Millennials Rely Heavily on Smartphone Camera Functionality
Not just for selfies
October 21, 2015
When it comes to smartphones, camera functionality is an essential feature for millennials. Selfies aside, this demographic’s picture-taking behaviors have expanded to other purposes, like mobile banking.
A September 2015 Mitek study conducted by Zogby Analytics revealed that 72% of US millennial smartphone users said their device’s camera function was indeed very important to them. It’s so imperative in fact, that almost a third of respondents said they would immediately get it fixed because without it, the device is practically useless. Another 29% would take the opportunity to get a new phone—again, immediately.
Camera functionality may be essential because of the frequency with which US millennial smartphone users take selfies. According to the study, 38% admitted to taking at least one selfie a day.
But the ease of taking photos has millennials expanding their camera skills to other activities, including mobile banking. Indeed, 68% of US millennial smartphone users would rather use mobile capture—taking a picture with a smartphone for data extraction purposes—instead of manually typing information on their device.
Behaviors such as these have led to a rise in mobile banking. More than half of US millennial smartphone users have deposited a check by taking a picture of it.
Furthermore, a separate JPMogan Chase & Co. study found that digital banking usage is highest among this demographic. A little over two-thirds of millennials used a bank’s mobile app. While online banking usage still reigns, millennials are clearly comfortable using their device, as well as its camera functionality, for their banking needs.
