Over a quarter share content / media across devices at home

Over a quarter (26%) of adults have shared media and/or content across separate devices via their home WiFi network, new YouGov research reveals.

The “Connected Devices, 2014” report found that just over a third (34%) of adults specifically look for devices they can connect to their existing devices across their home network. YouGov finds that the most popular form of content sharing between devices is viewing photos on the TV set, followed by streaming music from a smartphone, laptop or tablet to a speaker system in the home.

YouGov’s research shows the scale of ‘media multi-tasking’ – using more than one device at the same time for a related or completely different purpose. The report finds that over half (56%) now watch TV while browsing on the internet and over one in five (21%) start an activity on one screen and continue it on another.

The study points to the sale of social media use with over a quarter (27%) watching TV while using sites such as Facebook or Twitter to comment or share content with others. However, this is very much skewed towards younger people. More than four in ten (42%) 16-24 year-olds use social media while watching TV, compared to 37% of 25-39 year-olds, 28% of 40-54 year-old and 15% of over-55s.

YouGov also explored the barriers to connecting devices. Among those who do not presently connect devices together or share media across devices, half (50%) have no interest in doing so. However, for many a lack of understanding is preventing adoption. Around a third (34%) do not have the knowledge, over a quarter (28%) say it seems too complicated and just under one in five say they didn’t know devices could be connected.