Putting people first: report highlights risk to sustainable growth as digital needs are overlooked
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● Less than half of people globally feel their digital needs are being met and only one third believe digital technology will create jobs.
● Just 45% of people trust businesses to protect their privacy. Almost half of people globally are taking steps to reduce data shared online and one in five actively limit their time online
● One in three say digital is having a negative effect on their health and quality of life
● However, two-thirds of people believe the positive impacts of digital (e.g. access to information, efficiency and choice) outweigh the negative (e.g. cyber-crime)—today and over the next 5-10 years
The Digital Society Index 2019: Human Needs in a Digital World, released today by dentsu, reveals a crisis of confidence in the digital economy. Despite widespread recognition of the utility of digital services, a range of basic, self-fulfilment, psychological and societal needs are failing to be met. Alongside a growing distrust of digital technology, this is prompting consumers to take back control of their digital experience, with significant implications for business.
The research, conducted in partnership with Oxford Economics and surveying over 43,000 people, measures performance in 24 countries across the dimensions of dynamism, inclusion and trust.
At the global level, there is a gap between the promise of digital technologies and the human impact. 58% of people think not enough is being done to ensure that digital technology benefits everyone in society, rather than a select few. There is rising concern about the impact of digital on our health and quality of life, as 33% of people believe they have been affected negatively, with young people particularly at risk. And 57% of people are anxious about the pace of change, with that figure rising to over 80% in markets such as Brazil, China and India.
Digital consumers taking back control
Alongside broader societal concerns, the report flags a fast-approaching tipping point, as people become increasingly mindful and critical of data management by public institutions and private companies.
Only 45% of people globally trust that businesses holding their personal data will protect their privacy. Eight out of ten now say they would stop doing business with an organisation that misused their data, representing the most prominent driver of distrust. These concerns go beyond the tech industry: all businesses deploying digital products and services find themselves under a similar level of scrutiny.
While digital technologies are transforming how brands serve their customers, a lack of trust and concerns about personal well-being are prompting people to seek a healthier balance of digital media consumption. According to the study, 44% of people have taken steps to reduce the amount of data they share online, 27% have installed ad blocking software, 21% have actively limited the amount of time they spend online or on their smartphone, and 14% have deactivated a social media account.
Critically for businesses, those consumers most active in taking back control of their online data and time, in ways that will make it harder for brands to engage them, are also those with the highest propensity to use digital products and services (e.g. shop online, use an app to take a taxi or stream music). This is creating a digital paradox for brands - as those most ready to embrace digital marketing and services are also the most likely to push away from them.
Tim Andree, Executive Chairman & CEO dentsu, commented:
“Thirty years after the birth of the world wide web, the social and economic impact of digital technology is both extraordinary and on-going. It has powered economic growth, created jobs, lifted millions out of poverty and transformed the way we all live our lives.
“But while the innovation, dynamism and growth unleashed by digital technology is the defining economic trend of our time, across the globe, the human impact of that change is both complex and, in some areas, a cause for concern.
“Ultimately, digital innovation must serve fundamental human needs. We need to find a more sustainable way to think about the application of data, technology and creativity not just for economic gain, but for the benefit of society at large and for all of us as individuals.
“My hope is that this report will inspire a fresh conversation about the digital economy, rooted in a longer-term view and the huge opportunity for brands and businesses to apply the power of technology to enrich people’s lives in more meaningful ways.”
Implications for brands and businesses
While the global findings suggest significant progress is required to better meet people’s digital needs, there are significant variations across countries. Emerging markets tend to feel their basic needs (digital access and trust in data use) are well addressed, but not their psychological needs (health and well-being). However, people in developed markets are generally positive about their basic and psychological needs, but much less so in respect of self-fulfilment (skills, education and jobs) and societal needs (belief in digital as a force for good).
These trends carry significant implications for brands and businesses in terms of how they engage through digital channels and the report includes a series of recommendations:
● With misuse of personal data the number one driver of distrust, businesses need to compete on openness and transparency around data usage a positive source of differentiation. By focusing on engagement, not reach brands can also maximise the value of interactions, as consumers increasingly initiate those moment themselves.
● Amid a growing debate around the negative impact of social media and digital technology on health, brands need to work out how they can be part of helping people undertake their own digital detox and create a loyalty premium by helping them interact on their own terms.
● Harness technology to enable more effective learning. The more positive people are about digital technology in terms of their own skills, the more likely they are to engage with digital products and services.
Digital Society Index: Methodology and country rankings
Drawing on a survey of over 43,000 people, the Index assesses countries’ performance across dynamism, inclusion, and trust, to measure how well they are building a digital economy that works for all in society.
This year Singapore, the US and China rank as the top digital economies in the world. The US continues to perform strongly on dynamism, but less so on trust, reflecting a wider trend across Western markets such as Australia, France and Germany.
The United Kingdom falls to 5th after ranking first in 2018, driven by declining consumer sentiment around the future impact of technology, while Nordic markets dominate the top ten.
- ENDS
For further information contact:
Ian Barber
Global Head of Corporate Communications
T: +44 20 3535 9814
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