Growing importance of internet-connected devices

The usage of internet-connected devices has increased from 2020 to 2022, reflecting their growing importance in modern life. In 2022, more than half (52%) of the people in the EU aged between 16 and 74 years used an internet-connected TV, 9 percentage points (pp) higher than in 2020 (43%). 

The usage of smart wearables also experienced a notable uptick, with more than one quarter (26%) of people aged 16-74 using smartwatches, fitness bands, connected goggles or headsets, safety trackers, connected clothes or shoes and other internet-connected accessories. This represents an increase of 9 pp as well, compared with 2020 (17%).

Internet-connected game consoles were also popular in 2022, as 20% of people aged 16-74 used them. Virtual assistants, such as smart speakers or apps, were used by 13% of people in the same age group, while 10% used internet-connected solutions for energy management, such as connected thermostats, utility meters, lights or plug-ins.

Source dataset: isoc_iiot_use

Among the EU countries, the usage of an internet-connected TV was notably high in Malta where almost 8 out of 10 people used an internet-connected TV (78%), followed by Spain (69%), Sweden and Ireland (both 68%) and Cyprus (66%).

On the opposite side, Bulgaria (30%), Croatia (35%), Poland (38%), Greece (39%) and Romania (40%) were the EU countries with the lowest shares of people using an internet-connected TV.

Lack of necessity cited as the main reason for not using internet-connected devices

Despite the high increase in the use of internet-connected devices between 2020 and 2022, a considerable number of people reported not using these devices in 2022. 

41% of people aged 16-74 who had never used any internet-connected devices cited the lack of necessity as the main reason for their non-use. However, this percentage reflected a 2 pp decrease from 2020.

The next most common reason for non-use was the associated cost. In total, 10% of people aged 16-74 considered the cost as being too high. The associated share in 2020 was 11%. This was followed by the share of persons with concerns about the privacy and protection of personal data generated by those devices or systems (8%), down from 11% in 2020.

Source dataset: isoc_iiot_bx