A new study from Ofcom has revealed how a decade of digital has transformed our behaviour.
With 78% of all adults now owning a smartphone, on average they check it every 12 minutes, with 40% looking at their phone within 5 minutes of waking up.
That figure climbs to 65% for those under 35. It’s also the last thing before going to bed for 37% of adults and 60% of under 35s.
On average a fifth of people spend 40 hours a week online and 64% of adults say the internet is an “essential part of their live.”
41% said that the internet enabled them to work more flexibly, while 74% explained that it kept them close to friends and family.
As a result of internet-based services such as WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger, phone calls have decreased for the first time. Using a mobile for making a call is only considered important by 75% of users. 92% believe web browsing to be more critical.
There are negative effects though, with 15% saying it made them feel like they were always at work. 54% admitted that devices interrupted face-to-face conversations and 43% felt they spent too much time online.
71% of people surveyed said they never turned off their phone and 78% said that they “could not live without it.”
“Over the last decade, people’s lives have been transformed by the rise of the smartphone, together with better access to the internet and new services,” said Ian Macrae, Ofcom’s director of market intelligence.
“Whether it’s working flexibly, keeping up with current affairs or shopping online, we can do more on the move than ever before. But while people appreciate their smartphone as their constant companion, some are finding themselves feeling overloaded when online, or frustrated when they’re not.”
