrease for seniors in their 70s and is about inexistent on people in their 80s.
Going back again to the first report we commented, we can extract some interesting conclusions:
- Around 90% of survey respondands say that mobile devices enable them to connect with their family and friends and social events.
- 9 over 10 appreciate the fact that their devices allow them to access the Net however they want.
- 54% of consumers associate “mobile devices” with smartphones instead of tablets.
