Over a third of parents now track Santa using a smart device
- Traditional Christmas rituals are becoming more hi-tech – with more than a third of parents planning to ‘Track Santa’ on a smart home device this year More than half (53 per cent) of parents across the country will consider using smart home tech to make Christmas extra magical this year.
- Less than two thirds will leave out a mince pie for Santa and carrot for Rudolf this Christmas as parents move away from childhood traditions (64 per cent).
- More than half (53 per cent) of parents across the country will consider using smart home tech to make Christmas extra magical this year.
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas – and it seems our festive traditions are in for a tech upgrade, with more adults planning to use smart devices to keep the magic of Christmas alive for children this year rather than more classic traditions like writing letters to Santa.
According to new research from EDF Energy, more parents will use smart home tech to ‘Track Santa’ this year (33 per cent) than search for his footprints by the fireplace (19 per cent), or look out for signs that Rudolph has visited (28 per cent).
More than half of adults surveyed also revealed that they would use a smart home voice control device to track and play the sound of Santa’s footsteps in a bid to make this Christmas extra magical (53 per cent). What’s more, the same number of us will use smart home tech to ‘Track Santa’ this Christmas (33 per cent) as will look up into the sky to spot his sleigh (33 per cent).
And it’s not just searching for Santa that we’re using smart devices for. Nearly a quarter (24 per cent) of adults plan to use smart plugs to turn the tree lights on ‘as if by magic’ on Christmas morning.
The findings also revealed classic traditions may be being replaced:
- 73 per cent of adults left out a mince pie and carrot on Christmas Eve as a child, but fewer than two thirds still take part in the annual custom (64 per cent)
- More than one third of adults have taken up a new practice of using their smart device to track Santa.
Philippe Commaret, Deputy Managing Director – Customers at EDF Energy, added: “It’s well acknowledged that technology is transforming our day to day lives, and it seems it is now also playing a part in our cultural celebrations. As people look to continue their childhood traditions in a way that is relevant to future generations, they are turning to smart home tech to help keep the magic of Christmas alive.
“With a range of smart home devices, including smart voice speakers and smart lighting solutions, the EDF Energy Smart Home Store can help you make this Christmas the most magical one yet for all the family.”
Looking ahead to the future, there is no dream too big - the survey also revealed the top 5 things we would like to be able to do to make Christmas even more magical…
- Receive a personalised message from Santa through your smart home gadget.
- Watch your presents being made in Santa’s Workshop in the North Pole.
- Play the sounds of Santa walking up the driveway/stairs throughout your home.
- Find reindeer hoof marks/sleigh tracks on the roof.
- Chat with a 3D hologram of Santa.
Notes to Editors
Consumer research of 2,000 UK adults conducted by OnePoll (21/11/2019 – 26/11/2019)
For more information contact:
About EDF
EDF is helping Britain achieve Net Zero by leading the transition to a cleaner, low emission, electric future and tackling climate change. It is the UK’s largest producer of low-carbon electricity(1) and supplies millions of customers with electricity and gas.
It generates low carbon electricity from five nuclear power stations and more than thirty onshore wind farms and two offshore wind farms.
EDF is leading the UK's nuclear renaissance with the construction of a new nuclear power station at Hinkley Point C, and there are advanced plans for a replica at Sizewell C in Suffolk. Hinkley Point C and Sizewell C will provide low carbon electricity to meet 14% of UK demand and power around 12 million homes.
EDF is one of the UK’s largest investors in renewables, with more than 1.5GW of renewable generation in operation and almost 14GW in planning and development across a range of technologies including onshore and offshore wind, solar and battery storage. We are constructing our largest offshore wind farm in Britain – the 450 MW Neart na Gaoithe project in Scotland.
EDF is helping its customers, both in business and at home, take their first steps to sustainably powering their lives. Whether it is buying an electric car, generating and storing electricity, selling energy back to the grid or installing a heat pump. EDF is one of the largest suppliers to British business and a leading supplier of innovative energy solutions that are helping businesses become more energy independent. In addition, the company’s energy services business, Dalkia, is one of the largest technical service providers in the UK and Ireland.
EDF is part of EDF Group, the world’s biggest electricity generator. In the UK, the company employs around 14,000 people at locations across England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland.
Related articles
EDF launches Britain's first Heat Pump Tracker Tariff guaranteed to beat the price cap
EDF creating 20 apprenticeships to drive advanced skills and invest in staff
