Virgin Media O2 Says 36% of UK Adult Phone Time Is Aimless Scrolling
Updated
Updated · BBC.com · Jun 2
Virgin Media O2 Says 36% of UK Adult Phone Time Is Aimless Scrolling
3 articles · Updated · BBC.com · Jun 2
Summary
UK adults say 36% of their phone use is unintentional, with average daily screen time at about four hours, according to Virgin Media O2's latest Age of Autopilot report.
Some 6,000 people aged 16 and over were surveyed, and those reporting more purposeless use were also more likely to say they felt worse afterward or encountered harmful or unpleasant content.
Cambridge researcher Eleanor Drage said immersive design helps drive the behavior, while other experts pointed to default notifications and app design as habits users struggle to control despite knowing screen-time tools exist.
Bath Spa University's Pete Etchells cautioned that self-reported phone use often overstates actual time, but said recognizing unwanted habits is still a useful first step toward safer, more manageable device use.