Nearly half of Gen-Z will film the opening of presents this year – to share with absent friends and family on social media or via video calls, research has found. Research of 2,000 adults, who celebrate Christmas, found 44 percent of 18-24 year-olds will document their new gifts, along with 33 percent of 25-33 year-olds.
But just 12 percent of 55-64 year-olds, and a mere 10 percent of the over-65s, will do the same.
Younger adults will also spend the day video-calling friends and family, doing so while playing games, or even while tucking into their Christmas dinner.
As a result, Christmas would be ruined for 20 percent of the youngest age group if they were unable to spend time online – as opposed to just four percent of the oldest age bracket, who feel this way.
And while 88 percent of Gen Zs would be disappointed if they couldn’t get online during the big day, over half (51 percent), of those aged 65 and over, claim they wouldn’t be bothered if this were the case.
The research, commissioned by Vodafone UK, also found people will be using tech over the festive period to take photos (63 percent), access online shopping deals (51 percent), and manage their finances (45 percent).
And if they were disconnected over the Christmas period, 24 percent claim they would feel upset, lonely, or anxious.
It also emerged as many as 90 percent will use connected devices to keep in touch with family and friends this year.
The research comes as Vodafone announced it has now helped two million digitally excluded people and businesses cross the digital divide, working with partners including The Trussell Trust and Good Things Foundation.
Nicki Lyons, from the mobile network, said: “We’re committed to closing the digital divide all year round – and at Christmas, we know that being connected to loved ones is more important than ever.”
The research also found the most popular ways to stay in touch this festive season are via text messages (78 percent), social media (48 percent), and sharing pictures (46 percent) or video messages (30 percent), followed by voice notes (15 percent).
Meanwhile, 58 percent of parents whose children who believe in Father Christmas will also be using tech to track his movements – such as a Santa tracker website or app (49 percent), and a Ring doorbell (18 percent).
In addition, 25 percent are planning to gift someone a connected device this Christmas – with the most popular items being smartphones (14 percent), tablets (10 percent), and laptops (nine percent).
Helen Milner OBE, Group CEO at Good Things Foundation, said: “As the cost-of-living crisis intensifies in the lead-up to Christmas, our National Digital Inclusion Hubs are seeing more demand than ever before for their services.
“With this new research outlining the scale of the problem, the ability to connect with family and friends this festive season, alongside access to basic services and employment opportunities, should not be a luxury.”
People can support the campaign this Christmas by playing Elf & Seek – an augmented reality game, which gives people the chance to gift one of 50,000 SIM cards to those in need, donated by Vodafone on their behalf.
