Less sleep and less sex as broadband use increases

Surfing the web late at night is reducing the average sleeping time of residents in the North West - and sex lives have taken a hit too.

A survey by broadband comparison website broadbandchoices.co.uk found almost half of those questioned spend 90 minutes in bed on laptops, smartphones and tablets.

Consequently, bedtime has been pushed back in the last ten years from 10.30pm to midnight, while 15% of those polled admitted their gadget use has reduced the amount of sex they have.

Telecoms expert Dominic Baliszewski, of broadbandchoices, said: “We’re not surprised people are turning on for the night, rather than turning in.

“Broadband has become an essential utility - with so much entertainment available online and so many devices with which to enjoy it, people are using every minute of their free time to get online.

“There has been an explosion of broadband providers over the last 10 years and services are improving all the time, which has contributed to an ‘online all the time’ culture.”

The survey, which questioned 2000 Manchester residents on their sleeping habits, found 43% of them stay up for an hour and half using portable broadband devices.

Over the year, this equates to 360 hours less sleep during the working week compared to ten years ago.

Mancunians favourite nocturnal activity was found to be surfing the web, with 21% passing the time in this way.

A further 13% use catch-up or ‘on demand’ television services, and 12% use social networks to talk to friends and family.

Unsurprisingly, the survey found those aged under 30 were the most prolific in the latter category, with 67% posting on Twitter and Facebook from under the covers.