How Many Brits Choose Doomscrolling over Sex with their Partner?

One in 10 Brits admitted to choosing doomscrolling over sex with their partner, according to new research highlighting the effects of excessive screen time.

A survey of 2,000 adults found that the UK collectively spends 67.4 million hours each day scrolling through negative content online. That amounts to 96 minutes per person daily, or around two full days every month.

This behaviour affects productivity for 46% of respondents and creativity for 28%.

For 10% of Brits, it has resulted in turning down sex with their partner.

The research was commissioned by smartphone brand OnePlus, which launched a web game called Brain Rot Blaster to raise awareness.

The retro first-person shooter game self-destructs after one play and was created to challenge excessive scrolling and encourage more intentional use of smartphones.

Celina Shi, a spokesperson for OnePlus, said: “It’s easy to fall into mindless scrolling – at home, at work, even around loved ones.

“We’re encouraging people to take back control of their screen time and use their phones with more purpose.”

Among British South Asians, who often balance family commitments, career goals, and social obligations, the findings reflect a wider concern.

Scrolling through news from South Asia, diaspora influencers, or global events can become a default habit.

Many younger South Asians who manage WhatsApp family groups, follow multiple cultural news streams, or juggle expectations from different generations may find themselves doomscrolling without realising it.

The research found that 44% of people regularly lose track of time when scrolling.

Twenty-two per cent admitted they have no idea how much time they spend doing it. More than half (52 per cent) said they wished they had more hours in the day.

The top priorities they wanted to make time for included seeing family (40%), spending time in nature (36%), being creative (25%), and learning a new language (19%).

These activities often hold particular value within South Asian households, where family time and self-development are seen as important.

Scroll habits often disrupt key moments. Forty-one per cent said they doomscroll while on the toilet, and 49% while spending time with friends or family.

Others admitted to doing so during weddings (12%), school events (13%), and even funerals (six per cent).

The top toxic topics include negative world events (32%) and celebrity drama or reality TV (32%).

However, 28% of respondents said such content left them feeling tired or drained, while 22% reported feeling anxious or overwhelmed.

The research outlines how screen time is shaping habits across the UK, including in South Asian communities where family, tradition, and ambition intersect.

The study suggests that a growing number of people may be trading meaningful moments, whether with loved ones or in cultural spaces, for endless digital consumption.