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Age of Autopilot Report
Tuesday 2nd June, 2026
Virgin Media O2 commissioned the ‘Age of Autopilot’ surveys and report exploring UK smartphone habits, highlighting that about 36% of phone time is ‘aimless’ scrolling; the findings and expert quotes were pitched to mainstream press to spark conversation about device design, notifications and screen-time tools.
Why it worked: It packaged a relatable guilt into a single stat (36% aimless use), validated by academics, and blamed design defaults—giving journalists conflict and authority.
The lesson: Consider commissioning a quick poll to quantify a common, guilty habit, then pair it with expert blame on a fixable design default.
Virgin Media O2
3 Sources:
Coverage over time
How this story spread across the media
| Publication | Headline | Date |
|---|---|---|
| independent.co.uk | ‘I spend 8 hours a day on my phone - I’m addicted’ | Tuesday 2nd June, 2026 |
| bbc.com | More than a third of UK phone use is aimless scrolling, report suggests | Tuesday 2nd June, 2026 |
| independent.co.uk | Brits waste years of their lives mindlessly phone scrolling, study finds | Wednesday 3rd June, 2026 |