More than a third of the time people spend on their smartphones is without a clear purpose, according to a new study examining digital habits.
The report, commissioned by Virgin Media O2, found that UK adults spend an average of 4 hours a day on their phones, with 36% of that time spent on unintentional use, such as mindlessly scrolling through apps and social media.
Researchers found that people who reported spending more time on their phones without a specific reason were also more likely to say they felt worse afterwards or had encountered harmful or unpleasant content online.
Dr Eleanor Drage of the University of Cambridge said the issue goes beyond poor personal choices, arguing that the immersive design of modern technology plays a major role in encouraging excessive use.
The findings are based on surveys conducted between 2024 and 2026, including responses from around 6,000 people aged 16 and above.
However, experts cautioned that self-reported screen time data may not always be accurate. Professor Pete Etchells of Bath Spa University said people often overestimate the time they spend on their devices but noted that recognising unhealthy habits is an important first step toward managing them.
Experts suggested measures such as disabling non-essential notifications and spending more time on offline activities to help reduce excessive screen use.
The report, titled “Age of Autopilot”, highlights growing concerns over smartphone dependency while calling for greater awareness of how digital platforms are designed to influence user behaviour. (Newswire)