Technology is making British people unhappy, survey finds

May 2015

Technology is making British people unhappy, survey finds: A recent survey, of 1,000 men and women, has found that over 75 per cent of British people believe technological advances are negatively impacting their normal quality of life.

The research was commissioned by the holiday company, Camping in the Forest, and found that large majority of people felt that they were not as able to enjoy the simple things in their life as they used to be.

The survey revealed that 38 per cent of the respondents were worried that further advances in technology would make them less happy than they are at the moment.

84 per cent said that they miss what they referred to as ‘the good old days’, where their life seemed less complex.

The survey added that communication over the internet has made people more anti-social, for example, 25 per cent said that they do not talk when at a restaurant or pub; instead they and their friends are fixated with their devices.

23 per cent of the respondents said that they have got into the habit of updating their activities on social media instead of actually doing them.

The survey found that with all the technology the nation has access to, British people have less time for family activities, with half saying that they barely ever spend time with their family and loved ones without the presence of a device of some sort.

The respondents highlighted that the demands of their job was one of the main reasons as to why people are becoming so wrapped up in smart technology.

Of the participants, 95 per cent believed that it is important to spend time outdoors. However, just 66 per cent said that they do not have time to spend outside.

When asked what the respondents would most like to re-connect with, the top 4 things were: walking (52 per cent), spending time outdoors (49 per cent), reading (38 per cent) and observing wildlife (30 per cent).

Sites Director at Camping in the Forest, Bob Hill, said of the issue: "The reality is that, by our very human nature, we all need time to switch off, unwind and just be among those we love. If we fail to do so, we risk not only losing the art of conversation and building proper relationships, but our overall well-being.”