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

One System vs. a Dozen Apps: How Integration Affects Response Consistency

Households with a security system in place are far more likely to have their devices actually work together. 54% of households with a security system report their devices working together, compared to...

Does sound sell? Dolby’s Javier Foncillas on taking audio from phones and cars to smart glasses

A Parks Associates study commissioned by Dolby found most smartphone owners weigh sound only to some degree when buying, yet nearly all called it important after hearing an enhanced-audio demo. Fro...

Research: 16% US Internet homes have cancelled pay-TV and returned

Parks Associates’ research The New Live TV Model: Skinny Bundles, Sports, News finds that pay-TV churn does not always represent the permanent loss of a subscriber. The firm’s study of 8,000 US in...

Report: HDR enters 3rd phase of evolution

A report from InterDigital and Parks Associates reveals that High Dynamic Range (HDR) is evolving from a premium picture-quality differentiator to a widespread  feature of the video ecosystem, spa...