Smartwatches and fitness trackers are everywhere now, and more Americans are buying them than ever. But a new study suggests that owning one and actually getting meaningful health value out of it are two very different things.

Researchers from Yale School of Medicine analyzed data from 17,395 participants across three national survey cycles covering 2020, 2022, and 2024, and the picture they found is more complicated than the wearable industry would like to admit.

What the numbers actually show

Wearable device use among US adults climbed from 30.2% in 2020 to 41.1% in 2024. The problem is that everything else stayed flat or got worse. Only around half of wearable users reported wearing their device every day, and that number has not improved over time.

The data sharing numbers are even more concerning. Willingness to share wearable health data with doctors dropped from 81.3% in 2020 to 73.4% in 2024. Actual data sharing with clinicians barely moved, sitting at just 14.2% in 2020 and reaching only 19.2% in 2024. That means fewer than one in five wearable users are sharing their health data with the professionals who could actually use it to provide insights.

Why the gap keeps growing

The study found that better digital literacy made people more willing to share their data, but that willingness did not translate into actual sharing in practice. The researchers point to the health system itself as the main bottleneck.

Your doctor’s system is not set up to receive data from your wearable. Most medical records cannot connect with consumer devices, and there is no standard process for clinicians to routinely review what your Apple Watch or Fitbit has tracked.

The researchers conclude that simply getting more people to wear these devices will not close this gap. The health system needs to build the infrastructure to use the data that people are collecting.

Wearables usually fall into one of two camps: devices that track your health or gadgets that bombard you with notifications. Acer’s new Aspire Badge is trying something different. Instead of monitoring your steps or mirroring your phone, it’s essentially a tiny digital billboard you can wear — and it comes with a few surprisingly practical safety tricks.

Unveiled as part of Acer’s latest product lineup, the Aspire Badge is aimed squarely at students, kids, and young creators who want a new way to express themselves. Think of it as a modern evolution of the pins, badges, and stickers that people have used for decades to show off their personality.

A wearable canvas for the social media generation

The Aspire Badge features a small display that can showcase images, animations, and other visual content. Through a companion smartphone app, users can wirelessly send content to the badge over Bluetooth and change what’s displayed whenever they want. 

That flexibility is what makes the device interesting. One day, it can display custom artwork, a favorite character, or a personal logo. Next, it can show an animation or a message. It’s a simple idea, but one that feels tailor-made for a generation that spends much of its time creating and sharing content online. Acer says the badge can be worn in multiple ways, including as a pin, on a lanyard, or attached magnetically, making it more of a fashion accessory.

More than just a screen

What elevates the Aspire Badge beyond being a novelty gadget is its focus on safety. The device includes an emergency alarm, a night flash mode designed to improve visibility in low-light conditions, and an SOS feature that flashes Morse code. This could prove useful for younger users walking home after dark, attending events, or simply wanting an extra layer of visibility.

At a starting price of $49.99 in North America, the Aspire Badge sits comfortably in impulse-buy territory. Whether it becomes the next must-have accessory remains to be seen, but Acer deserves some credit for experimenting with a wearable that isn’t trying to replace a smartwatch. Instead, it’s betting that self-expression and peace of mind can fit into the same tiny screen.