2010-08-18-皮尤-The_Fading_Glory_of_the_Television_and_Telephone_11页_369kb

The Fading Glory of the Television and Telephone: A summary report from Pew Research Center's Social & Demographic Trends Project, published in May 2010.

Primary Findings

Decline in Perceived Necessity

• Television: While only 42% of Americans (down from 52% in 2009 and 64% in 2006) consider the television set a necessity, household ownership has increased, with most homes now having more TVs than people.
• Landline Telephone: Replaced by cell phones, only 62% see a landline as a necessity (down 6 percentage points since 2009), though landline adoption has peaked much earlier (97% in 2001).
• Cell Phone: Although considered a necessity by only 47% (down 2 points from 2009), cell phone usage has boomed (82% of adults use them, up from 53% in 2000). Subscription download time for younger people.

Factors Driving Change

• Technology: New gadgets (cell phones, computers, smart TVs) threaten or supplant traditional appliances.
• Economy: The Great Recession (starting 2007) forced a shift towards frugality.
• Consumer Habits: People increasingly use cell phones, computers, and online platforms for communication, entertainment, and services previously handled by landlines and TVs.

Demographic Trends

• Age:
  • Older respondents are more likely to see traditional items (TV, landline) as necessities and newer items (cell phone, internet) sometimes with less enthusiasm.
  • Younger respondents (18-29) overwhelmingly see cell phones as necessities but not landlines or TVs.
  • Adoption and perception differ by income level. High-income groups are more likely to see home computers and high-speed internet as necessities but fewer TVs (small-screen) than low-income groups.
• Generational Disconnect: Newer generations exhibit different relationships with older technology like landlines.

Ephemeral Dichotomy

• The assumption that appliances are strictly a "luxury" or "necessity" may be outdated. More suitable questions might ask if they are considered "necessary" or "superfluous."
• The internet and cell phones have become increasingly recognized as necessities, while appliances like clothes dryers see their necessity rating decline sharply.

Future Implications

• New necessities are emerging (internet, cell phones, flat-screen TVs), while old ones decline.
• The market dynamics for landlines and TVs continue to evolve.

Conclusion

The "Fading Glory" report characterizes the transition towards newer forms of communication and entertainment, moving away from once-ubiquitous appliances like the landline phone and basic television set. This shift is influenced by technological innovation, economic downturn, and generational differences.