In an effort to stem the outbreak of COVID-19, millions of American families have been sheltering in place since the beginning of March. The Consumer Technology Association (CTA)® research report COVID-19 Impact Study: Use of Technology at Home showed that by mid-March, up to 35% of U.S. workers were working remotely either fully or part-time.

Staying Entertained

As the number of stay-at-home Americans increased in the latter half of March, the number of technology purchases followed suit, with entertainment items seeing a dramatic sales increase. Smartphones and laptops top the list of recent tech purchases, driven by millennial buyers and households with children.

Although streaming services and social media had already been seeing a steady incline in the past three years and will continue to grow, expanded needs for digital-only entertainment and communication since the novel coronavirus outbreak have only accelerated the adoption of new and ever-improving platforms.

A quarter of U.S. households are using a new streaming video service, and gaming services are also seeing a number of first-time users. Online multiplayer services or gaming livestream platforms, such as Twitch or YouTube Gaming, are also benefitting from a rising demand.

The Way to Stay Healthy

Delivery services and fitness tools are also proving to be a valuable social distancing tool, as households adapt to contactless food services — and say they will continue using these services after the outbreak is over — and prioritize their health with online workout options.

A New Normal

Online services may have fundamentally changed from this pandemic. As adoption of and reliance on digital shopping and delivery services rises in this critical time, will consumers shift to remain in more digital lifestyles?

Beyond the current needs to stay safe, will the promise of convenience mean widespread options of online services are here to stay?

Learn more about how U.S. households are shifting behaviors at home in response to the COVID-19 outbreak in COVID-19 Impact Study: Use of Technology at Home.