The world we live in now looks very different to the one that existed just 50 years ago – and we’ve got technology to thank for the changes. But how has the rise of the internet, the introduction of social media and the invention of live streaming changed things? What do we now do online, that we once used to enjoy offline?
From experiencing brand-new cultures and exploring exotic places, to doing our weekly food shop straight from our phones, the lives we lead online are colourful, unexpected and varied. In fact, we spend hours every single day online: our recent survey revealed that 83% of Brits scroll through social media daily, spending on average 81 minutes. 60% of the population log onto apps to play games every day, dedicating on average 78 minutes a day to beating their high score, and of those who watch TV or films online (69% of us) we binge for, on average, almost two and a half hours each day!
So many activities can now be enjoyed in a digital space rather than in the real world. Let’s take a look and see exactly how Brits spend their time online.
*Times based on the average time spent by those who take part in the activities daily
Faces and places
It’s easier than ever to stay in touch with friends and loved ones thanks to social media, Skype and FaceTime. On average, 69% of the nation dedicate time each day chatting to each other online, daily! The average time spent communicating online was around 64 minutes.
But the internet is also an amazing way to meet new people, join communities made up of individuals from countries scattered all over the world and even experience brand-new places.
VR, for example, means you can simply pop on a headset and be transported across the world. While nothing will beat the real thing, there’s no need to hop on a plane and travel for hours or even days to discover what the jungle really sounds like or what the desert looks like. 360 photos bring certain places, at certain moments, to life, and you can even head into space if you fancy – just choose the right programme and you’ll be lost in the stars.
YouTube, meanwhile, enables the user to see life through the eyes of others. Vloggers can take you (via their camera lens) into restaurants, theme parks and even into their own homes – all while you relax in bed or sit on the bus.
Catch up with the news
Do you still reach for the paper every morning and evening to catch up on the news? These days, people turn to Twitter, Facebook, blogs and even online news sites instead to keep up with events. Why? Online news is reactive – we’re kept up to date literally moments after things happen offline. Print, however, simply can’t keep up with the immediacy we’re now used to.
57 minutes: that’s the amount of time the average Brit that catches up with current events online spends reading the news online.
Place your bets
Betting slips? How many do you physically fill out? Horse racing, football, basketball, tennis… within seconds you can now place your bet online or on an app. If your favourite game has ended for the season, you can even watch virtual sports online!
Gaming, too, is popular online and you can play roulette, blackjack or poker, for example. You can even play with real human dealers if you choose to enter the Coral Live Casino. Select your favourite game, choose a real dealer and play at a time that’s perfect for you.
Even better, you don’t have to travel to the casino anymore – it can come to you! And with so many games to choose from, there’s always something new to try.
Watch life live in real-time
From huge sporting events happening across the other side of the Atlantic to wasting away hours giggling at people attempting to cross gigantic puddles in Newcastle, we can quite literally watch the world go by from the comfort of our own sofa thanks to advances in technology. Accessible to anyone with a smartphone, live streaming can happen just about anywhere – meaning we can tune in to all kinds of events without having to travel there.
Want to be on the front row in Milan Fashion Week to see the latest from your favourite designer? Head to a live stream on Facebook. Prefer to watch Pandas roam around in China? Join Panda Cam – set up by Gengda Panda Centre in China! The possibilities are endless.
The everyday
Food shopping, reading, watching sport, hunting for clothes, banking – even everyday tasks like these are now online pastimes. Once purely offline activities, more and more people are now turning to the internet to help them get those daily jobs done quicker.
How much time do you spend online?
Don’t forget, whether you’re a new or existing Coral customer, our Coral Sports & Casino App can make responsible betting even more enjoyable, whether you love roulette or prefer to try your hand at Blackjack.
Curious to see how your online activity measures up against the nation? Take our quiz and find out!
