THE DIGITAL DAZE – MORE THAN HALF OF BRITS SAY THEY DISCONNECT FROM THE REAL WORLD WHEN ON THEIR PHONES

• New research* from Clas Ohlson reveals that the relationships we have with our phones are impacting how much quality time we spend at home with loved ones
• Almost half (47%) of Brits say that loved ones’ excessive phone usage affects their relationship with them
• Over a third (41%) of Brits in relationships would rather spend time in bed with their phone than with their partner
• Over half (53%) of parents admit to regularly keeping their children occupied with phones
• Over one in 10 (12 %) Brits would rather say “I love you” via text, and a fifth (21%) feel they can express themselves better with emojis than words
• Clas Ohlson has released the research as part of its ‘A Better Home’ campaign, which aims to champion spending quality time in the home with family and friends
• Over half (52%) of Brits say they become “disconnected from the real world” and “unaware of their surroundings” when on their phone

New research released today by Clas Ohlson shines a light on Britain’s rising obsession with mobile phones. The A Better Home Report from the brand explores how phone usage impacts our relationships with loved ones, including partners and children.

Phones in Everyday Life & The Home

Over half (52%) of Brits say they become “unaware of their surroundings” while on their phone, which means we’re not paying attention a lot of the time. Almost a quarter (25%) of Brits say that their phone is the first thing they look for in the mornings, and over a third (34%) of Brits say that using their phones is the last thing they do before they sleep each night.

A whopping half (51%) of Brits have missed key goings-on due to being distracted by their phones – such as key moments in a film or TV show (27%), or someone asking them a question (25%).

One in five Brits (21%) say they express themselves better with the use of emojis over real words, whilst over one in ten (12%) will only say ‘I love you’ via text. Meanwhile, 1 in 10 (10%) pet owners have admitted to seeing signs of jealousy displayed from their animals when they are busy on their phones.

Romantic Relationships

Over a third (41%) of Brits in relationships would rather spend time on their phone than with their partner before bed, showing that phone usage is putting up barriers in relationships.

Over a quarter (29%) of Brits say that mobile phone usage has caused arguments in relationships, while most surprisingly those in relationships (53%) are more likely to be on their phones in bed at night than singletons (40%).

Parental Relationships

The research reveals that over half (53%) of parents with children under 18 admit to regularly keeping their children occupied with phones. Almost a quarter (23%) of parents with children aged over 18 have confessed to also using technology to distract their kids, despite them being young adults.

Award-winning writer, TED speaker global spokesperson of the Slow Movement, Carl Honoré, said: “Clas Ohlson’s research shows that using our phones too much can damage our relationships with friends and family. Of course, everyone loves a bit of shared screen time, but being constantly plugged in can drive a wedge between us and our loved ones. To turn the home into a haven of calm and connection, it’s essential to switch off our gadgets sometimes.”

Melissa Titshall, Head of Marketing Communications at Clas Ohlson UK, commented: “With the launch of our A Better Home campaign, we are hoping to tackle the issue of excessive phone usage and champion spending quality time at home with loved ones.

“Clas Ohlson was founded by a father in Sweden 100 years ago, and the brand’s ethos has always centred around simplifying life at home and providing solutions for the whole family. We hope this research encourages people to take a break from their phones and enjoy some quality time with their friends and family. It’s not a case of giving up your phone altogether, or restricting phone use completely, – it’s about ensuring that you’re sharing in real life as well as online.”

Clas Ohlson is helping customers get the most out of their time spent together at home with families and friends, with a range of tips and tricks as part of its A Better Home campaign, as well as bringing together a Quality Time range. For more info visit:https://www.clasohlson.com/uk/