Most Britons shun digital detox as online life dominates

New research commissioned by Zen Internet suggests most people in Britain have not taken a full break from online life, despite the growth of "digital detox" culture and a dedicated day encouraging people to switch off for 24 hours.

The survey by Censuswide of 2,000 UK consumers aged 16 and over found that 63% have never taken what it defined as a digital detox, while 34% said they do not want to.

Overall, 37% said they had taken a break from the internet at some point. Regular digital detoxing remains a minority habit: 16% said they do it regularly, while 21% said they have done it once or twice.

Hard to disconnect

The data points to limited tolerance for being offline. Almost half of respondents (45%) said they would struggle to go without internet access for more than 12 hours. On average, respondents thought they could go four days without access.

Views on how long people could stay offline varied. Some 24% said they could go without internet access for one to five hours, and 18% said six to 12 hours. One in five (20%) thought they could manage one to two days.

Responses also differed by age. Among those aged 25 to 34, 31% said they could go without access for one to five hours, compared with 17% of those aged 55 and over.

At the longer end of the scale, only 12% of those aged 16 to 18 thought they could cope for a week without internet access. The findings reflect a wider shift in which many consumers view online access as a default utility rather than an optional service.

Generational split

Younger people reported heavier internet use than older groups, while also being more likely to acknowledge problematic habits. Around three in five Gen Z (59%) and Millennials (63%) said they spend more time online than offline, compared with 33% of Baby Boomers.

When asked about wasted time online, 32% of Gen Z respondents said they spend excessive time scrolling social media, versus 16% of Baby Boomers.

Younger cohorts were also more likely to say they had attempted a break from the internet. The survey found that 55% of Gen Z respondents had taken a digital detox, compared with 20% of Baby Boomers.

The results suggest digital detoxing is not limited to older people seeking relief from screens. They also indicate that younger respondents, who spend more time online, may see more reason to test periods of disconnection. Even so, the low share who detox regularly suggests many breaks remain one-off experiments rather than routines.

Among those aged 16 to 18, the survey pointed to a more resistant segment: 22% said they have never taken a digital detox and would not want to.

Mixed feelings online

The research also suggests constant connectivity does not translate into constant distress for everyone. One in five respondents (22%) said they never feel overwhelmed by being constantly connected or online.

Asked which statements best described their internet use today, respondents most often pointed to convenience and dependence. Some 31% said the internet has made daily administration easier, 30% said they could not live without it, and 30% said they have a healthy balance in their internet use.

Other answers suggested efforts to self-regulate. Some 26% said they enjoy being online but try to limit their time. Another 17% said they only go online when they really need to, and 17% said they are actively trying to reduce their internet use.

A smaller set of responses reflected potential downsides. One in 10 respondents (10%) said they often feel overwhelmed or burnt out from being online. The same share said the internet hampers their concentration, and 10% said they feel more disconnected despite being constantly connected.

Respondents also cited perceived benefits. Entertainment was the most frequently selected positive impact (60%), followed by reconnecting with friends or family (54%). Education or upskilling was cited by 35%. Improved access to healthcare or wellbeing resources was cited by 31%, and the same share said internet access enables remote or flexible work.

Connectivity expectations

The findings come as more services and routines move online in the UK, from banking and public services to workplace collaboration. They also arrive amid rising scrutiny of screen time-particularly among younger people-and growing attention on the reliability of communications networks and the services built on them.

Stephen Warburton of Zen Internet linked the results to the practical reality of modern online dependence.

"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," Warburton said.

With many respondents describing the internet as essential for administration, relationships, learning, and work, debate over disconnection is likely to continue alongside demand for reliable home and mobile connectivity.