Mobile devices occupy a substantial portion of people’s everyday routines. So much so that a typical American engages with their phone for 4 hours and 25 minutes each day. This involves browsing the web, digital shopping, gaming, communicating, and more.
Data reveals that mobile phones and smartphones account for 52% of global internet usage. As the number of new users climbs, so too does the duration spent.
Uncover just how much time Americans dedicate to cellphone activities today with the information, figures, and stats outlined below.
Intriguing Insights on Americans and Smartphones
- Most cell phone owners check their devices as often as 58 times daily.
- On average, Americans spend 5 hours and 25 minutes on their mobile devices each day.
- It is anticipated that by 2025, there will be more than 311.53 million smartphone holders in the United States.
- Social networking is responsible for 2 hours and 24 minutes of daily internet use globally per typical user.
- On average, 26% of Generation Z individuals devote over 9 hours daily on their phones.
- Baby Boomers allocate 5 hours to phone usage.
- Millennials spend 48 minutes texting each day.
America’s Phone Usage Figures
In the current era, mobile devices represent the majority of internet usage time. This tendency is projected to grow further.
Discover more about the habits of Americans on their smartphones and portable gadgets and their impact on statistics.
1. The typical mobile phone owner checks their device up to 58 times each day.
(Exploding Topics)
Based on statistics concerning Americans’ time usage, individuals check their devices 58 times daily. Approximately 52% of these checks (30 per day) happen during work hours.
Checking phones has become habitual as evidence shows that 50% of all screen interactions commence within 3 minutes of phone usage.
2. 86% of Americans access the internet daily via their mobile gadgets.
(Oberlo)
Mobile phones are practical, resilient, and user-friendly. Significantly, they supply quick information even while on the move. Therefore, it’s unsurprising that about 52.4% of the global populace utilizes the internet through mobile devices.
3. Americans engage with their mobile phones for an average screen time of 4 hours and 25 minutes daily.
(Reviews.org)
Reports further explain that the top 10% of intense phone utilizers interact with their mobile phones an average of 5,427 times daily.
Phone users also dedicate 3 hours and 2 minutes each day to watching videos. Most individuals who spend over 3 hours on video content are from the younger generations.
This comprises connecting with friends on social sites, checking emails, replying to messages, promoting products and services, conducting research, and viewing films and other video content.
Smartphone Ownership Among Americans
Smartphone ownership rates are rising and have continued to do so in recent years, with over 6.92 billion smartphone owners as of May 2023.
Presently, 85% of adults in the United States possess a smartphone. Nearly everyone from all age brackets holds a smartphone.
Find out how deeply smartphones have penetrated the United States market by 2023.
4. By 2025, smartphone owners in the US will exceed 311.53 million.
(Statista)
A 2021 survey anticipated a steady rise in smartphone ownership over the coming years.
The count of those utilizing these technologies will grow by approximately 37.43 million between 2018 and 2025, surpassing 311 million.
5. 96% of individuals aged 18-29 in the US are smartphone owners.
(Zippia)
The prevalence of smartphones in the US is substantial. Yet, it’s crucial to acknowledge that smartphone penetration levels differ by age group.
100% of Americans aged 18-29 possess mobile phones, and 96% of them specifically own smartphones.
6. 93% of college graduates in America own smartphones.
(Incredi Tools)
Nearly all college graduates in the US are smartphone owners. There is a positive correlation between education and smartphone ownership, with 93% of college graduates having a smartphone compared to just 75% of those with a high school education or less.
7. Just 46% of the 65+ demographics utilize smartphones.
(Exploding Topics)
Though many baby boomers express a preference for accessing the internet through personal computers, about 4 in 10 still hold mobile devices, mainly tablets.
This represents a notable ascent compared to similar research executed in 2013. At that time, a mere 13% of baby boomers owned a smartphone.
The Use of Mobile Phones Among Americans
Mobile devices empower individuals to undertake various tasks while moving. They enable transactions such as shopping, selling, sending, and receiving online conveniently. 75% of consumers prefer to shop through mobile phones because of ease and access.
Explore the following figures for further comprehension of Americans’ mobile phone utilization:
8. 93% of US adults are daily internet users.
(Demand Sage)
A significant proportion of Americans go online daily, from Gen Zers (28%) to Millennials (11%), Gen Xers (13%), and Baby Boomers (12%).
Smartphone addiction is prevalent among Gen Zers as they engage with social media platforms and the internet for nearly 9 hours each day. Millennials also spend 3.7 hours daily on their devices.
9. On average, Americans devote 5 hours and 25 minutes to the Internet daily.
(Zippia)
The global user’s average daily internet time is 4 hours and 25 minutes. The US is among the leading countries in terms of time spent online. Some countries, like the Philippines, report a significantly higher daily internet usage time.
