Over One Third of Britons Would Forego Hot Water and Cooking Rather Than Lose Internet Access

A recent survey reveals that internet connectivity has become a higher priority for many Britons than basic household amenities. According to research involving 2,000 UK adults, 36% would prefer to go without hot water for a week rather than lose access to the internet. Similarly, 34% would sacrifice their fridge, and 47% would give up cooking appliances to stay online.

The study also found that even during winter, 32% of respondents would choose to be without heating for a week rather than disconnect from the internet. This shift underscores how the internet has evolved from a source of entertainment to a fundamental service in British homes.

Traditional television is also losing ground in comparison. More than half of those surveyed (54%) said they would rather forgo terrestrial TV for a week than lose internet access, reflecting the dominance of streaming platforms, social media, and online entertainment in daily routines.

Stephen Warburton, representing Zen Internet which commissioned the study, commented: “This isn’t just about streaming and scrolling. The internet now underpins how we work, access money, manage our homes and stay connected to the people who matter. When people say they’d rather lose heating or hot water than go offline, it shows just how critical reliable connectivity has become in modern Britain. When something becomes this embedded in daily life, reliability stops being a luxury and becomes an expectation.”

The research also highlights a generational divide in digital dependence. Nearly half (45%) of respondents said they would struggle to be without internet access for more than 12 hours. Only 12% of 18 to 24-year-olds believed they could manage a full week offline, indicating a growing reliance on connectivity among younger people.

Young adults are more inclined to prioritise internet access over physical comforts. For instance, 38% of both Generation Z and Millennials would rather lose heating during colder months for a week than lose internet, compared to 24% of Baby Boomers. Additionally, 42% of Millennials would choose to go without hot water for a week rather than lose internet access, while only 30% of Baby Boomers felt the same way, revealing a widening gap in attitudes towards digital reliance.

The survey also found that losing internet access is now considered more stressful than other common frustrations. Forty-six percent of Britons ranked a 24-hour internet outage as more stressful than being stuck in traffic, which 38% identified as a greater annoyance. Furthermore, 35% said losing access to online banking was stressful, and 44% found forgetting their phone more distressing than losing their physical wallet containing credit cards and cash.

Notably, the absence of WhatsApp or text messaging was deemed more stressful than losing access to email. These findings demonstrate how internet access has become deeply embedded in everyday life across the UK, with increasing expectations for reliability and resilience as more services transition online.