Millions of Brits on a ‘digital detox’
Nearly half of internet users surveyed had neglected housework, while 47 per cent said they had missed out on sleep or were tired the next day
Millions of Britons have been going on a "digital detox" as attachment to connected devices has caused them miss out on sleep, work and spending time with friends and family, according to a new report.
A study by British media and telecoms regulator Ofcom showed a third (34 per cent) of UK internet users saying they had been on a digital detox, while one in 10 said they had done so in the last week.
Digital detox refers to a period of time when a person makes a conscious decision not to go online or use connected devices. Ofcom's study surveyed 2,025 adults and 500 teenagers.
The digital detox trend has been born out of a realisation that being glued to smartphones or tablets is affecting a person's everyday lives.
Half of all mobile users make sure their phone is within reach when they go to bed, while a similar proportion say the last thing they do before they sleep and when they wake up is look at their device
Ofcom's research laid bare the effect being hooked on the internet had. Nearly half (48 per cent) of internet users said they had neglected housework, 47 per cent said they had missed out on sleep or were tired the next day, rising to 17 per cent for 16 to 24 year olds. A third (31 per cent) said they had missed out on spending time with friends and family, while 22 per cent said they had been late for a meeting with friends or family.