Young people replace their smartphone every three years on average
Published: Wednesday, Nov 22nd 2023, 09:30
Updated At: Wednesday, Nov 22nd 2023, 09:33
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Young people in Switzerland replace their smartphone after just under three years. According to a new report, this means they keep their cell phone in use for almost a year longer than in the last survey in 2016.
While a device was replaced after 1.9 years on average in 2016, it had been in use for around 2.7 years in 2022, according to the JAMESfocus report published on Wednesday by the Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW) and Swisscom. Over 1,000 young people between the ages of 12 and 19 were surveyed for the report.
According to the ZHAW, teenagers use their smartphones for longer than adults. Among the adult population, the average duration is around two years.
There were differences in the duration of use by language region. On average, smartphones are used slightly longer in German-speaking Switzerland (2.8 years) than in French-speaking Switzerland (2.5 years) and Ticino (2.3 years). There was also a difference in terms of the origin of the young people. On average, Swiss young people replace their smartphone slightly later (after 2.8 years) than their peers without a Swiss passport (after 2.3 years).
More second-hand appliances
According to the report, the proportion of second-hand devices is higher among young people (18%) than among adults (7%). 42% of young people have also had their smartphone repaired. Among adults, the figure was also only seven percent.
The results show that sustainability has become more important to young people, according to the ZHAW. However, sustainability is not the top priority when it comes to smartphone use.
Important technical properties
According to the study, for the majority of young people (73%), the technical features of the smartphone, such as camera quality or storage space, are among the most important criteria when choosing a device. The second most important factor for them is the price of the device. In third place, some way behind, is the device brand, closely followed by battery life.
According to the study, the design or appearance of the device is one of the three most important features for a quarter of young people. The relevance of the appearance of the device has therefore decreased. In 2016, design was still of central importance to almost half of young people.
Whether the smartphone was manufactured under fair working conditions is one of the most relevant criteria for just under a tenth of young people. Other aspects such as the repairability of the device, whether it is a second-hand device and in which country the device was manufactured were less relevant for the young people.
Positive change
The smartphone is already becoming an important consumer good in adolescence, the ZHAW researchers emphasized in the report. By 2022, 99% of 12 to 19-year-olds would own their own cell phone.
The longer service life is a positive change, according to the report. "Extending the life cycle of appliances beyond their maximum useful life is a key measure for reducing negative environmental impacts."
In order to strengthen this effect, the researchers recommend in the ZHAW press release that young people should be made more aware of the impact of smartphones on the environment, that these aspects should be emphasized more strongly in advertising and that opportunities for second-hand purchases and repairs should be made better known and more easily accessible.
©Keystone/SDA
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