Robot tests, useless Wi‑Fi and broken phones top our modern tech woes

The top modern‑day tech frustrations include impossible tests to prove you’re not a robot, being connected to the internet with no actual access – and smashing your phone on the floor.

A poll of 2,000 Brits found sending messages to the wrong people, or making a bad typo in an important email, are enough to make many break out in a cold sweat.

Tech users encounter tech‑related frustration twice a day | Shutterstock

placeholder image — Tech users encounter tech‑related frustration twice a day | Shutterstock

Many added having just one bar of signal with the fear it could drop out at any second triggers instant stress, as does waking up to see their phone hasn’t charged properly overnight. Others admitted they dread seeing their messages left ‘on read’.

On average, tech users encounter tech‑related frustration twice a day, rising to three among Gen Z and Millennials versus Boomers who experience just one.

A spokesperson from Samsung, which commissioned the research to mark the launch of the Galaxy A57 5G, built with water and scratch resistance and Super Fast Charging 2.0, 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.”

Brits admitted they dread seeing their messages left ‘on read’. | Shutterstock

Over a quarter of Boomers (27 per cent) get their stress levels rising when they can’t remember their password compared to just nine per cent of tech savvy Gen Z.

Snappy happy younger adults also turn red when their phone’s storage reaches capacity (22 per cent) whereas just 11 per cent of Boomers get worked up by this. In addition, 17 per cent experience connectivity issues daily, such as no signal or painfully slow internet, despite 86 per cent needing to be connected to the internet throughout the day.

This goes on to cause stress for 65 per cent, with 85 per cent adding they value the peace of mind that comes from knowing their device will last the day and work when they need it.

The study also found 77 per cent of tech users are prone to overthinking in certain gadget‑related scenarios. Two in five (41 per cent) do this while waiting for a reply and minds race for 29 per cent when they misinterpret a message. Over a fifth (22 per cent) feel the same when a message has been delivered but not opened.

The findings point to a growing shift in what people value most in their devices, with reliability a defining 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 they need it.

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.”