Top Modern Tech Woes: Robot Tests, Bad Wi-Fi, and Broken Phones

A new poll of 2,000 Brits has identified the top modern-day tech frustrations, including impossible tests to prove you are not a robot, being connected to the internet with no actual access, and smashing your phone on the floor.

Common Tech Anxieties

The survey found that sending messages to the wrong people or making a typo in an important email can cause significant stress. Many respondents also reported anxiety from having just one bar of signal, fearing it could drop out at any second, or waking up to find their phone had not charged properly overnight. Others dread seeing their messages left on read.

Frequency of Frustration

On average, tech users encounter tech-related frustration twice a day. This rises to three times among Gen Z and Millennials, while Boomers experience it just once.

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A spokesperson from Samsung, which commissioned the research to mark the launch of the Galaxy A57 5G, said: “Life moves fast, and your tech should keep up. It plays a huge role in helping people juggle busy lives, so it’s important to have devices you can rely on.”

Generational Differences

Over a quarter of Boomers (27 per cent) get stressed when they cannot remember their password, compared to just nine per cent of Gen Z. Younger adults also feel frustrated when their phone storage reaches capacity (22 per cent), whereas only 11 per cent of Boomers are bothered by this. Additionally, 17 per cent experience connectivity issues daily, such as no signal or slow internet, despite 86 per cent needing to be connected throughout the day.

This causes stress for 65 per cent, with 85 per cent valuing the peace of mind that comes from knowing their device will last the day and work when needed. The study also found that 77 per cent of tech users overthink in gadget-related scenarios. Two in five (41 per cent) do this while waiting for a reply, and 29 per cent when they misinterpret a message. Over a fifth (22 per cent) feel the same when a message is delivered but not opened.

Reliability Matters

The findings indicate a growing shift in what people value most in their devices, with reliability being a key factor. Over eight in 10 (85 per cent) said they value the peace of mind that comes from knowing their device will last the day and work when needed.

The Samsung spokesperson added: “That’s why so much effort goes into designing devices that work seamlessly in the background – so they support your day instead of interrupting it.”