Key figures from a recent IBM Consumer Survey reveal user’s changing digital habits. The findings reveal a notable shift to digital interactions and, as a result, security vulnerabilities.
The key findings of the survey were:
- Global respondents shifted further into digital interactions during COVID-19 and are likely to continue digital-first interactions in life after the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Across all categories, global consumers created about 15 new online accounts during the pandemic. Younger respondents created more new accounts during the pandemic across categories, and created more accounts across each category than any other age group or generation.
- Over four in five (82%) global respondents are re-using the same credentials that they have used for other accounts at least some of the time. Younger respondents are more likely to say they always or mostly re-use the same credentials that they have used for other accounts.
- Many would still rather place an order digitally – even if there were security/privacy concerns. Over four in ten (44%) global respondents, and 51% of millennials would rather place and pay for an order digitally than go to a physical location or call to place an order even if they had concerns about the website/app’s safety or privacy.
- A majority of global respondents (63%) accessed COVID-related services via digital channels – including mobile apps, websites, email, and text messages.
- Nearly half (44%) of respondents do not plan to delete or deactivate any of the new accounts they created during the pandemic after society returns to pre-pandemic norms.
