Study finds one in 10 Britons would rather doomscroll than have sex

It may be time to leave the phone on the other side of the bedroom. A new survey says one in 10 Britons would rather doomscroll than have sex, highlighting how endless streams of negative content can compete with intimacy.

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Our research shows that an excessive cultural focus on orgasm can create unnecessary pressure and a sense of failure when it does not happen. Sex can be fulfilling without climax. It is normal and completely fine if orgasm does not occur. This can even be a good thing because it reduces pressure and allows a different kind of intimacy.

The OnePlus study, conducted in early June among 2,000 people, found that the average person in the United Kingdom spends two days a month scrolling through negative material. The habit is not limited to quiet moments at home. Forty-nine percent said they doomscroll while with family and friends, 41% while using the toilet, 12% at weddings and 13% at school events.

The bed is one of the most common places for the habit, but the consequences may extend beyond missed intimacy. Research published in March found that just one hour of scrolling before sleep increased the risk of insomnia by 59%. Notifications interrupt sleep, screen time cuts into the hours available for rest, and screen activity keeps the brain alert. Blue-light exposure can also delay circadian rhythms.

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Notifications interrupt sleep, screen time reduces the time available for sleep, while the activity itself keeps the brain awake and makes it harder to fall asleep. Exposure to blue light further delays circadian rhythms.

Alexandra Janssen of the University of Manchester said the pressure to achieve orgasm can create unnecessary feelings of failure, adding that sex can remain fulfilling without climax. Dr. Gunnhild Johnsen Hjetland of the Norwegian Institute of Public Health advises people with sleep problems to reduce screen use by 30 to 60 minutes before bed and switch off notifications.

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If you have problems sleeping and think screen time is one of the causes, try reducing it, ideally by at least 30 to 60 minutes before bedtime. Also turn off notifications to reduce interruptions during the night.