Health and fitness app and device usage in Ireland continues to grow despite scepticism from experts and declining faith in their impact

Reach Insights Press Release

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20th February 2019 Health and fitness app and device usage in Ireland continues to grow despite scepticism from experts and declining faith in their impact Most popular types of app – Steps counter (84%), Heart rate monitor (27%) & Sleep Monitoring (23%) 74% believe these apps improve health/ fitness/ eating behaviour 27% use health or fitness tracking devices, wristbands (58%) and watch (42%) the most popular A drop of 16% in those who feel that fitness devices have a positive impact on their health More and more people are using smart phone applications and fitness devices to keep track of their health and well-being as technology becomes ever more integral to people’s everyday lives. The presence of these lifestyle apps and devices continues to grow despite numerous expert and academic reports that cast doubt over their actual health benefits. In order to build a better picture of this trend in Ireland, iReach has conduced a nationally representative survey of 1001 people to gauge their thoughts on health and fitness apps and devices and to learn more about how they are used.  39% of people in Ireland use apps that concern their health, body, fitness or diet, an increase of 4% from 2018. This figure is highest among 18-34-year olds at 46%, up from 42% last year and lowest with those aged over 55 on just 28%, though this figure is 3% higher than in 2018. The most popular types of app are steps counters or trackers (84%), heart rare monitors (27%) and sleep monitors (23%). Just under 3 in 4 people (74%) feel that these apps improve their health, fitness or eating behaviour. 27% of respondents use a fitness device, which is up from 21% last year. The most popular form of fitness tracking devices are wristbands or bracelets (58%) and watches (42%), with Fitbit by a large distance the most used brand at 63% followed by Garmin on 11%. 41% believe that fitness devices have a positive effect on their health, fitness or dietary habits, which represents are sharp decrease from last year where 57% felt that such devices had a positive impact. Nonetheless, 80% of users would be likely to recommend their tracking device to a friend

About iReach Insights

iReach Insights provides a range of research and market intelligence services in Ireland and Europe. iReach has built a Consumer Decisions Research Panel of 40,000 members in Ireland, delivering robust research insights. The survey questions were included in the Nationally Representative iReach Consumer Decisions Omnibus run between the 7th of February and the 14th of February has a 3% Confidence Interval and 95% Confidence Level.

Questions asked of participants:

Do you use Apps that concern your health/ body/ fitness/ diet?

What kind of fitness/ health Apps do you use?

Do you think that any of these Apps help you to improve your health/ fitness/ eating behaviour etc.?

Do you use any health/ fitness/ activity tracking devices?

What kind of health/ fitness tracking devices do you use?

Which brand(s) is/ are your device(s)? 

Do you think that these devices have any positive effect on your (health-fitness-activity) behaviour/ habits?
How likely would you be to recommend your health/ fitness/ activity tracking device to a friend?

iReach Insights Limited – Temple Hall, Temple Road, Blackrock, CO. Dublin, IRELAND.

iReach Managing Director: Oisin Byrne
T: 01-214 3740 or email: PR@ireachhq.com

Significant majority of people in Ireland support a ban on energy drinks for under 16-year olds

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19th February 2019

Significant majority of people in Ireland support a ban on energy drinks for under 16-year olds, however 45% do not believe a sugar tax will lower rates of childhood obesity

72% believe a ban would be a good idea

Less consensus on the prospect of a sugar tax, though 45% of younger people feel it would lower child obesity rates

89% say that children and teenagers should do more sports in school and learn more about healthy living

The last year has seen large retailers such as Boots and Aldi introduce restrictions on the sale of energy drinks to under 16s, and a nationally representative survey of 1001 people carried out by iReach has found widespread support for such limitations. The Irish Government is yet to introduce similar proposals that would apply nationwide.

The research results found that 72% of people in Ireland believe that banning energy drinks for those under the age of 16 is a good idea. In Britain the government has already stated its intent to introduce such a blanket ban in the coming months.

Less consensus exists on the prospect of a sugar tax, with 45% who do not feel that such a charge would help to lower the obesity rates of children in Ireland.

Nonetheless, 34% are more positive about the potential impact of a sugar tax, and there is a large disparity in views across different age groups as 45% of those aged between 18 and 34 support the idea compared with only 29% of over 55s.

40% of males in Ireland back the introduction of a sugar tax whereas only 27% of females say that a sugar tax could reduce rates of child obesity.

An enormous 89% of respondents think that children and teenagers should do more sports in school as well as learn more about healthy living.

About iReach Insights

iReach Insights provides a range of research and market intelligence services in Ireland and Europe. iReach has built a Consumer Decisions Research Panel of 40,000 members in Ireland, delivering robust research insights. The survey questions were included in the Nationally Representative iReach Consumer Decisions Omnibus run between the 7th of February and the 14th of February has a 3% Confidence Interval and 95% Confidence Level.

