Hey Google, welcome to the family?! Taking a differential perspective on the selection and use of smart speakers in families

With the advent of smart speakers, the vision of a digital family assistant may no longer be far-fetched. But, are all families happy to welcome such technology into their homes, or are there variations on who wants a smart speaker? By stepping into the shoes of parents, this dissertation aimed to find out to what extent different characteristics of parents with young children shape the deployment of smart speakers in the home.
Four studies explore a broad range of different susceptibilities within (chapter 2, 3, and 5) as well as outside (chapter 4 and 5) the family home and test for their relationships with two essential deployment processes: smart speaker selection and use. By investigating device ownership (chapter 2), use motivations and use intentions (chapter 3), and ongoing use (chapter 5), this work assesses together whether, why, and how smart speakers are finding their way into the spaces of today’s families.
Findings show that parents differ in their affinity with technology, yet their reasons for using smart speakers are similar: they see it as a fun and useful tool for family life. Trust and news media narratives open gateways for smart speaker use and its intensity. Digital skills and privacy concerns tell a more complex story. In that, this dissertation contributes to ongoing debates about digital parenting and responsible technology design. It highlights the need to distinguish between owning a device and using it meaningfully, and calls for greater attention to real-world contexts in which families engage with emerging technologies.