Watching TV may not be the pastime it once was according to new research from AO.com, which suggests that while our TVs are on, our attention is often somewhere else – usually in the palm of our hand.
New stats from the online electricals retailer show that almost 80% of people admit to checking their phones while watching TV – with more than 1 in 2 saying they do it ‘often’ or ‘always’.
And it’s not just the odd glance to check a message. From half-watched episodes to totally missed plot twists, the study revealed we’re a nation of distracted viewers, with younger generations being the biggest culprits.
Although Gen Z often get accused of having short attention spans, the data suggests Millennials are leading the charge when it comes to screen multitasking.
A massive 94% of 25–34-year-olds say they scroll while the TV is on, with 1 in 3 admitting they ‘always’ do it. That was higher than any other age group in the study.
Next in the list were those aged 35–44, where 91% love a mobile scroll when watching their favourite shows. They were closely followed by those in the 16-24 age bracket, with 88% scrolling things like apps or social media while the TV is on.
Nick Bunce, a TV expert from AO.com, said: “We probably shouldn’t be surprised, but these stats show just how tough it’s become to properly switch off when we finally sit down to watch our favourite programmes.
“Phone scrolling has quietly crept into our evenings – even in the moments we’re meant to be relaxing. For lots of us, the days of watching telly and being fully immersed in the experience without any distractions are long gone.
“But it’s important to remember that not all scrolling is bad. Some people are actually enhancing the viewing experience – looking up trivia, chatting with friends about what they’re watching, or reacting live on social media. It’s a form of media meshing that’s becoming a new normal for how many people enjoy content.”
AO’s survey also found:
- Birmingham is the UK’s scrolling capital – 85% of people there admit to doing it ‘sometimes’, ‘often’ or ‘always’.
- Women are more likely to do it than men – 82% versus 75%
- Just 9% of us say we ‘never’ pick up our phones during TV time
If you want to try and reduce your scrolling, here are some of Nick’s top tips:
- Set ‘Do Not Disturb’ mode to switch on at a set time each night – such as 7pm – so only urgent notifications come through
- Make your TV space a phone-free zone by leaving devices in another room
- Turn it into a challenge: who in the house can last the longest without reaching for their phone during a show?
