In the age of Netflix and Spotify, the results are shocking.
Is it time to break our digital habits?
According to a study by consultancy Ernst & Young that was reported by The Straits Times, Singaporeans spend half a day—12 hours 42 minutes to be exact—staring down at their digitals devices. From mobiles phones to video game consoles, here’s a concise breakdown of the usage:
Out of the 1,000 people polled, more than 70% admitted to checking their smartphones or tablets when they wake up in the morning, as well as just before they go to sleep. One-third of them also agree with the statement that they’re addicted to their digital devices.
Such staggering statistics shed new light on our dependency on technology, as experts worry that we may be spending too much time on screen, which can result in social and health consequences. For one, the lack of sleep can impede work productivity, and more importantly, our health.
It has even been suggested by Dr Michael Netzley, Academic Director at Singapore Management University Executive Development, for digital discipline to be taught in workplaces, schools, places of worship and even the media.
“The problem is not the technology. The problem is a lack of disciplined use of the technology,” he remarked.
Piracy. It’s A Crime.
Dr Netzley’s view on digital discipline is a point worth noting when we take into consideration how the same study also revealed that many Singaporeans are still irresponsibly engaging in piracy.
Before Netflix was launched in Singapore, there were tutorials that taught us how to mask our locations to get a piece of the network. Now, despite the increasing accessibility to affordable streaming services such as Netflix and Spotify, six out of ten respondents admitted to downloading or streaming content that are unauthorised —the most pirated content being TV shows and movies.
But, there’s more to it than money—Singaporeans aren’t cheapskates who refuse to fork out $10 per month for a legitimate subscription. It appears privacy was also a key concern for respondents who consume these digital services.
72 per cent were worried about having their personal data accessed, while 81 per cent felt that organisations should be more transparent about how they use the consumer information collected.
To be fair, most companies craft detailed privacy statements so consumers are privy to the collection of information and its usage (you can find Netflix’s here and Spotify’s here). But, it is always viciously tempting to click ‘agree’ without looking through the exhaustive terms and conditions because … who has time for that, right?
The Future Of Paid Content
Estimate number of active streaming subscribers to Netflix in Singapore from 2016 to 2020 in thousands (Source)
Despite uncertainty, we cannot deny that Netflix and Spotify are helping to alter consumers’ mindsets of paid content (and drastically revolutionising how we consume them). Just last month, Spotify hit 50 million subscribers, adding a record-breaking 10 million more to the mix in less than six months.
The projected number of Netflix subscribers in Singapore is also expected to grow steadily—a fivefold increase between 2016 and 2020 with the number forecasted to culminate at 264,000.
It goes to show that privacy concerns aside, our smartphone-addicted generation is bound to be willing to pay more for more quality content on the go.