Gen Z spends an average of more than 36 hours a week on their mobile phones, yet making and receiving calls is only the seventh most common task they use them for, according to new research.
A poll of 2,000 adults found that Brits spend nearly four days a year on their phones carrying out “life admin” for other people. These unofficial tasks include family organising (22%), social planning (17%) and acting as an unofficial therapist (14%).
On average, these tasks take one hour and 50 minutes a week, totalling just over 95 hours a year – the equivalent of nearly four whole days. Most respondents said they do not mind, with 38% saying the tasks make them feel useful, 29% trusted and 26% needed.
How Gen Z uses their phones
The research, commissioned by Tesco Mobile, showed the top ways Gen Z use their devices are social media apps (67%), WhatsApp (64%) and listening to music and podcasts (59%). Watching videos or streaming content (59%), online banking (58%) and taking photos or videos (58%) also ranked higher than using the phone to call someone (56%).
For those aged 65 and over, making and receiving calls remain the most common uses for a mobile (78%), along with sending text messages (72%). Across all generations, WhatsApp emerged as the main way people stay in touch through messages and calls, ahead of the phone’s built-in messaging service.
Tesco Mobile’s Data Warden campaign
To celebrate everyday interactions, Tesco Mobile enlisted TV personality and presenter Vogue Williams as its first-ever “Data Warden”. She took to the streets of London to reward unsuspecting Brits caught using their phones to stay in touch, handing out “Phoney Fines” – fake fines designed to reward people rather than penalise them. Each “Phoney Fine” revealed a surprise gift card, celebrating everyday connections with Tesco Mobile Pay as you go Essentials.
Williams said: “We’re always being told we spend too much time on our phones, and I’m definitely guilty of being glued to mine. But half the time we’re checking in on friends, making someone laugh or helping sort the latest drama.” She added: “I love that Tesco Mobile is celebrating those everyday moments and giving something back to people for staying connected.”
Impact on relationships
The study also found that 76% of all those polled believe everyday interactions through their handsets play an important role in keeping relationships strong. Some 42% said their mood had been lifted by something sent to their phone, whether a funny photo (62%), a thoughtful message (58%) or good news from someone (56%). Meanwhile, 60% feel closer to someone when they regularly swap photos or videos.
On average, Brits take one hour and 17 minutes to reply to a message, according to the OnePoll research. People appear divided on messaging etiquette, with 27% feeling guilty about replying to a text instantly while 24% confessed to taking hours or days to respond. Gen Z believes a video call is the best way to feel connected, while for those 65 and over a traditional phone call does the job.
Laura Joseph, chief customer officer at Tesco Mobile, said: “Our phones play an important role in helping us stay connected, and it's often the small interactions that matter most.”
