By Victoria Allen Science Correspondent For The Daily Mail
Published: 19:34 EDT, 15 February 2022 | Updated: 19:44 EDT, 15 February 2022
We didn't have mobiles, computers, social media or TV on demand – but we were happier 40 years ago, it seems.
That is because more of us find life more hectic now than we did in the Eighties, when the biggest problem with technology was likely to be a jammed cassette tape.
In 1983, 30 per cent of adults told a survey the pace of life was too much. Now 41 per cent admit it is.
And more than two-thirds say they believe life was happier in the Eighties, because there were fewer problems.
A poll of more than 2,000 people in September for King's College London found 60 per cent wish modern life could be more simple.
Experts say life may feel less manageable today, when we have an 'addiction to our mobile phones' and an '"always-on" perspective'. (stock image)
The average pint of beer would cost punters 67p back in 1983. (stock image)
Professor Bobby Duffy, director of the college's Policy Institute, said: 'I grew up in the 1980s, when there were public information announcements about what to do in the event of a nuclear attack, the miners' strikes and a real change in society.
'But the pace of life may have felt more manageable compared to today, when we have this addiction to our mobile phones and an "always-on" perspective.
'The pace of life does feel faster when people have information being thrown at them.
'But it's also important to recognise people have a tendency to romanticise the past and think things are worse today than they used to be.
'And for all that new technology may be adding to the pressures of everyday life, our survey found that large shares of the population nonetheless recognise the many benefits that our devices bring to how we live and work.'
The research revealed that we underestimate how mobile phones now dominate our lives.
In 1983 the average house price was just over £27,500. (stock image)
Petrol would set you back around 36.7p per litre back in 1983. (stock image)
We estimate that we check them 25 times a day on average but a separate study found that we actually do it more than 50 times.
Half of those surveyed – including a third of over-55s – said they sometimes could not stop themselves checking their smartphones when they should be focusing on other things.
However the survey, conducted by Savanta ComRes, found some of the problems of technology may be overestimated.
Half of those questioned wrongly believe we have an average attention span of just eight seconds, while 51 per cent say multi-tasking at work – switching frequently between email, phone and other duties – creates a better experience.
Michael Jackson in the iconic Thriller music video, released in 1983
In 1983 the average house price was just over £27,500, beer was 67p a pint and petrol around 36.7p per litre – although we bought it by the gallon then.
The year saw the pop charts packed with classics such as Billy Joel’s Uptown Girl, Karma Chameleon by Culture Club and Michael Jackson’s hits Thriller, Billie Jean and Beat It.
CDs were in their infancy, almost everyone bought albums on vinyl or cassette.
Star Wars: Return of the Jedi was the UK’s top grossing film, closely followed by Octopussy, starring Roger Moore as James Bond.
On the small screen, 1983 saw the start of morning shows, with BBC’s Breakfast Time and TV-am’s Good Morning Britain.
With fewer distractions from mobile phones and tablets, a peak of nearly 18.5million tuned in to Coronation Street, compared with just 7million in 2021.
It was not ITV’s most-watched show – that was children’s animation Danger Mouse, with 21.5million.
And children didn’t seem to need high-tech gadgets – they had Cabbage Patch dolls and GI Joe.
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