
Smartphones are the number one gadget choice across the U.S., with the majority of respondents for the latest Pew Research Center tech report stating they own one.
Smartphones are the number one gadget choice across the U.S., with the majority of respondents for the latest Pew Research Center tech report stating they own one.
Regardless of the age group interviewed for the “Technology Device Ownership: 2015” report released by the Pew Research Center, smartphones occupied the first position.
Over the past decade, a host of surveys conducted by the Center looked at the choices Americans are making when it comes to gadgets. In a highly connected world, increasing or declining trends shape the way social interactions are conducted. With far-reaching implications in the macroeconomic and political sphere, the type of gadgets we choose model social and cultural areas as well.
The latest numbers released by the Pew Research Center show that 68 percent of U.S. adults own a smartphone. Compared to 2011, that is a 33 percent increase. What brought smartphones to the frontlines?
It might be the diversity of tasks and functions they are able to perform. For instance, that of an MP3 player or an e-reader. Only 19 percent of U.S. adults still own an e-reader in 2015. Compared with last year’s 32 percent, this is a clear decline in interest. As for MP3 players, 40 percent of U.S. adults are the proud owners of one. The number has been steady since 2008. Good news for tablets: 45 percent of all adults own such a device according to the Pew Research Center figures.
Younger demographics show different preferences when it comes to gadgets. MP3 players aren’t as popular with the 18-29 age group. While in 2010, MP3 players scored a staggering 75 percent, only 51 percent of U.S. young adults still own one. Take a look at the smartphone ownership in the younger demographic group. The association between smartphone preference increase and MP3 player decline seems to be more clear.
Numbers dating back to 2011 indicated that 52 percent of those aged 18 to 29 owned a smartphone. Almost as many as those who own an MP3 player nowadays. But in 2015, the percentage spiked to 86 points.
Somewhat disconcerting is the decline in game console ownership. From 2010 when 62 percent of the younger demographics gladly owned one, only 56 percent are still interested. E-reader owners amount to only 18 percent nowadays compared to 5 percent in 2010.
It stands clear from the Pew Research Center report that smartphones are the number one gadget choice across the U.S. All demographic categories have shown a clear preference for these devices.
Photo Credits: Flickr


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