This alarming fact could finally put an end to your social media scrolling

social media

Sending a Snap at your desk, a TikTok scroll on the commute, or browsing Instagram before you fall asleep.

Whether we like it or not, social media punctuates our every day lives — and those minutes can quickly add up.

New research has revealed that over the course of one year, UK adults spend almost 36 days scrolling, posting, messaging and sharing online.

It suddenly makes sense why we’re always rushing everywhere. Less time on our devices could literally free up more than an entire month.

Plus, that figure is based on an average time spent per day on social media at 2 hours and 21 minutes — but be honest, isn’t yours much higher?

And for Gen Z (that’s young adults aged 18 to 24) the figures are even more striking.

The younger generation spends an average of three hours and four minutes a day on social platforms, the equivalent of around 47 days every year.

The study by The Big Lunch and The Big Help Out, surveyed 2,000 UK adults about how they spent time online.

The research also found that almost a quarter of people (24%) feel they simply don’t have enough time in the day to do the things that make them feel fulfilled. Go figure.

The impact on our wellbeing

While social media can help people stay informed, entertained and connected, experts say many are in a growing ‘lost time trap’ — a cycle of low-value digital activity that leaves little room for the things they genuinely enjoy.

Professor Andrea Wigfield, director of loneliness studies and the Campaign to End Loneliness at Sheffield Hallam University, says:

‘Many people feel chronically short of time, but often it’s not that we don’t have time, it’s that our time is fragmented by small, low-value activities that don’t leave us feeling fulfilled.

‘When people reclaim even a small amount of that time for meaningful connection, whether that’s meeting neighbours, volunteering, helping at a local event or simply spending more time with others, it can have a surprisingly positive impact on wellbeing, belonging and social connection.’

How can we develop healthier online habits?

Researchers estimate that if everyone in the UK reclaimed just 20 minutes of their daily scrolling time, we’d have over 18.7 million extra hours, that could be spent on more meaningful activities.

Whether that’s exercising, seeing friends, pursuing hobbies or helping others, experts believe even small changes could have a significant impact on personal wellbeing.

The findings suggest there is a growing appetite for exactly that kind of connection. Nearly two-thirds of respondents (62%) said they would like to get involved in volunteering within their local community if it were easy to do so.

Among younger generations, often labelled the most digitally connected, there are also signs of a shift in attitude. Research by Royal Voluntary Service found that more than half of 18-to 24-year-olds would consider swapping an hour of social media use for an hour of volunteering.