Providing Market Intelligence for 40 Years

In The News

More Than Half of U.S. Households Dealt With a Data Privacy Problem, Study Says

A study from Parks Associates, a leading authority in consumer and market research, shows a concerning trend in security threats stemming from smart device use.

The “Privacy and Data Protection for Connected Devices” report shows that 54% of U.S. households connected to the internet experience data privacy and security issues over 12 months. That’s a 50% jump from 2018 when 36% of homes reported problems.

“As we witness this surge in data privacy and security concerns, it becomes paramount for smart home industry players and service providers to prioritize consumer data apprehensions and redouble their efforts in securing their products,” said Jennifer Kent, vice president of research at Parks Associates. “After interoperability, the top reasons consumers gravitate to certain providers of smart home products are user experience and trust – trust that the company will properly handle personal data, and trust that the company will be present for the long haul.”

Over the past seven years, U.S. households have doubled the number of connected devices used in their homes. The report shows that 62% of smart home device users are wary of hackers gaining unauthorized access and control.

“While the growth in 2023 appears to be slightly slower than in previous years, this could be attributed to consumers exercising caution in the wake of historic inflation, layoffs, and looming recession fears,” said Kent. “We anticipate that device ownership will resume its upward trajectory in more favorable economic conditions.”

From the article, "More Than Half of U.S. Households Dealt With a Data Privacy Problem, Study Says" by Kayla Wassell

Previously In The News

Amazon and Netflix Look to Their Own Shows As the Key to World Domination

“A lot of the time content owners might not necessarily hold all the rights to their content in different markets,” says Parks Associates analyst Glenn Hower. “International content rights are hideous...

This Roku News Is Not Getting the Attention It Deserves

But it's not the only game in town. Amazon's Fire TV Stick is a very capable competitor, and it has been rapidly gaining ground. According to Parks Associates, Roku commanded 36% of U.S. market share...

IKEA'S Smart Home Dares to Make Sense

Starting with just lighting also keeps things simple for Ikea. Rather than slapping a chip in the nearest Frostig, it entered the market playing to its strengths. "They've had lighting fixtures for...

Netflix Is Killing It—Big Time—After Pouring Cash Into Original Shows

“There seemed to be an attitude around the industry that after House of Cards and Orange is the New Black, there was no way Netflix could catch lightning in a bottle again,” says Glenn Hower, a senior...