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This article is more than 1 year old

15 million tech-fried Brits have tried giving themselves a 'digital detox'

Why, you bizarre individuals?

Around 15 million people have actively turned their back on having the world's information at their finger tips in preference of talking to boring old humans instead.

Research from Ofcom's Communications Market Report found that one in three adult internet users has sought a period of time offline, which if extrapolated across the population amounts to 15 million people.

Apparently this was in a bid to strike a so-called healthier balance between technology and life beyond the screen.

Of those, 25 per cent spent up to a day internet-free, with 20 per cent taking up to a week off and five per cent going web-free for up to a whole month.

What the hell they did during those four weeks is anyone's guess.

Strangely, many people found their time offline to be a "positive experience" – 33 per cent said they felt more productive, 27 per cent found it liberating, while 25 per cent "enjoyed life more".

However, 16 per cent experienced a "fear of missing out", while 15 per cent felt lost and 14 per cent "cut-off".

Adult internet users in the UK currently spend an average of 25 hours online per week. 42 per cent say they go online or check apps more than 10 times a day, while around one in 10 access the internet more than 50 times daily.

The survey of 2,025 adults' and 500 teenagers' internet habits revealed that 59 per cent consider themselves to be “hooked” on their connected device – while one-third admit they find it difficult to disconnect.

Jane Rumble, director of Market Intelligence at Ofcom said: “The internet has revolutionised our lives for the better. But our love affair with the web isn’t always plain surfing, and many people admit to feeling hooked.”

“So millions of us are taking a fresh look at the role of technology in our lives, and going on a digital detox to get a better tech-life balance.” ®

 

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