New research released ahead of Global Day of Unplugging on 6 March highlights how deeply embedded internet connectivity has become in everyday life across the UK. A survey commissioned by Rochdale-based Zen Internet and conducted by Censuswide found that nearly two-thirds of Brits (63%) have never taken a break from the internet.
More than a third of respondents (34%) say they would not want to disconnect at all, underlining how digital connectivity now underpins everything from communication and entertainment to work and daily administration. The findings point to rising expectations around reliable connectivity as businesses and households become increasingly dependent on being online.
Fear of being offline helps explain why a true digital detox remains out of reach for many. Almost half (45%) say they would struggle to go without internet access beyond 12 hours, and only 12% of 18 to 24-year-olds think they could cope for a full week – a reliance that is reshaping expectations around connectivity.
Gen Z most online, but also most self-aware
Younger generations are both more digitally immersed and more honest about it.
Around 3 in 5 Gen Z (59%) and Millennials (63%) say they spend more time online than offline, compared to just a third (33%) of Baby Boomers.
Gen Z are also the most likely to admit they waste a lot of time online, with 32% saying they spend excessive time scrolling social media, versus 16% of Baby Boomers.
At the same time, 55% of Gen Z say they have taken a digital detox, compared to just 20% of Baby Boomers, suggesting younger people may be more conscious of their online habits, even if full disconnection remains difficult.
Always connected, but not universally overwhelmed
Despite concerns around constant connectivity, the relationship with the internet is not viewed as wholly negative. Just over one in five Brits (22%) say they never feel overwhelmed by being constantly connected or online, while others describe a more balanced or pragmatic relationship.
When asked which statements best describe their internet use today, respondents confirmed it has made daily life admin easier (31%), that they couldn’t live without it (30%), or that they have a healthy balance with their internet use (30%). These stats reflect a nation that relies on being online, even if it occasionally feels conflicted about how connected it has become.
Commenting on the findings, Stephen Warburton from Zen Internet, which commissioned the survey, said:
“There’s a lot of talk about digital detoxing, and taking time to switch off can be important for wellbeing. But for most people the internet now plays a central role in everyday life. The findings show that while many recognise the need for balance, switching off entirely isn’t always practical in a world that’s increasingly built around being online. As reliance deepens, expectations around reliability and resilience are rising too.”
