Deloitte: The Connected Consumer Paradox

- Desire for Fewer Devices vs. More Virtual Experiences and Technology Innovation

• Nearly half of households (48%) bought at least one new connected device in 2023, with 16% adding three or more.
• As households add new tech devices, they are trimming devices that no longer fit their needs. Households have an average of 21 connected devices in 2023, down from 25 in 2021 when many loaded up on technology during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Consumers want to trim tech complexity: 41% dislike managing their devices, while 28% say managing tech devices and subscriptions is "overwhelming."
• Employee preference for hybrid work increased by 7 percentage points in 2023. The main benefits of hybrid work cited by respondents include better relationships with family and co-workers, and improved health and well-being.
• Satisfaction with virtual health visits is growing. Most people who experienced a virtual health visit would prefer virtual or hybrid options in the future for psychological health and chronic conditions.
• Parents see positives in connected devices for their children, reporting they enhance learning, enable new experiences, and keep kids organized — but they also worry about potential harms and set boundaries on their children's digital behaviors.
• Security concerns have grown: 58% of surveyed consumers worry their devices are vulnerable to security breaches (up from 50% in 2022), and 58% worry that organizations or people could track them through their devices (up from 41% in 2022).

Source: PR Newswire