London’s ‘Phonedemic’: Nearly half of Londoners admit to checking their phones during sex
Come on London, we’re better than this.
London has a reputation as the city that never sleeps, but apparently it’s also a city that never stops scrolling - even during the most intimate moments.
New research from Lovehoney revealed that a whopping 42% of Londoners admitted to glancing at their screen during sex at least once, making us the undisputed champions of the UK’s growing “phonedemic”.
While the rest of the country isn’t far behind, London’s love affair with notifications seems to be stronger than most.
Sheffield (39%), Cardiff (34%) and Nottingham (33%) all follow, but none quite match the capital’s commitment to staying connected… even in the bedroom.
Meanwhile, Brighton (28%) and Birmingham (27%) round out the mid-table, with Edinburgh sitting calmly at the bottom with just 21% of residents admitting to a cheeky mid-romp scroll.
But the issue goes far deeper than a few wayward glances at WhatsApp. Lovehoney’s wider findings paint a picture of a nation increasingly hooked on its screens.
Gen Z are leading the charge, clocking up an eye-watering 5 hours 35 minutes of phone time every day. Millennials aren’t far behind at 5 hours 7 minutes, while Gen X manage a more modest 3 hours 46 minutes.
Boomers, unsurprisingly, spend the least time on their phones - a mere 2 hours 32 minutes on average. Overall, the typical Brit spends just over 4 hours glued to their device each day.
And for some couples, the “phonedemic” is starting to cause real tension: 18% of young couples say phone use is now their most significant source of arguments.
Whether it's doomscrolling, TikTok rabbit holes, or replying to group chats titled “BRUNCH???” for the fifth time that week, screen time is muscling its way between Britain’s lovebirds.
So, London, while we may lead the nation in culture, nightlife and sheer swagger, perhaps it’s time to ask ourselves: do our phones really need to be invited everywhere? Put your phone to vibrate instead.