An Ericsson Consumer Insight Summary Report: “In the age of the internet we often hear how companies, authorities and other organizations get access to our personal information. As a result, the topic of privacy is frequently debated. What is sometimes overlooked is how we as individuals watch in return. We observe not only each other, but also companies and authorities – and we share what we see. Your neighbor searches the net about the family that just moved in next door. The traveler films his hotel and shares the video with other potential holidaymakers. A friend shares her experience about her employer on a social network. As sharing online continues to grow, we are starting to see the impact on both our individual lives and society. In this report we begin to uncover how consumers perceive their influence – but also some issues that arise as a result….
By sharing more information than ever, smartphone owners are increasingly acting like citizen journalists > Over 70 percent of all smartphone users share personal photos regularly. 69 percent share more than they did 2 years ago
> 69 percent also read or watch other people’s shared content more than they did 2 years ago
People report wrongdoings by businesses and authorities online
> 34 percent of smartphone owners who have had bad experiences with companies say they usually share their experiences online. 27 percent repost other consumers’ complaints on a weekly basis
> Over half of smartphone users surveyed believe that being able to express opinions online about companies has increased their influence
Consumers expect shared information to have an effect on society and the world
> 54 percent believe that the internet has increased the possibility for whistleblowers to expose corrupt and illicit behavior in companies and organizations
> Furthermore, 37 percent of smartphone users believe that sharing information about a corrupt company online has greater impact than going to the police
With new power comes new challenges
> 46 percent of smartphone users would like a verification service to check the authenticity of an online posting or news clip
> 64 percent would like to be able to stop negative information about themselves circulating online
> 1 in 2 says protecting personal information should be a priority on the political agenda, although only 1 in 4 says it is not”…(More)”