Questions asked of participants:

Please state how much you agree or disagree with the following statements: Children/ Teenagers should do more sports in school and learn more about healthy living/ The sugar tax will help lower the obesity rates of children in our country/ Banning energy drinks for those under the age of 16 is a good idea.

iReach Insights Limited – Temple Hall, Temple Road, Blackrock, CO. Dublin, IRELAND.

iReach Managing Director: Oisin Byrne
T: 01-214 3740 or email: PR@ireachhq.com

A story of distrust and doubt: Three quarters of people in Ireland do not trust ads on social networks

Reach Insights Press Release

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18th February 2019

A story of distrust and doubt: Three quarters of people in Ireland do not trust ads on social networks

63% are sceptical about recommendations from influencers

                                    

According to 65%, it isn’t always clear when someone has been paid to promote a product

One in five people (20%) have made a purchase after seeing a brand that an influencer has posted about on social media

The last number of months have seen increased scrutiny placed on how social media influencers promote and advertise products to their base of followers. Legislative efforts have been made to provide clarity about whether or not an individual has been paid to promote a product or service.

A recently conducted nationally representative survey of 1001 people carried out by iReach has found a large degree of scepticism surrounding the activities of influencers. The research results also demonstrate how important trust is to people in Ireland when it comes to advertising and product recommendations.

An enormous 75% of respondents do not trust ads on social networks and a substantial 63% do not trust recommendations from influencers. This perhaps is not surprising, as 65% of people feel that it is not always clear when someone has been paid to promote a product.

Nonetheless, one in five (20%) have purchased a product or service after seeing a product or service that an influencer has posted about on social media.

The most trusted form of product endorsement by far are recommendations from friends and family on 89%.

When asked how they would define a social influencer, the top answer from respondents is somebody who helps promote brands, products and services (43%). Other popular definitions included someone who has 50,000 or more followers online (26%) and someone who shares information about products they love (26%).

Additionally, for 33% of respondents, influencers differ from average social media users in their online behaviour as they use more ads and promotional content when they post.

About iReach Insights

iReach Insights provides a range of research and market intelligence services in Ireland and Europe. iReach has built a Consumer Decisions Research Panel of 40,000 members in Ireland, delivering robust research insights. The survey questions were included in the Nationally Representative iReach Consumer Decisions Omnibus run between the 7th of February and the 14th of February has a 3% Confidence Interval and 95% Confidence Level.

Questions asked of participants:

How would you define a social influencer?

What makes the online behaviour of an influencer different to that of average social media users?

To what extent do you trust the following forms of advertising? Recommendations from people I know/ Consumer opinions posted online/ Ads on TV/ Brand Sponsorship/ Recommendations from influencers/ Online Video Ads/ Ads on Social Networks/ Online banner ads/ Ads in Search Engine results.

Please state whether you agree or disagree with the following statements: I have purchased a product or service after seeing that product or service that an influencer had posted on social media/ It is not always clear when an influencer has been paid to promote a product/ Influencers should take more responsibility when considering the products or services that they promote/ It’s unacceptable to use filters and Photoshop when promoting products.

iReach Insights Limited – Temple Hall, Temple Road, Blackrock, CO. Dublin, IRELAND.

iReach Managing Director: Oisin Byrne
T: 01-214 3740 or email: PR@ireachhq.com

Smart home technology makes life easier for users in Ireland, but survey results also highlight strong worries about data security and privacy

Reach Insights Press Release

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14th February 2019

Smart home technology makes life easier for users in Ireland, but survey results also highlight strong worries about data security and privacy 

81% believe smart homes make life easier

72% feel more relaxed because of smart technology

However, concerns exist about personal data theft (52%) and spying (34%)

Over the last number years, we have seen greater and greater integration between technology such as smart phone applications and home appliances such as heating and lighting. With the notion of “smart homes” very much coming to the fore, iReach has conducted a nationally representative survey of 1001 people in Ireland to better understand how they feel about this relatively new phenomenon.

The results demonstrate just how useful users of smart technology in the home find it to be, as well as highlighting some very real concerns about safety and privacy.

Although only 13% of people in Ireland have a smart home (up 3% from 2018), an enormous 81% of them believe that a smart home makes life much easier. Additionally, 72% say that they are more relaxed as they can control their home from wherever they are.

The strong endorsement for smart homes is continued as a further 77% would recommend a smart home to anyone who is thinking about getting one, with over half (53%) of smart home owners who believe they have saved money by implementing smart technology into their home.

Whilst 48% of people who have a smart home feel safer as a result of the technology, there are nonetheless some concerns around security and data protection.

