One in three young people are currently using a mobile phone with a cracked screen, according to research from the insurance company Endsleigh.
In a survey of 2000 UK adults, the specialist insurer also found that seven in eight of those who had smashed their phone screen did so within three months of buying their device.
Across the whole population, the lifespan of a mobile phone screen is not very long, with only one in three people saying that their screen lasted longer than a year.
But it is young people who are more likely to endure their phone’s injuries, as just 9% of the wider population currently have a broken screen compared to 35% of 18 to 34-year-olds.
Alex Jones from Endsleigh said: “Using a phone with a broken screen is a pain but it is clearly a common occurrence across the UK.
“It is particularly bad for young people who cannot afford to replace their screens or handsets, especially not after a week [of buying the device],” he said.
The survey also found the most common cause of the smash was the phone dropping out of their hands, at 60%, while one in five had their phones fall out of their pocket or bag.
Despite the scale of broken screens in the UK, only 5% had mobile phone insurance, and only 9% had multi-gadget insurance.
It can cost between £29.99 and £169.99 to replace a broken screen depending on the type of phone that you have, as physical and liquid damage does not come under the phone’s warranty.
Endsleigh suggests some tips for young people to help them extend the life of their new phone screen:
- Don’t text and walk – not only is it dangerous, it’s a hard landing for your phone screen.
- Buy a protective cover for your phone – let’s be honest, you’ll almost certainly drop it at some stage so better be safe than sorry.
- Zip it up – if you’re running for a bus or train, make sure you’ve stashed your phone properly or face the consequences when it slips out of your pocket.
- Take out an insurance policy – given the short lifespan of your average phone screen, why take the risk of being stuck with a smashed screen?