As studies show the number of young people reporting feelings of severe distress continues to rise, a new survey indicates that unreliable internet connection is contributing to the mental health crisis as nearly one in three (32%) young adults aged between 18-24 feel that poor network connectivity leads to feelings of disconnection from friends and family.

Furthermore, over a quarter (29%) of men aged between 18-24 say that their personal lives are adversely affected by unreliable mobile connection – the highest across any age group.

The survey, published by mobile analytics and business intelligence firm GWS, shows the impact of unreliable internet connection on the mental wellbeing of people across the UK.

Young adults are the group most impacted as an overwhelming nine out of ten (90%) report stress and anxiety due to poor connectivity. In general, the frequency of stress decreases with age, with a quarter of over 55-year-olds indicating that they’ve never felt stressed due to an unreliable internet connection.

Given the negative impact of unreliable mobile internet on stress and mental wellbeing, unsurprisingly all age groups rank reliability as the most important aspect of smartphone use.

Nine in ten (90%) adults surveyed also agreed that having a reliable internet connection made their lives better, with over two thirds saying they couldn’t go about their daily lives without a reliable internet connection. That figure rises to 83% amongst women aged between 18-24.

When looking at how young people are spending time on their devices, mobile usage data collected by GWS alongside the survey reveals that average daily screentime for all those younger than 55 sat just under the five-hour mark, with those 55+ typically spending roughly an hour less using the internet on mobile devices in comparison.

Socially disconnected 

The mobile usage data also reveals that younger adults, the group most susceptible to feelings of social isolation due to unreliable internet connection, also spend most time on social media apps like TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and X.

More specifically, GWS’ study claims that younger women (18-24) spend well over two hours a day (140 minutes) on social media, followed by young men (18-24) who spend 126 minutes a day on social media apps. The same group, younger males, also check into social media more frequently than any other group, checking it 27 times each day, compared to women who open 24 times a day.

This is compared to the national average of 14 social media sessions a day, which drops as people get older; in fact, over 55s spend just 44 minutes a day on social media platforms.

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Dr Paul Carter, CEO, GWS, commented: “With ongoing mental health difficulties impacting all generations, it is critical for policy makers to understand the nuances of both phone usage and how unreliable connection can breed feelings of disconnection.

“Our phones are now an essential portal for our daily lives – whether we’re using them to bank, shop or connect with others, all generations are dependent on high quality mobile connections and prioritise reliable connectivity above all.

“Screens are here to stay, and when that connection is taken away it can lead to feelings of social isolation, especially when more and more engagements are taking place online. It is for these reasons that continued investment in widespread reliable internet connection is a must, as is the need to open a serious dialog about how phone use can impact mental health – for better and for worse.”