52% of those with a smart home are fearful of having personal data about their daily habits stolen, an increase of 8% from last year. Similarly, 34% worry about being spied on because of their use of smart technology at home.

35% of people in Ireland feel that they are likely to implement smart technology in their home in the future, with those aged between 18-34 more likely (41%) to do so than those over 55 year of age (28%).

About iReach Insights

iReach Insights provides a range of research and market intelligence services in Ireland and Europe. iReach has built a Consumer Decisions Research Panel of 40,000 members in Ireland, delivering robust research insights. The survey questions were included in the Nationally Representative iReach Consumer Decisions Omnibus run between the 31st of January and the 7th of February and has a 3% Confidence Interval and 95% Confidence Level.

Questions asked of participants:

Do you have a smart home?

Please state how much you agree or disagree with the following statements about “smart homes”: A smart home makes life much easier/ I’m more relaxed since I can control my home from wherever I am/ I would recommend a smart home to anyone who is thinking about getting one/ I have saved money by implementing smart home technology into my home/ I feel safer at home now that I have a smart home/ I am fearful that people can steal my personal data concerning my daily life habits/ I am fearful that someone could spy on me because I have a smart home.

How likely are you to implement smart technology in your home in the future?

iReach Insights Limited – Temple Hall, Temple Road, Blackrock, CO. Dublin, IRELAND.

iReach Managing Director: Oisin Byrne
T: 01-214 3740 or email: PR@ireachhq.com

Reach Insights Press Release

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12th February 2019

Following Nursing Unions’ suspension of a planned three-day strike, research results suggest 74% of people in Ireland would continue to back further strike action by nurses

Support for strikes has increased in recent weeks, from 64% to 71%

69% feel the Government is most responsible for the current situation

Almost one in five personally affected by the strike

On Monday afternoon the Labour Court intervened in the ongoing dispute over pay and working conditions for nurses. This has seen the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) as well as the Psychiatric Nurses Association suspend industrial action planned for this week.

A nationally representative survey of 1001 people carried out by iReach has found that sympathy for nurses and midwives has increased over the last number of weeks, with 71% of those asked supporting strike action compared to 64% from late January.

Additionally, the favoured resolution of almost three quarters of respondents (74%) is for the INMO to continue to strike until their pay demands are met. Similarly, 79% of people would like to see the Government bring any strikes to an end by meeting the pay demands of the INMO.

On both of these resolutions supporting the position of nurses, females are far more sympathetic to nurses and midwives than males (79% vs 69% & 85% vs 73%) which is very much in keeping with the results of a previous survey by iReach.

For those who do not support continued strike action by nurses, 60% say that a pay rise for nurses will lead to similar demands from other public sector employees, an argument often cited by the Government during this dispute.

However, 69% of all respondents feel that the Government is most responsible for the current situation, with Minister for Health Simon Harris next on 32% and Taoiseach Leo Varadkar at 28%. One in four place the blame primarily with the INMO (25%).

18% of people in Ireland say that they have been personally affected by the strike.

About iReach Insights

iReach Insights provides a range of research and market intelligence services in Ireland and Europe. iReach has built a Consumer Decisions Research Panel of 40,000 members in Ireland, delivering robust research insights. The survey questions were included in the Nationally Representative iReach Consumer Decisions Omnibus run between the 24^th January and the 31st January and has a 3% Confidence Interval and 95% Confidence Level.

Questions asked of participants:

Do you support the strike action by Irish Nurses and Midwives which is set to continue through February?

Why do you not support the strike action?

Who do you feel is most responsible for the current situation with the strikes taking place?

What would you like to see the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) do now?

What would you like to see the Government do now?

Have you been personally affected by the strike? 

iReach Insights Limited – Temple Hall, Temple Road, Blackrock, CO. Dublin, IRELAND.

iReach Managing Director: Oisin Byrne
T: 01-214 3740 or email: PR@ireachhq.com

Discomfort is clear as increasingly personal data belongs to private entities such as Facebook and Google

Reach Insights Press Release

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11th February 2019

Discomfort is clear as increasingly personal data belongs to private entities such as Facebook and Google

64% believe it is wrong for companies to use personal data in targeted advertising

Only 16% of people are comfortable with how much of their personal data is possessed by Facebook and Google

93% want to see more education for young people about how their data is used online

In recent years companies like Facebook and Google have come under increased pressure to be more transparent about the ways in which they store and make use of data belonging to users of their services.

To understand more about how people in Ireland feel about how their data is used by major tech platforms, iReach has conducted a nationally representative survey of 1001 people. The results clearly demonstrate the apprehension felt about how personal information is stored and used.

Only 16% of respondents are comfortable with how much of their personal data is possessed by Facebook and Google, with 58% instead who are unhappy at this situation.