10. Millennials dedicate 48 minutes each day to texting on their mobile devices, compared to 30 minutes for baby boomers.
(Earth Web)
Millennials and baby boomers are prominent groups of mobile phone users with a preference for texting.
According to studies, millennials typically spend 48 minutes daily texting and an additional 41 minutes chatting on their mobile devices.
11. Baby boomers allocate 43 minutes to emailing, compared to 10 minutes for millennials.
(Provision Living)
Mobile emailing highlights an area where the older generation excels. This may be attributed to a larger percentage of babyOlder generations belong to the working-class segment.
They must manage clients and business associates, with emails being the favored method of communication. Furthermore, the number of email accounts for people of all age brackets is anticipated to reach 4.6 billion users by 2025.
12. Millennials in America dedicate 3 hours and 25 minutes each day to their mobile devices.
(Slick Text)
This time is equivalent to 205 minutes per day. The considerable duration is because most millennials depend on their mobile devices for everyday tasks.
Several corporations in the US also expect their workforce to utilize certain mobile phone functionalities, such as content generation, marketing, and messaging via mobiles.
13. Baby boomers allocate 2 hours and 16 minutes daily to their mobile devices.
(Slick Text)
Contrary to the belief that the younger the user, the more time they invest in mobiles, Baby Boomers fall short of millennials by 1 hour and 9 minutes, dedicating a total of 136 minutes.
Meanwhile, Gen X devotes approximately 169 minutes, nearly 2 hours and 48 minutes.
14. Gen Zers allocate 9 hours each day to their mobile devices.
(True List)
A significant portion of Gen Z spends 9 hours interacting with multiple screens, such as; smartphones, tablets, laptops, desktops, and TVs.
This isn’t surprising as Gen Z was raised alongside technological advancements, making them more adept with gadgets and mobile usage.
15. The typical American dedicates 38 minutes to Facebook daily.
(Review42)
Facebook and Instagram are the two leading social platforms accounting for the majority of Americans’ time on social media, at 74%. Over 25% of individuals surveyed for this piece expressed spending more than an hour weekly pondering their social media presence – over half mentioned considering purchasing Instagram followers and likes to boost visibility on the channel.
TikTok has recently garnered significant attention, surpassing Instagram as the most downloaded app – allowing users to buy TikTok followers as well. Nonetheless, the average American invests 38 minutes daily on Facebook.
How Are Screen Times Rising in America?
Regardless of preference, screen time is on the upswing in the US. Mobile devices play a central role in that trend.
Yet, mobile phones aren’t the sole factor – pervasive technology adoption is elevating these figures, raising concerns.
The following statistics about screen time for Americans offer deeper insights:
16. The average American adult commits about 6 hours and 59 minutes to screen time each day.
(Comparitech)
Individuals, particularly teenagers and young adults, devote more time on mobile devices. This time allocation is somewhat above average, being 1 hour more than the British average of 5 hours and 47 minutes of daily screen use.
Nonetheless, the leading consumers of screen-time are South Africans, averaging around 9 hours and 38 minutes daily. Meanwhile, millennials and older generations still relish quality screen time in front of TVs.
17. American adolescents devote an average of 7 hours and 22 minutes daily to screen usage.
(Exploding Topics)
Based on screen time statistics for Americans, adolescents record the highest on-screen hours. Over 7 hours of that is spent on mobile gadgets.
Many guardians make efforts to curb their teenagers’ screen time but encounter challenges due to the proliferation of technology in academic work.
American vs. Global: How Much Time Does the Average Individual Spend on Their Device?
Time spent on mobile screens is steadily rising, not only in the US. Globally, there’s a general shift towards mobile usage. Here are some insights concerning global mobile usage.
People invest more hours online now compared to a decade or two ago. This has led to an increased duration of phone screen engagement.
Several elements have propelled this escalation in screen time, including extensive use of mobile devices, internet availability, and cutting-edge technology.
Discover what worldwide users engage in online with these statistics.
18. 95% of internet users connect to the web through their phones.
(Data Reportal)
As of 2023, the global populace is roughly 8 billion. Among them, about 64.4% are internet users, approximately 5.18 billion individuals.
95% of these individuals use their mobile devices to access the web. Moreover, mobile devices account for half of the world’s internet traffic.
19. Smartphone users dedicate an average of 3 hours and 15 minutes daily on their devices.
(Exploding Topics)
iOS and Android dominate the smartphone market. Presently, Android holds the largest share at 71.77%, whereas iOS trails at 27.6%.
The ease of accessing various social media platforms and conducting transactions via smartphones equipped with these operating systems will continue fostering wide global acceptance.
