Average Briton spends a whole day a week online

THE explosion of smartphone use means we now spend the equivalent of a day a week online, a major study shows.

Most people confess to feeling ‘hooked’ to their devices, with half of adult internet users missing out on sleep to be online.

And the average internet user spends 25 hours a week online compared to nine hours a decade ago.

One in three adults have undertaken some kind of ‘digital detox’ as they find their obsession with their phone means they miss out on spending time with family and friends.

Just under half of the 2,000 adults surveyed said they neglect their housework because of the time they spend online, and a quarter of people confess to sending messages to people in the same room.

The research by Ofcom found that common etiquette has taken a downturn, too, with a quarter of people saying they have been bumped into in the street by people engrossed in their screens.

But the broadcast watchdog found 15million adults have now attempted to spend a period of time completely offline.

Holidays are a popular detoxing opportunity, with one in six adults now deliberately booking holidays to places without internet access.

Just under 10 per cent of adults have gone even further and chosen a holiday destination without inter- net or mobile phone coverage. Celebrities including Ed Sheeran have led the way, either by quitting social media or going on smartphone-free retreats.

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 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.’ The Communications Market Report highlights the dramatic growth in connectivity and dependence on technology.

More than a quarter of 16 to 24year-olds confessed to being late for work because of being online, while older age groups are driving growth in the use of mobile data.

Half of 55 to 64-year-olds now use mobile data, compared with 39 per cent last year, and 21 per cent of the over-65s, compared to 16 per cent last year.

A third of internet users say their relationship with their digital devices negatively affects their social lives. And four in ten adults say that they are ignored at least once a week by a friend or relative using a smartphone or tablet

Some 12 per cent of adults admitting to having bumped into someone in the street because they were on their smartphones.

Technology-free retreats, which give people the chance to spend time walking, reading and doing yoga rather than surfing the web, are proving increasingly popular.

Lucy Pearson, the founder of detox retreat Unplugged Weekend, has noticed a recent surge in enquiries as people look for ways to ditch their devices.

She said: ‘People feel they cannot get away from their phones and they feel the pressure to be responsive at all times.

‘Their responsibilities at work are following them home, and they cannot escape because their work is in their pocket.

‘Going on a technology-free retreat is a nice break for people, and we’ve had many more enquiries since we launched two years ago.’