Study: One-third of smartphone usage time is purposeless

According to a Virgin Media O2 report, an average of 36% of time spent on smartphones is wasted on aimless browsing with no clear objective. The phenomenon of mindless scrolling has become an increasingly common problem among smartphone users.

A new report from telecommunications company Virgin Media O2 reveals a shocking fact: approximately one-third – precisely 36% – of time spent on smartphones is wasted on aimless browsing with no specific purpose. People simply scroll, swipe and click without a clear plan for what they want to do.

The phenomenon of purposeless screen browsing has grown significantly in recent years. Social media platforms and applications are deliberately designed to keep users glued to their screens as long as possible – endless feeds, recommendation algorithms and notifications work together to capture people's attention even when they have no specific goal.

According to experts, aimless smartphone use is linked to declining attention span, sleep problems and general dissatisfaction. Many users admit that they pick up their phone automatically, even without a conscious decision – for example while waiting in a queue, sitting on public transport or even in the middle of a conversation.

If average daily smartphone usage is several hours, then 36% of that means a significant portion of free time disappears into a digital void. Digital wellbeing specialists recommend setting time limits on app usage and creating deliberate breaks to reduce mindless scrolling.