Over 40% of Bulgarians use their mobile devices for more than 4 hours a day

Over 40% of Bulgarians spend more than 4 hours a day on their smartphones, and half of these – spend even more than 6 hours. The main reasons for this intensive device use are force of habit (41%) and work duties (37%).

The good news is that about 1/3 of people have made attempts to reduce their screen time. Not surprisingly, the factor that helps the most in this situation is having real-life interaction with loved ones – 62% admit that when they are with their families and friends, they do not feel the need to reach for their smartphone.

The above comes from data compiled after a national survey conducted by Arbitrage research agency on behalf of Yettel among 600 respondents aged 15-60. In its role as a responsible partner of the Bulgarian community, this Christmas, Yettel seeks to emphasize not only the benefits of technology but also the special moments that we can dedicate to our loved ones. After all, the best gift we can give is our attention!

What are the digital habits of Bulgarians?

The data shows that just over 1/3 of the survey participants use their mobile devices between 2 and 4 hours a day, 22% admit that their screen time is in the range of 4-6 hours, and as many as 20% spend over 6 hours a day on this activity. Only 4% have their phone in hand for less than 1 hour a day. Surprisingly or not, the largest percentage of people who use smartphones and other handheld devices for more than 4 hours a day fall into the 35-44 and 15-24 age groups.

Digital pause - how effective are our attempts to change habits?

Against the background of these statistics, nearly 40% admit that they have made attempts to limit the use of digital devices or plan to do so in the near future, whereas 18% have considered it, but without a concrete commitment for the time being. It is the people who spend the most time in front of the screen who are most willing to reduce it. 37% of participants who use handheld devices for more than 6 hours a day have already tried to do so, and 7% plan to do so soon. However, an impressive percentage of people (43%) have never thought about this issue.

The success rate of those who did try to limit their screen time remains relatively low - 27% of them claim that they have succeeded, which represents only 8% of the entire sample, and 52% believe that they have achieved a partial result in positive direction. For 18%, attempts to take a digital break have been unsuccessful.

The data also shows that people who use handheld devices more than 4 hours a day have a harder time reducing screen time than those who spend up to 2 hours a day on this activity.

What prevents us from putting down the phone?

Apart from the force of habit (41%) and work duties (37%), a significant part of the respondents admit that they use their phone as a source of entertainment in their free time (26%), and 15% are afraid of missing out on important information. It is noteworthy that for people who spend the most hours in front of the screen - 6 and above - the main barriers to limiting screen time are namely force of habit or the need to find entertainment.

Interacting with loved ones keeps us away from the screen

The good news is that the survey also reveals what the key driver of change can be. Over 60% of respondents in all age groups say that face-to-face communication with family and friends helps them avoid thinking about their digital devices. All other activities that we can engage in to replace screen time - physical labor (47%), travel (41%), reading a book (38%), sports (34%) and even practicing a hobby (34%) - do not have the same power to tear us away from the screen the way quality time spent with our loved ones can.

Christmas - the best time to create unforgettable memories offline

When asked, "During the holidays, how likely are you to limit the use of smartphones and other devices to spend more time with loved ones?", 76% of participants answered, "Very likely" and "Likely."

This is exactly the message that Yettel wishes to share this Christmas - let's enjoy unforgettable moments with our loved ones because real communication begins when we put the phones aside. With its festive season campaign, the telecom reminds us that technology is a wonderful thing as it makes our lives easier in countless ways and brings us many benefits, but it should not deprive us of real connections and precious moments in the real world – here and now. The most meaningful conversations and the most memorable experiences always happen offline.

Translated by Tzvetozar Vincent Iolov