Boca Raton-based home security provider ADT conducted a survey of 1,001 Americans who consume true crime content.
True crime has taken over popular culture, evolving from a niche topic into one of our favorite entertainment and storytelling genres. But watching or listening to true crime stories or mysteries has entered our psyche, and as we become aware of the need to protect our families, our buying habits turn to security devices.
ADT
The survey showed that women are more likely to experience negative emotional consequences after consuming this type of content. Compared to men, women were more likely to worry about their family’s safety (31.3%), their own safety (27.7%), and to feel anxious, scared, or paranoid (24.4%, 23%, and 22.2%, respectively) after reading, watching, or listening to true crime.
Yet women were almost twice as likely as men to consume true crime every day. The most popular formats included TV shows (87%), movies (75.4%), and books (43%). Less than 28% of people listened to true crime podcasts, which were more than twice as popular among millennials compared to baby boomers.
Over two out of three (69.1%) people in the US believed that the events portrayed in true crime content could happen to their own family. Over two in five (44.1%) check their locks at night, 16.4% carry pepper spray, and 15.6% go out in groups only.
The most popular home security additions chosen by respondents were surveillance cameras (which were installed by 10% more men than women), a doorbell camera, and a security system.
People enjoy being scared in situations they can control and are comforted by horror movies or TV shows — even shows that are tense and unnerving. Knowing that these shows are not real can make horror stories entertaining and enjoyable.
Almost two out of three (57%) of people said that they preferred true crime content with actual footage or recordings, and nearly as many (56.9%) said footage or recordings made the content scarier.
Over two out of five (44.3%) reported taking a break from true crime content as they found it too overwhelming for them.
The survey showed that installing security cameras made people feel less scared about being home alone at night – down from 44.5% to 23.2%. Occurrences of nightmares and hearing noises also reduced after installing security cameras.
Installing security cameras can be really simple. I installed an outdoor security camera in less than 20 minutes last week, and I am testing several more indoor cameras which have added to me feeling more secure.
If you need peace of mind, buy a low-cost security camera. Then you can watch all of the true-crime stories you want to without being overwhelmed.
Related stories:
Netvue 1080p Vigil security camera hands-on: Superb image, motion detection with cloud storage option
I tried the Netvue 1080p Vigil security camera for external surveillance, and I was so impressed with it, I bought two more.
Hands on with the Netvue Orb security camera: great image, motion detection with pan and tilt control
I tried the Netvue Orb 1080p security camera and was impressed by its indoor detection, remote control and two-way voice features.
Enterprises are getting more high-risk calls as fraudsters exploit COVID-19
Americans are being impacted by this fraud-filled crisis as bad actor activity escalates.
Most consumers admit to sharing passwords with someone outside their home
Although Americans worry about their devices being hacked, most are happy to share their passwords.
