Almost one in five have missed key life events because we were looking at our phones
- 17 percent of people said they were distracted during social gatherings
- Older generations are better at ignoring the appeal of their phones
Nearly one in five people have missed important emotional moments because they were staring at their phones, a poll has found.
Researchers found that 17 percent of people said they were distracted during weddings, family announcements, sporting events and other social occasions.
Young people admit they’ve lost the most, with 23 percent of Generation Z – those aged 18 to 24 – saying they’ve had to ask themselves, ‘What have I missed?’.
Millennials (those aged 25 to 36) are only slightly more engaged; 22 percent say important moments have passed them by.
Older generations are better at ignoring the appeal of their phones; only 16 percent of Generation X (the 40 to 55 age group) say they missed what was going on.
Nearly one in five people have missed important emotional moments because they were staring at their phones, a poll has found
Researchers found that 17 percent of people said they were distracted during weddings, family announcements, sporting events and other social occasions
It is perhaps unsurprising that the baby boomer generation – those over 55 – are the least likely to be ruled by their phones; only nine percent say they are distracted at important times in their lives.
The findings were revealed after drinks manufacturer Schweppes asked 2,000 British adults if they had missed crucial moments because they were distracted by their phones.
Researchers also found that a quarter of people (25 percent) said they turn off their phones at parties and nights out to prevent interruptions from ruining the evening.
A further 21 per cent said phone light bothers them during live performances and 17 per cent said they are tired of having to pose for photos on a night out.
Six percent even said they had lost contact with friends while away because they were so preoccupied with their phones. Another five percent admitted that they had spent so much time on their phone that friends had abandoned it.
Spokeswoman Marina Nastyushenko said: ‘We have all experienced when friends seemed more interested in their phones than in what was happening around them, especially during special occasions such as a party or an anniversary, when people miss the moment.
‘Our research shows across all generations that we often play second fiddle to someone’s phone.’
She added: ‘In this fast-paced digital age, it is important to fully immerse ourselves and enjoy socializing without distractions.’