If the users of this type of device are generally younger, more qualified and more affluent, the elderly are showing more and more interest in home automation.
In 2022, three out of ten people aged 15 or over had already used a connected device for their home, according to an Insee study published on Monday and which France Inter and franceinfo were able to consult. And a fifth of people aged 15 or over residing in France (excluding Mayotte) have already worn a connected personal object at least once, such as a watch or smart bracelet.
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These home automation devices include “all the techniques for controlling, programming remotely and automating a home”. Concretely, these are objects that have the ability to connect to a communication network such as Wi-Fi or Bluetooth: a smart speaker, a connected door lock, a connected coffee machine or a smart oven. Thus, 14% of French people aged 15 or over have already used a virtual assistant. 12% have already used a household appliance such as a robotic vacuum cleaner or a connected refrigerator. 10% have used a home energy management device at least once, such as a thermostat or lights.
Health issues
Connected devices are beginning to demonstrate their usefulness in the medical field: 5% of people aged 15 or over residing in France have already used a connected device for health or medical care. It can be, for example, an object that controls blood pressure, sugar levels or weight. According to INSEE, “people who are severely limited due to a health problem are 1.8 times more likely to have used this type of device than people who report no health problem“.
Users of this type of device are generally younger, more educated and more affluent. Thus, 42% of people under 45 have already used a home automation device, compared to only 14% of people aged 60 or over. 41% of French people who are in the fifth highest standard of living use this type of connected device, compared to 24% among the first fifth. Young people are also more likely to turn to connected watches or bracelets: 30% of those under 30 have already worn a connected personal object, compared to 9% of 60-74 year olds and 3% of those aged 75 or over.
While the Internet has taken a prominent place in our daily lives, with nearly 9 people aged 15 or over having Internet access at home, the use of a connected device remains a minority in France. 15% of French people aged 15 or over do not use home automation because they are not frequently on the Internet, 39% declare that they do not need these devices and 9% explain that their high cost is an obstacle. Other reasons most often cited by respondents are concerns about the protection of personal data (9%) or the risk of accident or injury (8%).
The French are not a fan of the “second life” of devices
On the other hand, ecological considerations go far behind the price or the technical characteristics of the device. Only 20% of Internet users consider the energy efficiency of the device and 14% its eco-design as an important criterion when acquiring a smartphone or computer. However, 82% of people who bought a computer, a smartphone or a tablet say they were sensitive to the price and 61% made their choice by looking at the characteristics of the hard disk and the speed of the processor. The youngest are more concerned about ecological criteria: 24% of people aged 15 to 29 look for example at the energy efficiency of the product, compared to 15% of 60-74 year olds.
Finally, digital devices, once rendered useless, are not necessarily resold or recycled. A second life or recycling is in fact only a reflex for a third of those questioned. About one in five people sell or give away their computer or smartphone when they replace it. “9% of owners of used smartphones, 16% of owners of used laptops or tablets, and 26% of owners of desktop computers either threw them in an e-waste recycling bin or left them at a retailer for he does“, can we read in the study. In the majority of cases, the devices are simply put aside: people keep them at home, even if they no longer use them (63% for smartphones and 55% for laptops or tablets).
The annual household survey on information and communication technology was conducted among people aged 15 or over. For the first time, the Institute questioned “people on their use of connected objects and their ecological practices in digital technology”.