What does your mobile device say about you? Well, it might reveal your true age. What's the number-one way people lose data on their smartphones? You may not want to know. Have you ever said something you regret on Facebook? You're not alone. Here's a closer look at some of the latest small-business surveys.
Digital Divide
Businesspeople and consumers alike are increasingly relying on mobile devices. But which ones? New research from Affinity's American Magazine Study suggests that different age groups are gravitating toward different devices. Simply put, baby boomers are more likely to own e-readers, Gen Xers love tablets and Millennials are into their smartphones. Affinity's study found that older boomers (ages 50 to 64) are 19 percent more likely than other age groups to own an e-reader like Amazon's Kindle. Gen Xers (ages 30 to 49) are 16 percent more likely to own a tablet like Apple's iPad. And Millennials (those under 30) are 28 percent more likely to own a smartphone. Hmmm, I own all three devices, so does that mean I'm ageless?
I'm Losing You
Anyone who relies on a mobile phone knows what a pain it is when you lose your contact data. In fact, more than half (55 percent) of respondents in the Mobile & Online Backup Trends Study by Plaxo, an online address-book provider, say the biggest hassle when losing a phone was losing their contacts and address book information with it -- even more so than losing photos, documents or e-mail.
So what's the most common way people lose their smartphone data? One in five of those surveyed cop to accidentally dropping their phones in the toilet. I can solve this problem pretty easily -- when you've got to "go," please hang up the phone.
Regrets, They've Had a Few
Dropping their phones in the toilet isn't the only digital faux pas people are making these days. While social media has become essential for business, nearly one-fourth (24 percent) of social-media users under age 45 say they've done something they regret on a social network, according to a Marist Poll. (By comparison, just 13 percent of those 45 and older had regrets about their social-media actions.)
Upper-income users were more likely than lower-income users to have regrets (24 percent and 13 percent, respectively), and men were more likely than women to feel bad about it (21 percent and 15 percent, respectively). Maybe the high level of regret is why 51 percent of both men and women think social media does more harm than good when it comes to personal relationships.
Rieva Lesonsky is CEO of GrowBiz Media, a media company that helps entrepreneurs start and grow their businesses. Follow Rieva at Twitter.com/Rieva and visit her blog at SmallBizDaily.com. Visit her website SmallBizTrendCast to get the scoop on business trends and sign up for Rieva's free TrendCast reports.