Are Irish People Addicted To Tech?

A new survey, The Eircom Household Sentiment Survey, has found that more than 1.6 million Irish people now own a smartphone in Ireland. The latest survey reveals that the number of people using smartphones has risen from 39% to 50% in the last six months. Probably not so surprisingly the survey also found that the number of people who own a tablet computer has doubled since the last survey six months ago.

Based on people’s buying intentions, there will be 1.2 million tablet owners by the end of this year.

The study also revealed that –

• A million of us admit to checking our emails first thing in the morning, while over a quarter of a million of us now check work emails on holidays.
• Over half of those surveyed revealed that they won’t and can’t switch off their devices in the evening and at weekends.
• Twice as many of those surveyed perceive Irish men to be more tech savvy than Irish women, although female ownership of smartphones is higher than male.

Highlighting the differing range of places that smartphones are used-

• 71% said they use their smartphone sitting in their car.
• 51% on public transport,
• 33% in the bathroom.
• 78% in the bedroom and 27% while on the toilet.

Three quarters of those aged 16-24 say they now prefer to send text messages rather than have a phone conversation!!! However, there is growing evidence of social media fatigue, with a quarter of people surveyed saying they are growing tired of social media channels. Worryingly 19% of respondents admitting to having agreed to something without realising it while using a digital device.