The average mobile phone camera roll has the faces of 350 strangers
The average mobile phone camera roll has the faces of 350 strangers thanks to accidental photobombing by passers-by, tourists and random faces in the background.
A study of 2,000 people revealed the average adult has up to three complete strangers in their last 20 photos alone.
Over an adult lifetime, the average person could have 7,000 unknown photobombers on their phone, the research suggests.
The study was commissioned by Samsung to highlight Galaxy AI on the Galaxy S25 series which includes Photo Assist’s Generative Edit, a tool allowing users to remove unwanted people or objects from photos.
Annika Bizon at the tech firm, said: “We’ve all been there, you take 20 shots to get the perfect one, only to realise a stranger in the background has ruined the moment.
“Our research highlights that Brits are capturing life at a record pace, but that often means our most precious family memories are crowded by people we don't know.”
The study also found 37 per cent of 18-24-year-olds claimed to have met someone new, only to discover that they had appeared in the background of a photo they had previously taken.
But 12 per cent have experienced the awkwardness of coming across a photo online which they have been cropped out of, from dating apps to social media. This is particularly prevalent among Gen Z, with 35 per cent saying that this has happened to them.
It also appears to be the case for physical photo albums, as 44 per cent of Gen Z and 41 per cent of Millennials (41 per cent) having physically cut people out of their photos in the past – whether an awkward ex or a lapsed friendship.
Annika Bizon from Samsung added: “Editing has come a long way since the early days of photography. Today, Samsung Galaxy AI’s Photo Assist allows you to seamlessly remove or reposition objects without losing the quality of the shot.
“It’s about giving users total creative control so the final image is focused purely on the people who matter.”