More Than Half Of People Use Captions When They Watch Tv - Here's Why

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ZDNET's cardinal takeaways

• More than half of group opportunity they watch TV pinch captions on.
• Adults nether nan property of 45 are overmuch much apt to usage subtitles.
• 50% of group opportunity they usage subtitles to drawback each word.

Do you watch TV pinch closed captions moreover though you don't needfully request them? You're not alone.

A new study shows that much than a 3rd of group -- 34% -- either ever aliases often person subtitles connected erstwhile they watch TV. Another 23% opportunity they usage subtitles sometimes, meaning much than half of nan organization watches TV pinch captions enabled.

While that's a striking number, what's astir absorbing is that number shoots up importantly if you break retired a definite procreation -- but it's not nan 1 you'd think.

Also: Can't perceive TV dialogue? I recovered 3 ways to dramatically amended nan audio quality

Adults nether nan property of 45 are overmuch much apt to usage captions than those older than 45. Counting conscionable nan 18-44 demographic, 40% of group almost ever person subtitles on, and 27% do sometimes. That leaves conscionable 33% of that property scope who opportunity they ne'er usage captions. I'm conscionable hardly successful this demo, by nan way, and I'm squarely connected squad captions.

In nan bracket of 45 and older, 28% of group ever usage captions and 18% do sometimes, accounting for only 46% who do and 53% who ne'er do.

Why group are utilizing closed captions

Since it's not retired of aesculapian necessity, what's driving group to usage captions? The study showed a assortment of reasons:

• 50% move connected subtitles simply because they want to make judge they drawback each word.
• 40% alteration them to understand accents aliases watch movies and shows successful different language.
• 30% utilize them because they are successful a noisy environment.
• 25% of group blasted mediocre audio value arsenic nan logic they usage captions.
• 25% person captions connected because they are multitasking.
• 13% of group person a proceeding impairment that requires captions.

For nan mostly of people, it seems they're utilizing captions conscionable to make judge they understand everything being said. If you find yourself successful this group that struggles to perceive dialogue, location are a fewer things that tin help.

Also: Are smart glasses pinch built-in proceeding immunodeficiency viable? My verdict aft months of testing

First, tweaking conscionable a fewer TV settings tin make a large difference. In addition, immoderate streaming services for illustration Prime Video person a typical speech boost setting, and a batch of caller TVs person speech enhancement modes of their own.

The study was conducted successful August 2025 some online and via telephone from 1,182 adults.

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