84 percent of Britons capture best moments of their lives on the phone

Key moments in life, such as a child being born and the first dance at a wedding, are increasingly being experienced through the screens of our smartphones, a poll reveals.

A total of 84 percent of Britons have captured their most memorable events by filming or photographing them on phones – but 28 percent wish they had lived more in the moment.

And, if given the chance, 60 percent would like to relive these memories again, but in person rather than through their phone. It was found that on average, Britons spend more than 20 minutes capturing big moments on their phones.

However, 40 percent of the 2,000 people polled confessed that they do not often watch back the content. A further one in 10 rarely or never watch what they recorded.

And – despite being guilty of it themselves – 46 percent said they get frustrated if someone stands in front of them capturing content on occasions such as a concert or football match, according to the survey commissioned by Motorola UK.

Miles Norman, general manager for the phone brand, said: “Our research shows that people are getting fatigued by over-consumption on their phones and it’s become second nature to grab our devices at big moments.

“It’s important to capture key moments but it’s also important to not live life through a lens and be more present in the moment – it’s about finding the right balance.”

The research also showed that 45 percent of Britons now want to be more flexible and only check their phone for notifications or to take a few snaps and then put it away.

And 33 percent said they are spending less time on their smartphone compared to previous years, cutting down their average daily screen time by almost 20 minutes.

A further 44 percent said they have previously made efforts to reduce their screen time.

The biggest motivation was that they wanted to spend more time in the present (68%), according to the OnePoll.com data.

Three in 10 said the screen break made them feel energised, 16 percent became more productive, while a total of 56% enjoyed experiences with friends and family more without the phone intruding.

Mr Norman added: “The research shines a light on the positive benefits of being immersed in the present. Our technology can help people find their sweet spot and have a more flexible relationship with their phone.”

The first smartphone was invented in 1992 but they hit the mainstream with the launch of the Apple iPhone in 2007, with many now used more for filming, photography or texting rather than chatting.