Is Anxiety about Physical Safety Impacting Millennials?

BOCA RATON, Fla., Aug. 08, 2017 -- A recent survey commissioned by ADT LLC provides a fresh perspective on how Millennials view personal protection. A generation known for their fearlessness, confidence and optimism think often about safety precautions, with many choosing to opt out of activities due to the lack of personal security.

According to the survey:

• Millennials love to use their devices to stay connected to friends, but they also see them as essential to their personal protection. 90% say technology like smartphones and smartwatches provide peace of mind when they are alone.
• Millennials know their smartphones are not enough to protect them under certain circumstances, with 75% interested in purchasing a personal security device.
• While Millennials crave experiences, balancing a sense of adventure with safety can be an ongoing challenge. 74% of Millennials have been worried about their physical safety at some point in the past 12 months.

“Knowing Millennials often live an active, on-the-go lifestyle, ADT understands the importance of extending our capabilities and services beyond the walls of the traditional home or business,” said Jay Darfler, Senior Vice President, Emerging Markets, ADT. “Samsung serves as a great partner to address the needs of this audience who often find themselves thinking about personal protection. Consumers who own Samsung Gear S2 and Gear S3 smartwatches may now access ADT professional monitoring on-the-go with the ADT Panic Response available in the Samsung Gear Manager app. There is no shift in routine, just an added layer of protection because everyone deserves the right to feel safe.”

The ADT Panic Response app, available on the Samsung GALAXY App store for less than $10 a month, allows consumers to quickly signal help by using the ADT panic feature directly from the Samsung Gear S2* or Gear S3** smartwatch, or the dedicated service feature, which provides key location information to ADT and emergency responders. Whether at home or on-the-go, Millennials can have peace of mind knowing they are protected with access to ADT’s monitoring center both inside or outside the home. 

Originally announced at CES 2017, the partnership between ADT and Samsung was the catalyst for current and future IoT security offerings. Backed by ADT professional monitoring both in and out of the home, Samsung’s smart devices will serve as the conduit for delivering new leading edge solutions to the marketplace. Within the survey, additional key trends were identified relating back to the needs Millennials have when thinking about personal security.

Missing Out on Life Experiences
76% of Millennial men and women have avoided specific experiences due to concerns pertaining to their physical safety. In fact, within the past 12 months, 34% have avoided crowded spaces like sporting events or malls, 30% avoided public transportation, 26% opted out of solo travel, and 25% have not exercised alone; all due to personal security concerns. 90% are going as far as taking a different route home, switching up the time and place of their exercise, and carrying pepper spray.

Relying on Mobile Devices
Significantly more Millennial women (94%) than men (85%) depend on their devices for safety, However, it seems Millennials know their smartphones are not enough to protect them under certain circumstances with 75% interested in purchasing a personal security device. While men (74%) and women (76%) are equally interested in purchasing a personal security device, significantly more Millennials who’ve worried about physical safety in the past 12 months (83%) are interested than those who haven’t worried (54%).

Geography Plays a Role
The data revealed more urban (79%) than rural Millennials (68%) have avoided activities because they were concerned about safety. Considerably more Millennials who live in the West (30%) than in the Northeast (20%) have avoided exercising alone because they were concerned they might feel unsafe. Additionally, 91% of millennials living in urban areas (versus 82% of rural dwellers) think of their technology as a safety net.

View complete data and methodology from the survey here.

To learn more about ADT Panic Response, visit www.adt.com/samsung-gear

About ADT

ADT is a leading provider of security and automation solutions for homes and businesses in the United States and Canada. ADT's broad and pioneering set of products and services, including ADT Pulse® interactive home and business solutions, and health services, meet a range of customer needs for today’s active and increasingly mobile lifestyles. Headquartered in Boca Raton, Florida.

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