Fitness trackers are popular among Hispanics and women. According to a new study from the Pew Research Center, approximately one-in-five Americans use a smartwatch or fitness trackers, and women are more likely than men to use a fitness device.
The new Pew study gives businesses, health care companies, and physicians an inside look into the people who use the products and who do not use the devices.
Results of the fitness trackers study:
- Pew says 21% of Americans who report using a smartwatch or fitness tracker.
- 18% of men and 25% of women use a fitness tracker
- 20% of Whites, 23% of blacks and 26% of Hispanics
- 25% of those 18-49, and 17% of those over 50.
- 31% of those who make $75,000 or more
- 20% of those who make between $30,000 $74,999
- 12% of those who make less than $30,000.
Fitness Trackers Privacy
When asked about privacy and sharing medical data with researchers, 41% said it was acceptable, 35% said it was not, and 22% said they were unsure.
Emily Vogels writes in the Pew Research Center study, “In the Center’s survey, there’s no clear consensus among the public as to whether sharing this information with medical researchers is acceptable or not. About four-in-ten Americans (41%) say it is acceptable for makers of fitness trackers to share users’ data with medical researchers seeking to better understand the link between exercise and heart disease, while a somewhat smaller share (35%) believes this is an unacceptable practice. Another 22% are unsure if this is an acceptable practice or not.”
She adds, ” Americans who use fitness trackers are far more supportive of sharing data from these devices with health researchers than those who don’t use these devices.”
The Wearables Business
It is important to note, thanks to Apple, the number of wearables doubled last year. Thanks to the Apple Watch and AirPods, Apple sold 29.5 million wearables, up from 10 million in the same quarter the previous year.
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