Key findings:
Nearly two-fifths of media consumers (39%) say smartphones have affected their own ability to concentrate either a great deal (9%) or a fair amount (30%).More than three-quarters of media consumers (76%) say smartphones have affected the general population’s ability to concentrate, including 36% who say they have done so a great deal.More than a quarter of media consumers (27%) say they have recently tried to change how they use their phone or digital media, with 16% reporting improved focus as a result and 11% noticing no improvement.
In the first part of our UK media consumption trends series, we explore the platforms and channels shaping Britons’ media habits. In Part 2, we look at how UK adults engage with short-form and long-form video content.
In this third instalment, we examine how people think smartphones have impacted the ability to concentrate – both on a personal and societal level – and whether UK adults are taking steps to manage their digital media consumption.
Do smartphones harm society’s ability to focus?
Nearly two-fifths of media consumers (39%) say smartphones have affected their own ability to concentrate, either a great deal (9%) or a fair amount (30%). Younger adults are more likely to feel their attention has been affected, with 54% of 18–24-year-olds and 56% of 25–34-year-olds saying smartphones have impacted their ability to concentrate a great deal or a fair amount. By contrast, only 22% of those aged 55+ share this view, while nearly a third (31%) say smartphones have had no impact on their concentration at all.