Imagine being unable to flush your toilet or lock your front door because of a power outage—all thanks to your 'smart' home. It’s a nightmare scenario that’s becoming all too real for many homeowners. While smart home technology promises convenience and efficiency, it’s increasingly clear that it can also turn your living space into a high-tech headache. But here’s where it gets controversial: Is the allure of a fully connected home worth the risk of being locked out, spied on, or left in the dark—literally?
Take Elly Bailey, a tech reviewer with over 1.1 million TikTok followers (@ellyawesome), who found herself in a comical yet frustrating situation. Her Google Nest smart doorbell, designed to prevent missed deliveries, was the very reason she kept missing them. ‘When someone presses this doorbell, all it does is send a notification to my phone,’ she explains. Great when she’s out, but a disaster when she’s home and away from her device. The irony? The doorbell makes a sound—but only loud enough for the person outside to hear. Her viral clip about this flaw has resonated with thousands, proving she’s not alone in her skepticism.
And this is the part most people miss: Smart home devices, while marketed as life-simplifiers, often do the opposite. Georgina Wilson, a Sydney-based architect, learned this the hard way when her smart keypad lock failed after being accidentally waterlogged. The result? An expensive locksmith call and a backup plan involving hidden keys. ‘We’ve seen clients unable to flush toilets, lock doors, or exit garages during power outages,’ she shares. It’s a stark reminder that technology can fail—spectacularly.
Since the surge in smart home adoption during Covid lockdowns, electricians like Daniel Vasilevski have seen it all. From clients locked out of their homes for days to entire lighting systems failing, the horror stories are endless. Even simple devices like smart doorbells often come with subscription fees, adding to the frustration. Vasilevski estimates that 15-20% of his calls now involve smart tech issues, with some homeowners opting to rip out their systems entirely. But here’s the kicker: What happens when the brand behind your smart device shuts down? As Gaby Albutros, a project manager at RSE Home Automation, points out, discontinued devices often leave users with no recourse but to replace them entirely.
The risks go beyond inconvenience. Smart homes are prime targets for cybercriminals, with over 120,000 smart cameras hacked in South Korea last year alone. The Australian Signals Directorate has even warned of Chinese hackers exploiting home routers and devices. While hacked fridges and doorbells are rare, Emily Holyoake, a cyber and home-security expert, highlights a more chilling issue: technology-facilitated domestic abuse. ‘Ex-partners have accessed homes, locking victims out or watching their every move,’ she warns. Renters aren’t immune either, as smart locks can give landlords unprecedented access to their tenants’ lives.
So, is it smarter to stick with an analog home? Julie Provenzano, a real estate broker with 83,000 TikTok followers, thinks so. ‘Hi-tech doesn’t necessarily mean easier,’ she says, calling it a ‘hostage situation with IT departments.’ Even Bailey, despite her tech-savvy background, has opted for a hybrid approach, keeping most of her home ‘consciously dumb.’ ‘I’m an old-school millennial who’s happy to put my washing on myself,’ she admits. ‘It keeps me smart.’
But before you swear off smart tech entirely, consider this: Some devices, like smart curtains, are widely praised for their reliability. Holyoake also advocates for intentional adoption, using smart tech like security cameras and robot vacuums to enhance family life, especially for neurodivergent children. Her advice? Regularly check security settings, change default passwords, and ask critical questions: Who has access to your data? Can you still use devices without the internet?
Here’s the million-dollar question: Are we sacrificing too much control and privacy for the sake of convenience? As smart home technology evolves, the debate rages on. What’s your take? Are you team smart home or team analog? Let’s discuss in the comments—but be warned, this is one conversation where there’s no ‘smart’ answer.
