NortonLifeLock study shows how much screentime we have every day

NortonLifeLock has released a new global study examining consumers’ at-home online behaviours. The new findings from the New Zealand research show that more than one in three New Zealanders (36 per cent) say they are addicted to screens. Despite many understanding the security risks involved, more than one in five connected device owners (22 per cent) are not taking the proper actions to secure their devices, putting themselves and their families at risk of losing personal information.

In the study, conducted online by The Harris Poll among more than 1,000 New Zealand adults, 48 per cent of Kiwis surveyed say the amount of time they spend in front of a screen outside of school and work purposes has increased significantly during the pandemic. Consumers reported spending an average of 5.1 hours a day in front of screens outside of work or school, and for many, it’s too much.  More than three out of five New Zealanders (62 per cent) admit that they spend way too much time looking at screens, and close to half (49 per cent) say smartphones are the gadget that they are spending too much time on.

About half of New Zealanders (52 per cent) agree that the amount of time they spend in front of a screen negatively impacts their physical health and more than one-third (37 per cent) say it negatively impacts their mental health. Close to one in four (22 per cent) say that increased screen time during the pandemic has made them feel bad about their body or hurt their self-esteem, and more than two in five New Zealanders (42 per cent) say it has made them less physically active.

Respondents also noted that increased screen time during the pandemic has led them to experience increased anxiety or depression (16 per cent), or has made them feel lonelier than ever before (14 per cent).

“Kiwis’ addiction to their devices has taken a toll on their physical and mental health during the pandemic, making people feel burnt out and unsure how to keep themselves safe from losing personal information,” said Kevin Roundy, technical director and stalkerware specialist with Norton Labs, NortonLifeLock’s research division. “As we transition into a ‘new normal’ and people travel outside the comfort of their homes, consumers will be facing more cyber safety risks with public WiFi access, outdated public computers, and potential identity theft.”

New Zealanders understand there are security risks that come from connected devices, with many believing it is very or extremely likely that a computer (57 per cent) or smartphone (39 per cent) will be hacked. Yet, when it comes to securing their devices, only around one in three device owners surveyed have denied permissions to apps on devices (38 per cent), changed the default passwords on devices (37 per cent),  or installed cybersecurity software on their devices (34 per cent). Even fewer (21 per cent) say they regularly update the device passwords as a way to secure their device(s).

“New Zealand’s cyber security landscape is rapidly changing, and recent attacks on businesses and institutions have made Kiwis realise that their online lives need protecting. Our data also show that New Zealand adults own 5.6 connected devices on average, which tells us that Kiwis need to think deeply about how they are protecting themselves from cybercriminals,” says Mark Gorrie, Senior Director - APJ, NortonLifeLock.

“Keeping your devices and software updated, using multifactor identification or encrypting your files, and using technologies that provide set and forget device security are easy first steps to taking control of the security of your own data. It puts people on a path to living their digital lives safely and keeping their devices and data secured.”

Additional findings from the 2021 Norton Cyber Safety Insights Report: Special Release – Home & Family include:

• Millennial and Gen Z kiwis are more likely than their older counterparts to admit they overindulge on-screen use, but they also recognise that it negatively impacts their physical and mental health. Younger adults surveyed (age 18-39) are more likely to admit they spend way too much time looking at screens (72 per cent vs. 55 per cent of those aged 40 and older), but they also are more likely to recognize that the amount of time they spend in front of screens negatively impacts their physical health (63 per cent vs. 44 per cent). Younger adults are also more likely to say the amount of time they spend in front of screens negatively affects their mental health (54 per cent vs 25 per cent)
• New Zealand consumers surveyed tend to be reactive when it comes to dealing with protecting their connected devices. An overwhelming 90 per cent of device owners say they would take action if one of their connected devices were hacked, most commonly changing the security settings or passwords (60 per cent). One-third or more say they would reset the device (i.e., remove all personal data/reset to default) (37 per cent) or install security software or increase pre-existing security software (33 per cent). Slightly less say they would search online for help (30 per cent) or ask their family member(s) or friend(s) for help (27 per cent).
• New Zealanders feel conversations about online safety should start young. Around nine in 10 (89 per cent) believe it’s absolutely essential or very important for parents to teach their children about cyber safety, and nearly all New Zealand adults (97 per cent) agree these conversations are more important now than ever before. Still, whether these conversations happen or not, more than three-quarters (79 per cent) concede it is difficult for parents to keep children safe when they are online.
• Screen time wasn’t all bad. For some New Zealanders, increased screen time during the pandemic has helped them feel connected (48 per cent) and has been their way to unwind (45 per cent).