Shocking amount of time average Brit wastes on their phone revealed | UK | News
Report says people spend most of their time doom scrolling (Stock image) (Image: Getty)
Brits are set to waste five years of their lives on “mindless” phone use such as doomscrolling and checking notifications, according to groundbreaking research published today. The research showed that more than a third of the time people spend on their phones is without a clear purpose; This is equivalent to approximately one hour and 26 minutes each day.
It turns out that the more time spent on the phone in this way, the more likely a person is to encounter negative effects. The research, which surveyed more than 6,000 people, estimates that 14 million people in the UK spend more than half of their time on their phone without a clear purpose.
Rachel Reeves has gone completely crazy; About to bankrupt England even further
Two-fifths (41%) of study participants who use their phones in this way report poor sleep due to phone or internet use; 23% say their attention spans have become shorter as their personal social connections have diminished, and six in ten (61%) admit they are not fully present in real-life moments, such as spending time with loved ones or listening to live music, due to their digital habits.
They are also more likely to encounter harmful or unpleasant content online; 24% say they have been exposed.
Virgin Media O2’s investigation has led experts to warn that action is needed to help people regain control of their online lives.
The research comes as the telecommunications giant launches its digital wellbeing manifesto, in which it pledges to address how adults and society interact with digital technology.
It also introduces a new digital intentionality score. An interactive tool to help individuals Assess their digital habits and compare them to the national average.
Senior Research Fellow at the Leverhulme Center for the Future of Intelligence at the University of Cambridge. Eleanor Drage wrote a foreword for the report.
Speaking to the Daily Express, he said: “What’s actually so brave about the research is that it shows that it’s not just about individuals, we don’t exist in a vacuum, we can’t take back control on our own. That’s too much to ask of any one person.”
Dr Drage begins five-year research project (Image: Dr Eleanor Drage)
Dr Drage added: “This requires a whole structural change. We need a big change, not just your phone giving you a little app that says ‘your time’s up because we all know we’re just clicking, okay give me more time’.”
“We need a complete shift in the way we interact with our phones, and that requires the involvement of all these different kinds of stakeholders. For example, we might think that ethics is just like me coming from Cambridge and saying something, but actually ethical phone use has to do with conversations between me, the public, educators, schools and companies that need to be involved.”
“I think it’s really great that Virgin Media O2 are willing to take the first step and say the right companies need to stop shying away from this debate.”
The company is funding the establishment of a five-year digital wellbeing study with the University of Cambridge. This will include Dr Drage and colleagues examining how generative AI impacts people’s digital wellbeing online.
Lutz Schüler, CEO of Virgin Media O2, said: “As one of the UK’s largest connectivity providers, we believe our responsibility goes beyond keeping people connected. Building trust in the digital world means helping people feel more informed, safer and have more control over their online lives.”
“That’s why Virgin Media O2 is investing in long-term research, partnerships and practical support to better understand how digital habits are changing and how technology can work better for people and not just capture more of their attention.”
