From dating apps to financial details, respondents report seeing a wide range of highly personal information on others' screens.
New research from Samsung suggests public spaces have become shared screens with 56% of people to having looked at strangers' phone screens accidentally, whereas 24% have done so out of curiosity.
The phone company surveyed 11,000 smartphone users across 11 European countries, UK, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Norway, the Netherlands and Belgium.
The survey was published to coincide with the launch of the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra.
Over half of those surveyed cited public transport as the most likely place to notice someone else's screen.
The study further reveals a gap between perceived phone privacy and reality.
While 48% feel their own phone use is private when using it in crowded places, 52% said they find it easy to view someone else's screen in public without even trying to look.
Despite more than a quarter ignoring or looking away immediately, 7% admitted to continuing to look discreetly.
One-third of respondents said they have seen personal content on a stranger's phone in public, with 27% agreeing they have seen something on someone else's phone in public they felt they should not have.
Nearly one in four Europeans admitted to looking at someone else's phone out of curiosity, exposing a stream of private content.
The most frequently seen content includes the face or voice of someone on a video call, personal messages, social media notifications, online shopping, dating app progiles and banking balance or account details.
The study also found a growing shift towards protecting personal information.
It said as people become more aware that others can see their screens in public, many are starting to change how they use their phones.
While only 9% claim to do nothing when they've felt someone is looking at their phone screen in public, 42% report they stop using their phone altogether, and only one in ten would actually confront them.
Benjamin Braun, Chief Marketing Officer at Samsung Europe, stated: "Your phone is one of the most personal things you own, housing your photos, your bank details, your messages and more.
"I use public transport almost every day, and the last thing I want is the person next to me seeing what's on my screen.
