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Census Bureau Teams Up With Tech Giants to Connect With Millennials and Other Hard-to-Count Populations
“Alexa, when does the 2020 Census begin?”
“Hey Siri, do I need to complete the 2020 Census?”
Welcome to the 2020 Census, the first to offer everyone the opportunity to respond online.
Millions are using voice-based commands to request and receive information on a daily basis. That’s a great opportunity for the Census Bureau to reach audiences and households throughout the United States.
New uses of technology are transforming the way the U.S. Census Bureau will attempt to count every person in the United States once, only once, and in the right place.
It’s a long way from the last decennial census in 2010, when all the questionnaires were on paper and an iPhone 4, early Samsung or HTC cellphone were considered state of the art. Now there is a broad array of social media platforms and chatbot technology, plus millions more homes now have consistent access to the internet.
The Census Bureau is leveraging cutting-edge solutions and practices that will expand outreach and awareness campaigns.
Using tech innovations helps the Census Bureau reach and connect with traditionally hard-to-count populations, which include tech-savvy young and mobile millennials.
Chatbot Technology and Digital Assistants
Millions are using voice-based commands to request and receive information on a daily basis. That’s a great opportunity for the Census Bureau to reach audiences and households throughout the United States.
To take advantage of this technology, the Census Bureau is collaborating with digital “smart” assistant market leaders to provide awareness information via these digital assistants.
So what will that be like? Try this:
“Alexa, are my census responses confidential?”
Alexa: “Any and all information that you provide in answer to a Census Bureau survey is strictly confidential.”
“Hey Siri, is my data for the 2020 Census secure?”
Siri: “The Census Bureau has strong protection for the information it collects from individuals and businesses under Title 13.”
The Census Bureau will provide the answers that come from these leading “smart” products — helping people get the information based on how we get and consume information today.
Voice assistants will be used only for one-way communication with respondents.
Optimizing Search Engine Results
Partnering with search engines helps ensure that users who search for 2020 Census information get that information quickly and accurately.
For example, if someone searches the start date of the 2020 Census, links with the correct answers would be highlighted at the top of the search engine or advertised on the screen, while fake websites and misinformation are pushed to the bottom of the search list.
Why Census Bureau and Tech Are Compatible
Partnerships with big tech companies are enabling the Census Bureau to take advantage of innovative technologies that facilitate awareness, response and security in today’s mobile, digital world.
These collaborations are providing not only a better customer experience but are also giving the U.S. population the tools and knowledge they need to complete the 2020 Census successfully.
These efforts, combined with initiatives that make new uses of technology for self-response, capture address data, enhance dynamic analytics capabilities, and empower the Census Bureau to anticipate tech disruptions, embrace innovation, and own its digital future.
Related Statistics
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Page Last Revised - February 13, 2025
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