Almost one in five have missed key life events because we were looking at our phones

•  17 per cent of people said they had been distracted during social occasions
• Older generations are better at ignoring the pull of their phone 

Almost one in five people have missed out on important emotional moments because they were staring at their phone, a poll found.

Researchers found 17 per cent of people said they had been distracted during weddings, family announcements, sporting events and other social occasions.

Young people admitted they have lost out the most with 23 per cent of Generation Z – those aged 18 to 24 – saying they have had to ask: ‘What did I miss?’.

Millennials – those aged 25 to 36 – are only slightly more engaged with 22 per cent saying key moments had passed them by.

Older generations are better at ignoring the pull of their phone with just 16 per cent of generation X – those aged 40 to 55 – saying they had missed what was going on.

Almost one in five people have missed out on important emotional moments because they were staring at their phone, a poll found

Researchers found 17 per cent of people said they had been distracted during weddings, family announcements, sporting events and other social occasions

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the Baby Boomer generation – those aged over 55 – are the least likely to be ruled by their phone with just nine per cent saying they had been distracted at key moments in their lives.

READ MORE: Smartphones make teenagers lonelier at school because they isolate young people from their friends, study shows

The findings were revealed after drinks firm Schweppes asked 2,000 UK adults if they had missed crucial moments because they were distracted by their phone.

Researchers also found a quarter of people – 25 per cent – said they switch their phones off at parties and big nights out to prevent interruptions from spoiling their evening.

Another 21 per cent said the light from phones disturbs them at live performances and 17 per cent said they are fed up with having to pose for pictures on nights out.

Six per cent said they have even lost contact with friends while out because they were so engrossed in their phones. Another five per cent admitted they had spent so much time on their phones that friends had ditched them.

Spokeswoman Marina Nastyushenko said: ‘We have all been there when friends seem more interested in their phones than what’s going on around them, especially during those special occasions like a party or an anniversary when people are missing the moment.

‘Our research shows across all the generations that we are often playing second fiddle to someone’s phone.’

She added: ‘In this fast-paced digital age, it is important to immerse ourselves fully and to enjoy socialising without distractions.’

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