How much tech is too much?
Deloitte’s latest Connected Consumer Survey indicates that people rely on technology devices and appreciate their benefits, but some say “too much digital” has its drawbacks.
Connected devices are an integral part of our lives. For many of us, devices are essential to how we socialize and communicate. And we’ve got plenty. The number of connected devices in the average household now stands at 21—down from the pandemic peak of 25 in 2021. We asked people how they felt about all these devices in our 2023 edition of Deloitte’s Connected Consumer Survey, which surveyed 2,018 US consumers in Q2 2023.
Understandably, the results were mixed.
On the one hand: Tech helps us connect
40% of survey respondents said they interact more with people through their devices than in the physical world—and that’s true for over half of Gen Zs and nearly half of Millennials. Crucially, nearly two-thirds (64%) of respondents reported their devices help them build meaningful connections with others, whether friends, family, or people with similar interests.
While many of our device-based connections are happening through smartphones, other devices are also connecting us:
On gaming devices, playing multiplayer games, chatting, and sharing game content and clips can all promote connection
Connected exercise equipment can foster a feeling of connection through live streaming, on-demand classes, and leaderboards
Smartwatches and fitness trackers can encourage connection through competitions, challenge groups, and activity sharing.
When asked to consider technology’s overall impact, 77% of our survey respondents believe their connected devices have a positive impact on their lives, enhancing convenience, comfort, enjoyment, and safety. For Gen Z and Millennials combined, more than eight in 10 expressed a favorable view, versus 75 of Gen X, 69% of Boomers, and 55% of earlier generations. In addition, more than eight in 10 respondents say their devices save time and keep them informed, while seven in 10 say devices enable new experiences that they wouldn’t otherwise have.
All of the above chalks up to a fairly rosy view of technology, but consumers do have their reservations.
On the other hand: Is tech too much of a good thing?
Consumers may be reaching their comfort limit. Although they have continued to buy new devices, primarily replacing aging ones, most consumers haven’t been expanding their collections. Current economic unease may be one factor, but another likely reason is concern about tech fatigue.
Just as we noted in our 2022 report, people continue to feel frustrated by the complexity of managing their digital lives:
41% of consumers revealed that they dislike managing their devices (for example, updating software, handling security, or fixing problems – who can blame them?)
28% said they’re overwhelmed by the devices and the subscriptions they need to manage, as anyone trying to pick a film for movie night can attest
Adults aged 18–40 are feeling more overwhelmed (37%) than older generations (23%), likely due to managing a larger collection of household devices (26 on average) than older generations (18 on average).
In addition, 38% of our respondents said they’re struggling to limit their screen time, another sign of tech fatigue that has implications for well-being. Studies have highlighted the potential negative impacts of too much screen time on children and adolescents, including disturbed sleep, increased rates of obesity, and poor stress regulation.[i] There is less research on how excessive screen time may affect adults—but some studies point to eye strain, impaired sleep, and worsened mental health.[ii] With screen time estimated to be up 60–80% from pre-pandemic levels, any potential negative consequences are likely to be exacerbated. [iii]
In a deep-dive within our larger report on the survey, “Consumers seek the ‘just right’ balance between digital and physical worlds,” we take a closer look at how consumers are setting boundaries on their digital activities. The sentiment that excessive device usage may impact well-being creates opportunities for device and app makers. For instance, consumers must typically search for settings and configure usage limits manually—tech companies could assist by providing automatic reminders about screen time and prompts to take digital breaks.
Looking forward: The impact of Gen AI
To find the right balance of technology devices and their prevalence in our lives, connected devices likely need to become more intelligent, personalized, and easy to manage. Gen AI may have a strong role to play in shaping that future.[iv]
Instead of managing each of your 20+ digital devices independently, imagine using natural language to tell a smart home system to orchestrate all your devices seamlessly. For example, simply saying “we’re going on vacation tomorrow” could be enough guidance to adjust all systems and set up your security. Indeed, companies are already experimenting with bringing such Gen AI capabilities into consumer devices.[v]
In time, AI chatbots may even be capable of providing companionship, empathy, and trusted advice—lending more of a human element to heavily digital lives.[vi] Progress in technology interaction is poised to make our devices mold to our way of life, instead of us having to adjust to technology. When that happens, we’re likely to be more connected than ever – and it’ll be up to us to define what “connection” means.
— Abhijith Ravinutala, OCTO Manager & Editor, Deloitte Consulting LLP
This post was originally published in December 2023.
[i] Gadi Lissak, “Adverse physiological and psychological effects of screen time on children and adolescents: Literature review and case study,” Environmental Research 164, (2018): pp. 149–157; Vaishnavi S Nakshine, Preeti Thute, Mahalaqua Nazli Khatib, and Bratati Sarkar, “Increased screen time as a cause of declining physical, psychological health, and sleep patterns: A literary review,” Cureus 14, no. 10 (2022).
[ii] Jamie Friedlander Serrano, “Experts can’t agree on how much screen time is too much for adults,” Time, May 9, 2022; K C Madhav, Shardulendra Prasad Sherchand, and Samendra Sherchan, “Association between screen time and depression among US adults,” Preventive Medicine Reports 8, (2017): pp. 67–71.
[iii] Ibid.
[iv] Deloitte AI Institute, “Generative AI is all the rage,” accessed August 10, 2023; George Lawton, “What is generative AI? Everything you need to know,” TechTarget, accessed August 10, 2023.
[v] Eric Hal Schwartz, "Sensory gives generative AI chatbots a voice on consumer devices," Voicebot.AI, April 24, 2023; David Nield, "Apple wants to 'transform' the iPhone with generative AI," Techradar, May 21, 2023.
[vi] Connie Chan, "Embracing the future: How chatbots can become great companions," Andreessen Horowitz, accessed August 10, 2023.