Amy Hunt, Britain's fastest woman, has admitted patience is not her strong suit, joining millions of Gen Zers who speed up daily life, according to new research.
A survey of 2,000 adults found that 50% of those aged 18 to 29 listen to voice notes at double speed all or most of the time, with 33% doing the same for TikTok and Instagram videos. Half of Gen Z (50%) said they have increased playback speeds more often than two years ago, while 30% admitted some videos now feel too slow at normal speed.
Gen Z's impatience habits
The research, commissioned by Sky Broadband, also found 33% skim long articles for key information, 26% check restaurant menus before dinner, and 19% power walk around the supermarket.
More than three quarters (76%) of Gen Z admitted to skipping through content, compared with 53% of Millennials, 23% of Gen X, and 12% of Boomers. Sixty percent of those aged 18-29 happily own the title of the most impatient generation when consuming content.
Sky Broadband partnership
Sky Broadband, which delivers speeds of 5Gbps, has partnered with Hunt for a short mockumentary-style skit showing her impatiently waiting for everyday things. Hunt said: "When you train for a living, every second counts, so patience has never really been my strong suit. I like to think I live life at 2x speed."
She added: "Whether that's on the track or watching something on my phone, I'm always looking for the fast-forward button. This film has fun with that, because when you're used to moving quickly, waiting for everything else to catch up can feel like a lifetime."
Online frustrations and benefits
Impatience is especially evident online, with 23% irritated by waiting for apps to update, 17% by video game refreshing, and 16% by sluggish social media loading. More than a fifth (22%) abandon content if it fails to grab them within five seconds or less.
Almost one in five Millennials (19%) find waiting for broadband more irritating than queuing at the shops, while 18% of Brits say instant access has made waiting more aggravating. However, 21% used faster playback to work through educational material, 16% to cram more valuable content into their day, and 20% of Gen Z said it helps them feel more in command of their time.
Some moments remain worth appreciating, with 56% preferring to watch favourite TV dramas or anticipated films at original speed. Yet 26% wish people would get to the point in lengthy stories, and 18% dislike videos with instructions they're expected to watch. Nearly half would skip traffic (48%), being placed on hold (48%), delayed flights or trains (43%), and supermarket queues (40%).
Ben Case, Managing Director of Connectivity at Sky Broadband, said: "Life moves fast, and your broadband should keep up."
