Twenty-one percent of "online" U.S. adults use a wearable device, according to a new survey.
The future of wearables is uncertain, and the industry has been disappointed with a year that saw sales of wearables plateau after several years of rapid growth.
Along with evidence that the products aren't successfully marketing to women, there are also concerns that wearables aren't reaching the people most in need of health support–senior citizens.
Recommended For You
Indeed, new market data displays the dramatic difference in use between generations.
According to the annual survey conducted by Forrester Research, the use of wearables has increased across all demographic groups but at very different paces.
The two youngest groups, Generation Y and Generation Z, easily lead the pack, with 35 percent and 34 percent of the respective generations owning a wearable device.
But use among members of Generation X is only half that of the younger generations at 18 percent. Eleven percent of younger baby boomers report owning a wearable, compared to 7 percent of older boomers and 7 percent of Golden Generation members.
It may seem predictable that the kids are ahead, but in other areas of tech, the disparities aren't quite as pronounced. Golden Generation members who are online own more than three connected devices (TV, tablets, phones etc.) on average, compared to more than four for the overall population of online adults.
The item most responsible for wearable success is the smartphone, which more than 70 percent of "online" adults now have.
"Without smartphones … the wearables market is likely nothing more than a fad for devoted athletes and passionate (or overzealous) weekend warriors," wrote Julie Ask, of Forrester.
© 2025 ALM Global, LLC, All Rights Reserved. Request academic re-use from www.copyright.com. All other uses, submit a request to [email protected]. For more information visit Asset & Logo Licensing.
