Most of us send affectionate message by mobile phone text nowadays – and Vodafone has discovered which are the most popular, and who are more likely to use them
09:49, 05 May 2026Updated 09:52, 05 May 2026
We are much more open about feelings now – and love affectionate texts(Image: Vodafone / Cover Images)
We’re traditionally known for having a stiff upper lip – but today’s Brits are much more open about their feelings.
New research has revealed the nation’s most-sent text message, and it’s the very affectionate “love you,” with Liverpudlians more likely to say it than anyone else.
In second place was “are you ok?” with “LOL” (laughing out loud) third and “ha-ha” in fourth, according to the survey by Vodafone. In fifth came “home safe”, the message that brings relief to every parent, partner, or friend.
Our favourite phone messages have been brought together in a league table(Image: Vodafone / Cover Images)
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The research delved deep into the UK’s mobile phone habits, revealing that we send an average of 110 different types of message a day. Meeting up in real life – IRL – for coffee, drinks or dinner (65%) is Brits’ favourite thing to arrange via mobile, and Londoners do this even more than the national average (68%).
On a typical day Brits use their phones on-the-go to stay connected to family and friends (58%), scroll social media (53%) and manage tasks, like checking their bank balance (52%).
Birmingham tops the list for chatting, making 27 calls a day, compared to 15 nationally. Londoners send the most messages at 38 a day, 8 more than the UK average.
Aside from communication, the most popular thing people use phones for is shopping (22 times a week), followed by checking bank balances (21 times a week) and asking AI a question (17 times a week).
Research also found the average Brit uses their phone to get through six films, seven TV episodes and seven podcast episodes in a typical week. We also listen to an average of 185 songs on our mobiles weekly.
The findings come as Vodafone is named London’s Best Network by NET CHECK for the third year running.
A spokesperson for the carrier said: “Being named London’s Best Network for the third-year running is a fantastic recognition of the investment we have made across the UK and in London to deliver the speed, reliability and capacity people depend on every day.”
To keep us sending, “love you”, VodafoneThree continues its UK-wide £11 billion investment to roll out 5G Standalone (5G SA) to 99% of the UK population by 2030, extending further to 99.96% by 2034.