UK consumers are spending almost half (45 per cent) of their waking hours watching TV, using their mobiles and other communications devices, new Ofcom research reveals today.

We’re now sending four times as many texts per day than in 2004, spending almost a quarter of our internet time on social networking sites and spending 3 hours and 45 minutes per day watching TV.

We’re also using several types of media at the same time – with the average person cramming 8 hours 48 minutes of media into just over seven hours during the average day.

The growing popularity of smartphones – and the changing way we use our mobiles – is increasing our overall use of communications, and helping us do much more simultaneously.

This is being particularly driven by the under 25s, although the over 55s are catching up, with half now having broadband at home – the fastest growing age group.

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