Ofcom’s 2016 research captured an early wave of people deliberately stepping away from connected devices. The figures are historical, but the underlying question remains useful: what would a healthier relationship with screens look like for you?
A dated research snapshot
The statistics below come from Ofcom’s Communications Market Report 2016, based on research with 2,025 adults and 500 teenagers. They describe attitudes at that time and should not be read as current UK prevalence figures.
Why people tried a digital detox
Ofcom reported that 34% of adult internet users—then estimated at 15 million people—had intentionally spent a period offline. Among those respondents, 25% had disconnected for up to a day, 20% for up to a week and 5% for as long as a month.
The most common motivations were to spend more time doing other things and to talk with friends and family. Some participants described feeling more productive, liberated or more able to enjoy life. Others experienced fear of missing out, felt lost or felt cut off.
The report also found interest in technology-light holidays: some respondents had deliberately travelled somewhere without internet access or reliable mobile coverage. That historical finding helped shape the modern idea of a digital-detox retreat, although today’s properties vary widely in how—and whether—they manage devices.
Connectivity creep
In 2016, Ofcom described “connectivity creep”: staying online longer than intended. Respondents associated it with neglected household tasks, lost sleep, tiredness and less time with friends and family. The report also recorded people arriving late because they had remained online longer than planned.
These were self-reported behaviours, not medical diagnoses. They remain a useful prompt for noticing patterns, but they do not prove that every period of screen use causes harm.
When devices interrupt conversation
The research explored “smart-snubbing”—feeling ignored by someone absorbed in a phone or tablet—and the growing habit of messaging people who were physically in the same room. Its value today is less in repeating the old percentages and more in asking whether connected devices are supporting or displacing the experience you actually want.
Editor’s Picks: a realistic screen break
- Choose a purpose: better sleep, uninterrupted conversation, outdoor time or focused rest.
- Set a boundary: begin with one meal, an evening or a treatment rather than an indefinite ban.
- Keep essentials available: retain access needed for travel, safety, caring responsibilities and medical support.
- Tell people: agree how urgent messages will reach you before switching notifications off.
- Replace the habit: plan a walk, book, swim, class or shared activity instead of leaving an empty space.
How to plan a digital-detox spa stay
Do not assume a retreat operates a strict device-free policy. Ask whether Wi-Fi reaches bedrooms, whether phones are permitted around pools and relaxation rooms, whether secure storage is available and how guests can be contacted in an emergency.
A successful break does not have to mean total disconnection. A scheduled check-in window, a phone-free treatment block or an evening without social media may be more practical—and more sustainable—than an all-or-nothing rule.
“A digital detox works best when it creates space for something you value, not when it becomes another test to pass.”
The Spa Traveller
Continue exploring
For a retreat-based perspective, read David Rhodes’ personal screen-free stay at Ste. Anne’s Spa or explore our quieter Dark Spa planning guide.
Editorial notice: This restored archive article provides general wellbeing guidance. Retreat rules, connectivity and emergency arrangements vary; confirm them directly before booking.
Wellbeing note: If device use, sleep, anxiety or low mood is significantly affecting daily life, seek appropriate professional support rather than relying on a holiday or screen break as treatment.