A rather substantial majority of 64% believe that it is wrong for companies to use personal data to target people with specific advertisements online. This figure is even higher with those aged over 55 years old, 75% of whom disagree with using data for this purpose.

Furthermore, 49% of those asked are not familiar with Facebook’s use of categories, which are created based on user data as well as interests and user engagement with content on the network. Overall 60% did not know that these categories existed and only one in four people feel comfortable that Facebook creates these lists.

93% of people would like to see more education for young people about how social media platforms and other companies use their data. Of this group, 73% believe that this education should take place in school, whereas 65% want greater restrictions on how companies like Facebook and Google are allowed to use information about their users.

About iReach Insights

iReach Insights provides a range of research and market intelligence services in Ireland and Europe. iReach has built a Consumer Decisions Research Panel of 40,000 members in Ireland, delivering robust research insights. The survey questions were included in the Nationally Representative iReach Consumer Decisions Omnibus run between the 24^th January and the 31st January and has a 3% Confidence Interval and 95% Confidence Level.

Questions asked of participants as follows:

Are you familiar with categories on Facebook?

Did you know that these categories existed?

How comfortable are you with Facebook creating lists of categories for individuals based on user data stored by the site?

To what extent would you agree with the following statements: It’s wrong for companies to use personal data to target people with specific advertisements online, I am comfortable with how much of my personal data is possessed by companies such as Facebook and Google.

Do you think that more should be done to educate young people about how social media platforms and other companies use their data?

Which of the following do you feel would be effective in doing so: More education in school focused on how personal data is used online; A greater effort from major social networks and tech companies to be more transparent about what they use personal data for; A government initiative on online safety aimed at young people; Greater restrictions on how companies such as Facebook and Google are allowed to use information about their users; Influencers or celebrities encouraging young people to take their online safety more seriously. 

iReach Insights Limited – Temple Hall, Temple Road, Blackrock, CO. Dublin, IRELAND.

iReach Managing Director: Oisin Byrne
T: 01-214 3740 or email: PR@ireachhq.com

As Prime Minister Theresa May visits Northern Ireland, results point to strong opposition for No Deal Brexit

Reach Insights Press Release

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6th February 2019

As Prime Minister Theresa May visits Northern Ireland, results point to strong opposition for No Deal Brexit

77% see the reintroduction of a hard border as the worst possible outcome

One in two people in Ireland expect their day to day life to be directly impacted by a No Deal Brexit

Extension of Article 50 seen as most likely scenario (37%)

35% believe Irish Government has done a good job handling Brexit

With the March 29^th deadline fast approaching and Britain moving closer and closer to exiting the European Union, people in Ireland remain highly skeptical about Brexit and the potential fallout that may accompany it.

Following an amendment to Prime Minister Theresa May’s Withdrawal agreement last week that renewed pressure on the Irish backstop as a solution to avoid a hard border on the island of Ireland, this skepticism is demonstrated in a nationally representative survey carried out by iReach of 1001 people.

An enormous 77% of respondents view the reintroduction of a hard border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland as the worst possible outcome of Brexit. Unsurprisingly this figure is even higher at 87% for those answered from the Ulster/ Connacht region. 

Furthermore, one in two people believe that should Britain exit the European Union without any deal whatsoever, this will have a direct impact on their everyday lives.

37% of people in Ireland see an extension of Article 50 as the most likely scenario at this point in the Brexit process. This would allow negotiations to continue beyond March 29^th. At 28% No Deal is the next most expected outcome of Brexit.

However, at only 9%, No Deal also remains the least popular potential outcome for people in Ireland. It is no shock to see that No Brexit at all on 48% is by far the most favoured possibility, with little support for Theresa May’s Withdrawal Agreement (10%).

44% of people in Ireland believe that the European Union have been helpful to Ireland during the Brexit process, with 35% who feel that the Irish Government has done a good job handling Brexit.

About iReach Insights

iReach Insights provides a range of research and market intelligence services in Ireland and Europe. iReach has built a Consumer Decisions Research Panel of 40,000 members in Ireland, delivering robust research insights. The survey questions were included in the Nationally Representative iReach Consumer Decisions Omnibus run between the 24^th January and the 31st January and has a 3% Confidence Interval and 95% Confidence Level.

Questions asked of participants as follows:

What do you now see as the most likely outcome of Brexit?

What is your preferred potential outcome of Brexit?

To what extent would you agree with the following statements: The Irish Government has done a good job handling Brexit, A No Deal Brexit will have a direct impact on my day to day life, The reintroduction of a hard border would be the worst possible outcome of Brexit, The EU has been helpful to Ireland during the process of Brexit.

iReach Insights Limited – Temple Hall, Temple Road, Blackrock, CO. Dublin, IRELAND.

iReach Managing Director: Oisin Byrne
T: 01-214 3740 or email: PR@ireachhq.com