Consumers: Behavior, Psychographics, and Demographics

Billy Odell Tucker-Robinson Founder & Host — Banking With Billy Network • Intelligence Network • Data Science • AI Research • World News
Published: 2026-09-14T17:20:35.420Z • Permanent link

Regulators in the European Union have unveiled a comprehensive overhaul of the region's consumer protection framework, with a focus on better understanding and addressing the complex behaviors and psychographics of consumers. At the forefront of this initiative is Maria van der Hoeven, the former President of the European Commission, who has been leading the charge to modernize the EU's consumer policy. According to a report released by the European Commission, the new framework will prioritize data-driven insights and collaboration between regulators, industry stakeholders, and research communities.

The report highlights the need for a more nuanced understanding of consumer behavior, citing the rise of digital technologies and changing social norms as key drivers of this shift. By 2025, an estimated 75% of consumers in the EU will be using digital channels to interact with companies, making data-driven decision-making a critical component of the new framework. To this end, the EU has established a new Consumer Data Protection Authority, which will play a key role in shaping the regulatory landscape and ensuring that companies are using data in a responsible and transparent manner.

Meanwhile, in the United States, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has been conducting its own research into consumer behavior, with a focus on understanding the impact of social media on consumer decision-making. According to a report released by the FTC, social media platforms have become a critical channel for consumer engagement, with 75% of consumers using social media to research products and services before making a purchase. By better understanding these behaviors, companies can develop more effective marketing strategies and build stronger relationships with their customers.

The implications of this new framework and research into consumer behavior are far-reaching, with significant impacts on companies, research communities, and markets across the region. For companies operating in the EU, the new framework will require a fundamental shift in their approach to consumer engagement, with a greater emphasis on data-driven decision-making and collaboration with regulators. This will be particularly challenging for companies operating in highly competitive markets, where the ability to respond quickly to changing consumer behaviors will be critical to success.

One company that is well-positioned to benefit from this shift is the multinational consumer goods company, Unilever. According to a report by the market research firm, Euromonitor International, Unilever has been at the forefront of the consumer data revolution, with a robust data analytics platform that allows the company to better understand consumer behavior and preferences. By investing in data-driven decision-making, Unilever is well-positioned to capitalize on the opportunities presented by the new EU framework and maintain its position as a leader in the consumer goods industry.

The development of the new EU consumer protection framework and the research into consumer behavior are part of a larger pattern of increased focus on data-driven decision-making in the Social & Behavioral domain. This trend is driven in part by the growing recognition of the critical role that data plays in shaping consumer behavior, as well as the need for more effective and efficient decision-making in a rapidly changing business environment. The rise of big data analytics and artificial intelligence has enabled companies to better understand consumer behavior, but it has also raised important questions about the ethics and governance of data-driven decision-making.