More than 6.5 million people in UK never carry any gadgets with them
- More than 6.5 million Brits do not carry any gadgets with them whatsoever –
- 1 in 5 would welcome manufacturers introducing gadget usage limits on devices
- More than 1 in 10 would be happy to have designated tech-free time allocations day to day
While a huge proportion of the nation has become extremely reliant on technology, a diehard pocket of technophobes are still managing to resist the lure of being connected 24/7 and are continuing to shun carrying gadgets with them day to day.
A survey of 1,000 UK adults carried out by online vape shop, ElectricTobacconist.co.uk, has revealed more than 6.5 million people still go through daily life without carrying a single piece of technology on their person.
Perhaps not surprisingly it’s the older generations which are more likely to do this, with 1 in 4 of those aged 65+ years confessing they don’t carry a single gadget with them.
However, it’s not just old folk. Over 1 in 10 of those aged 46 – 54 will also do it – suggesting that this trend is not exclusive to pensioners.
And while younger British adults are not as keen to live out daily life without the help of a gadget – with less than 1% of those aged 18 – 24 years going without on a daily basis – the research did reveal a surprising appetite to introduce functionality on their devices that restricted their usage.
For example, 1 in 5 (20%) said they would like to see manufacturers introducing features that would send them reminders not to over use their technology, or set usage limits.
Meanwhile, 13% say they would be open to having allocated times during the day when they would go technology free.
Digital detoxes are proving increasingly popular, with a number of Millennial A-listers having undertaken them – including 21 year old supermodel and Kardashian dynasty member, Kendal Jenner; 25 year old singer and Disney actress, Selena Gomez and songwriter, Ed Sheeran.
Says Pascal Culverhouse, founder and CEO at ElectricTobacconist.co.uk: “Technology has come on to such a degree that it is now more shocking to find out that someone does not carry any gadgets with them at all, than for someone to reveal several hundred pounds’ worth of technology with them every day.
“Technology is incredible, and allows us to achieve so many things in our day-to-day lives much more efficiently – but there is such a thing as over-use. Being permanently glued to a screen on a mobile phone or a tablet, for example, is not a good thing. It’s interesting to see that it has gone so far this way that many now admit they would like manufacturers to introduce features that make it more difficult in fact for them to use their devices – with many welcoming caps that will physically present them from using their gadgets.”
British adults who don’t carry any gadgets with them (by age group):
3% of 35 – 44 year olds
10% of 46 – 54 year olds
14% 55 – 64 year olds
24% of 65+ year olds
To view the UK Gadget Usage Report 2017 and for more information on this research, visit https://www.electrictobacconist.co.uk/uk-gadget-usage-report-2017-i276
