One in ten people do not own a single book while half of all families TEXT each other if they are all at home 

  • Study shows we are shunning books so much that 10% of people do not own one
  • We are becoming obsessed with new devices as the average home has eight
  • Families also admitted that they text each other even when they are at home 

By ABE HAWKEN FOR MAILONLINE

Published: | Updated:

One in ten people do not own a single book, a worrying new study reveals.

New research suggests we are now obsessed with handheld devices that the average home has more than eight linked to the internet. 

Nearly half of all households which have children (45 per cent) admitted that the typically text each other - even when they're all at home. 

And it seems the younger generation are less bothered about owning literature as the figure for those who do not have any books rises to one in five people aged between 18 and 24.

A new study shows that we are shunning books so much that 10 per cent of people do not own one 

The study, carried out by insurance company Aviva, will reveal that a staggering 6.5million people in the UK do not own a book. 

Research published two years ago to coincide with World Book Day revealed the average homeowner had 158 books inside their property, reports Helen Davies at the Sunday Times. 

The newspaper also reports that the latest data highlights how the typical UK households owns an average of 8.2 electronic devices.

This rises to 10.9 for homes with children and for those aged between 25 and 34, the figure peaked to 11.2 items - including smartphones, laptops and tablets. 

And it seems the younger generation are less bothered about owning literature as the figure for those who do not have any books rises to one in five people aged between 18 and 24

And it seems the younger generation are less bothered about owning literature as the figure for those who do not have any books rises to one in five people aged between 18 and 24

And the study also reveals how parents are using the devices in their homes to punish their children if they misbehave. 

More than a third of parents admitted they have turned off one of their children's electronic items in order to discipline them.  

The new data comes after a report by the National Literacy Trust, based on a survey of 18,000 youngsters, revealed a third – 3.8million – do not have books of their own. 

 

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