TORONTO: Older smartphone users opt to rely more on their phones’ auto lock feature compared to younger users, said researchers, adding that they also prefer using PINs over fingerprints to unlock their phones.

“The study is the first to explore the link between age and smartphone use. As researchers working to protect smartphones from unauthorized access, we need to first understand how users use their devices,” said Konstantin Beznosov, Professor at the University of British Columbia.

The study presented at the CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems found that older users are more likely to unlock their phones when working at a desk or sitting at home.