Back-To-School Survey: Tech Device Damage

More Than 75 Percent of Students Must Repair and Replace Damaged Tech Devices During The School Year

Protect Your Bubble, a nationwide protection provider that helps protect the things that matter most to people, released results of a Back-To-School and Tech Damage survey that shows 77 percent of students have to repair or replace some type of technology during the school year. Additionally, 30 percent of students must repair or replace a smartphone and laptop at a combined cost of $911.

The online survey was presented to more than 550 students across the country, and it showed that while 73 percent of the time damage happens during the school year, a whopping 86 percent of students continue to use the device even after it is damaged. 40 percent said they eventually repair or replace it, but not immediately.

Protect Your Bubble designed the survey to identify just how often students damage their technology at school, and the costs often associated with repair or replacement compared to having a protection plan. “Students use a multitude of devices for both classwork and extracurricular activities, which mirrors the fact that we are all constantly connected to our devices today,” said Stacey Vogler, U.S. Managing Director for Protect Your Bubble.“ Nearly a third of participants are damaging items that could cost close to $1000 to repair or replace, but an annual protection plan for both items would cost roughly $135 to cover the items during the school year.”

Survey participants said they encounter physical damage 62 percent of the time, compared with device malfunction (17 percent) and water damage (15 percent). While only 4 percent of participants said someone else causes the damage, 45 percent said they’re very selective with others whom they allow to use their devices.

Over the course of a school year, which items do students and parents have to repair or replace?

  1. Smartphone: 23.3 percent
  2. E-Reader: 9.3 percent
  3. External hard drive: 9.3 percent
  4. Laptop: 7.0 percent
  5. Tablet: 7.0 percent
  6. Portable charger: 5.8 percent
  7. Digital camera: 5.8 percent
  8. Music player: 4.7 percent
  9. Wifi hotspot: 2.3 percent
  10. GoPro: 2.3% percent

How are students using their technology at school? 47 percent said they use technology either for social media, gaming or extracurricular activities, while 44 percent said they actually use it for in-class work or homework.

About Protect Your Bubble by Assurant:

Protect Your Bubble provides insurance and protection plans for smartphones, tablets, wearable technology (drops, liquid spills and malfunction), as well as appliances and electronics, rental cars, renters insurance, travel and identity theft protection. Device plans start at $5.99. They provide quotes in two minutes via the web, phone or mobile application. Questions? You can view the Frequently Asked Questions by clicking here. Connect with Protect Your Bubble on Facebook, Twitter(@PYBUSA), and Google +, and for more information or to select your insurance plan, visit www.us.ProtectYourBubble.com.

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