What would you rather lose: Your TV, Internet or phone?
A new survey by Ofcom, the British telecommunications regulator, says that Millennials aged 16-24 would rather give up television than mobile phones and Internet access.
In the survey, which forms part of Ofcom's media literacy report, just 23% said they would struggle without television, with 26% missing the web and 28% missing their phones. However, with this, the survey also found that Millennials were spending more time online than last year, from mobile access to games console use.
The 12- to 15-year olds age range show they spend 15.6 hours a week online, just under the 17.2 hours they spend watching television.
It's hardly surprising; as the two features television lacks that are crucial to the younger generation is the ability to be interactive, and the functionality of being social.
Nevertheless, it does pin an interesting point on the evolution that is needed from traditional means of one-sided communication, like television, to suit the needs of the upcoming to-be 'dominant' generation. Simply put, if these trends continue, the industry has to be ready to adapt to what the majorative demographic wants; as seen in these results.
The television has evolved over the years. On-demand television is becoming ever more sociable with plug-ins and Facebook integration to share watching habits and programme interests. Yet at the same time, many younger people -- students, on the most part -- consume television online, so being without the web would also mean being without television content, whether broadcast or on-demand.
The survey, however, doesn't take into account the poor broadband speeds offered to many rural areas, where the television is often more reliable than the connection they receive.
Students in this bracket often have far faster connections due to their proximity to the university campus. This not only sways the results, but in some ways negates it.
Personally, I could live without television. If it means going without seeing Piers Morgan's face on a regular basis, I think it would be quite an easy task, frankly. But then again, I download many of my programmes off the web. Does that count, do you think?