No internet due to cyberwar? 66% of young adults feel stressed without access TikTok and Netflix
Data breaches and cyberattacks are increasingly dominating the news, making the digital world feel more vulnerable than ever. Research by ThePhoneLab shows that 75% of people in the Netherlands are concerned about a potential cyberwar. The idea of a prolonged internet outage and sudden loss of access to favourite smartphone apps causes immediate anxiety in 81% of respondents. Notably, young adults are most likely to miss entertainment apps such as Netflix and TikTok.
These smartphone apps are essential in an emergency situation
A life without the internet is almost unimaginable. In emergency situations in particular, it becomes clear how dependent people are on smartphones in their daily lives. Eight in ten Dutch people say they would feel anxious without access to essential apps. Functional apps such as banking, email, and navigation are considered indispensable, with 92% seeing them as absolute essentials.
Entertainment and social apps missed most by young adults
In times of uncertainty, the need for information increases significantly. The study shows that 71% of Dutch people feel a strong need to consult news apps such as NU.nl or NOS.
The research also reveals a clear generational difference. While 56% of Dutch people say they can easily do without entertainment apps during an outage, this does not apply to teenagers and people in their twenties. As many as 67% of Dutch people under the age of thirty say they would strongly miss platforms such as TikTok and Netflix if they were unavailable. Among people aged sixty and older, this figure is only 25%.
A similar pattern can be seen in communication habits. While 78% of Dutch people say they would miss social apps such as WhatsApp and Instagram, this rises to 91% among young adults. WhatsApp in particular is seen as essential for daily contact. The study highlights that this app is considered indispensable for staying in touch with friends, family, and colleagues.
‘Smartphones are no longer a luxury, but a basic utility’
According to Boris Blijham, founder of ThePhoneLab, a digital emergency situation makes clear how deeply smartphones are woven into everyday life. Not only for news and communication, but also for practical matters such as banking and access to money. The smartphone is therefore no longer a luxury, but an essential everyday utility.