Gone are the days of staring bleary-eyed out of the train window, fussing with an overlarge newspaper on the bus, or making conversation with tired tram passengers on the way to work.

Now, there is a world of distraction from the daily commute in the palm of your hand – and people are taking full advantage.

When commuting, 94 per cent of people use a device such as a mobile phone or laptop, a study by Prophesy Digital and Hoop Research found.

Rather than being productive and completing tasks, the vast majority use their commute time to watch, read or listen to something.

Almost two-thirds of commuters watch video content, a major change in behaviour since 2016, when only about half of commuters watched videos according to CoreData and Real Insurance research.

Streaming apps have made it easier than ever to watch series, films and live TV when travelling.

This is likely by design; in 2016, when launching the Freeview FV mobile streaming app, then-Freeview CEO Liz Ross told Mumbrella the app was targeting “people on the go”, such as commuters.

“App-based entertainment has enabled consumers to essentially extend their evening entertainment to their commute,” Prophesy Digital founder and digital media strategist Mehrak Saheb said.

“The seamless transition between devices allows viewers to continue watching their favourite shows, switching between devices from home to commute and vice versa.”

What are commuters watching?

More than half of people who take public transport to work said they watch videos that aren’t on social media.

On average, commuters use two video platforms – almost half watch content on a streaming platform such as Netflix, Stan or Binge, while more than a quarter watch live or catch up free-to-air TV.

Survey respondents, who were asked to report their mindsets across five different parts of the day, said commutes were one of the strongest times of the day for mental focus and energy.

Older people reported having more energy and mental focus in the morning, while younger people had less energy overall.

Hoop Group founding partner and managing partner Liz Farquharson said the commute to and from work is no longer thought as downtime.

“We have seen a cultural shift where people now feel they have permission to watch video in more places and diverse situations, including during their commute … consumers are more alert and engaged than we first thought,” she said.

“Commuting has historically been dominated by audio and out-of-home formats. However, our research reveals a significant shift in commuter behaviour: Two out of three commuters now watch digital videos during their travels.

“This marks a transition from ‘head up’ to ‘head down’ moments, where commuters are fully immersed in digital screens.”