Next year will mark 30 years since the first text message was sent by Neil Papworth on 3rd December 1992, and new research from mobile phone accessory supplier Case Monkey shows that it remains the most used function of smartphones among the British public.

Analysing recent data from YouGov, is has been revealed that despite almost three decades of advancement in device technology and app variety, text messages are still the most regularly used function of smartphones. 79% of British adults regularly use their smartphones to send texts – the highest percentage across the breakdown of activities – while more modern uses such as internet browsing and checking social media trail behind.

After texting, 68% of British adults use their smartphones to take photos, while the third most popular activity is voice calling (61%). Despite the high visibility of social networks in the media, only half of British adults (53%) use their devices to access apps like Facebook and Snapchat – indicating that the overall population still prefer the “older” methods of communicating with each other.

Leisure activities such as listening to radio (15%), watching TV (14%) and reading books (12%) rank as some of the lesser-used functions for smartphones, but audio messaging, using office software (word processors, spreadsheets etc) and remote management of smart appliances tie for the “least used function” of smartphones (all on 11%).