Younger people suffer ‘load rage’ over poor internet speeds
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It takes less than one minute for young people in the UK to get frustrated while waiting for phone content to download, according to a survey by smartphone manufacturer OnePlus.
With a sample size of 2,000, the survey showed many teenagers suffer from ‘load rage’ and are five times more likely to get angry over slow download speeds compared to older generations.
Unbelievably the survey even claims that 75 per cent of respondents find download speeds and internet connectivity the most frustrating element of their life, although a third of UK Brits admit they regret getting so worked up over poor connectivity.
Two-fifths of millennials said they felt symptoms of burnout, including fatigue, insomnia and anxiety, because of the digital-heavy nature of their lives.
But more than a quarter of 16 to 34-year-olds surveyed also said that those in older generations did not understand the pressures on young people in a technology-driven world.
Almost half of 16 to 24-year-olds said they were looking to reduce their screen time and 42 per cent of UK adults believe that young people have less spare time on their hands than older generations did.
London was identified as the area where the most people were prone to suffering from ‘load rage’, followed by the North West and South West.
The impact of technology on mental health, particularly in young people, has become a larger talking point within the industry amid increased scrutiny from the Government over the amount of time people spent in front of screens.
Proposals put forward by the Government in a white paper earlier this year said a greater duty of care should be placed on technology companies to protect their users from harm.
Several high-profile phone manufacturers, including both Apple and Google, have introduced tools in the last year that enable users to monitor their screen time and place time limits on app use.
OnePlus UK’s head of EU strategy and UK marketing, Kate Parkyn, said: “Younger generations are surrounded by technology and are telling us that they need a break.
“OnePlus understands this, and with our 5G phones and Zen mode, which allows users a moment to ‘switch off’, people can spend more time doing the things they love and less time staring at a screen.”
The firm’s Zen mode limits the functions of a user’s phone for 20 minutes, which the company says enables users to take a break from technology.
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