20. Global smartphone subscriptions will rise to approximately 7.8 billion by 2028.
(Statista)
Figures are anticipated to increase significantly in coming years. Currently, China, India, and the US have the highest number of smartphone users.
Worldwide smartphone network subscriptions reached nearly 6.6 billion by 2022, and this number is expected to surpass 7.8 billion by 2028.
21. 99% of individuals browsing social networks use their phones.
(Back Linko)
Almost 94% have utilized smartphones for social network browsing. These compact devices are primarily favored by all users, which is why 99% of individuals exploring online networks use phones.
22. Worldwide, the average internet user invests more than 6 hours and 30 minutes online daily.
(Data Reportal)
Nations like the Philippines exhibit higher internet usage with an average of 9 hours and 45 minutes daily. Conversely, Japan and a few others have reduced daily online time to 4 hours and 22 minutes.
Internet activities differ – varying from exploring the web to engaging with social networking sites. Some users also indulge in mobile gaming to pass time, contributing to the daily usage hours.
23. Social media contributes to 2 hours and 27 minutes of internet usage time daily per average user worldwide.
(Statista)
The global average social media engagement by internet users grew from 145 minutes in 2021 to 147 minutes daily in 2022.
Presently, the nation with the highest average daily time spent on social networks is the Philippines, where users dedicate an average of three hours and 53 minutes daily to social media.
The time spent in front of screens varies for males and females worldwide. Males primarily dedicate their screen usage to work and leisure, whereas females focus it on personal relationships, self-improvement, and leisure activities.
Continue reading to discover global screen usage statistics:
24. In South Asia, women are 41% less inclined to use social media compared to men.
(GSMA)
In South Asia, social media is viewed as corrupt, leading users to avoid it or hold negative opinions.
Additionally, women are considered more vulnerable to moral corruption than men. Consequently, their use of social media in South Asia is limited.
25. By 2022, two-thirds of Indian homes will have a female smartphone user.
(Business Today)
Comparatively, 68% of the surveyed households noted women using mobile devices now whereas they did not a decade ago.
An additional 30% of surveyed individuals don’t own any smart devices, while 2% refrained from giving their insights.
Smartphone Dependency Figures for American Users
The widespread acceptance of smartphones has proved to be advantageous for all, though it also had its side effects.
Specialists are raising alarms over the extensive screen time of an average American and the potential health hazards that might arise.
Over the years, disorders like obesity, depression, and anxiety have been linked to excessive screen time.
Below is a brief summary of smartphone dependency statistics:
26. Americans will average 55 minutes of mobile usage on social media by 2023.
(Statista)
As the globe transitions into the digital era, with remote employment, digital marketing, and e-commerce becoming the norm various social media apps keep users engaged continuously evolving to do so.
Current statistics suggest that by 2023, the allocated time for social media will rise to 55 minutes, marking a six-minute increment from 2020.
Further, media time via mobile devices will also surge, reaching 4 hours and 29 minutes in 2023.
27. 56.9% of teenagers in the USA admit to being addicted to their smartphones.
(Review.org)
A prominent reason for smartphone addiction is the compulsion to constantly respond to notifications on their devices.
28. 69% of individuals in America favor checking reviews on their phones over interacting with in-store staff.
(Gitnux)
Almost 70% of American in-store shoppers check customer reviews on their mobile devices rather than seeking assistance from store employees.
Additionally, 58% of buyers research alternatives for prospective purchases online and are more inclined to travel if reviews are favorable.
29. 58% of individuals attempted to limit phone usage, with 41% succeeding.
(Slick Text)
More than half of all smartphone addicts (inclusive of adults and teenagers globally) have tried to decrease or regulate their usage.
A considerable number of them have achieved success up until now. If smartphone addiction piques your interest, these statistics offer comprehensive insights.
Strategies to Minimize Phone Usage
If the information about the average American’s time on their smartphone startled you, and you’re seeking to cut back on screen duration, consider these strategies:
1. Deactivate Notifications
Disabling notifications for all applications can eliminate distractions, especially while engaged in important activities like working or sleeping.
2. Turn Off “Raise to Wake.”
“Raise to Wake” is an option that causes your screen to light up, possibly leading you to unlock your device unnecessarily.
3. Frequently Utilize the “Do Not Disturb” Button.
This feature can boost productivity considerably during working hours by having your phone in “Do Not Disturb” mode.
This ensures social media notifications are blocked, using your phone primarily for calls and messages during your working period.
Conclusion
Smartphones are valuable tools that aid in accomplishing tasks and maintaining global connections. However, if mismanaged, they can lead to dependency.
Since 2019, the app usage time on smartphones in the US has risen by 25%. This high smartphone usage trend will likely persist, with a 12% increase in worldwide users anticipated by 2026.
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