In the U.S., mobile phone usage has become second nature. At this point, smartphones are essentially a digital extension of the human body. From incessant news notifications to texts from family members, there’s always a reason to check your phone. However, many people may not know how much of their time goes to their phones.
To determine the average length of time Americans spend on their phone, a new study surveyed more than 3,200 people in May, asking questions about their most used apps, total screen time, and more. The results revealed that most Americans spend nearly the same amount of time on their phones as the amount of time they spend at work.
How does location affect screen time in the U.S.?
Three states in the U.S. spend more time on their phones than they do at work, with Arizona, Washington, and Kentucky each spending more than eight hours a day on their devices on average. So what does screen time look like in those states?
Residents in Arizona spend a shocking 8 hours and 50 minutes on their phones on average each day, but something is not adding up. If Arizonians need at least 8 hours of sleep and spend 8 hours at work each day, then that only leaves 8 hours for other activities. That means people in Arizona are either sacrificing sleep or work hours for their phones! Especially since the day they use their phone the most is Mondays, bosses should not expect too much productivity from Arizonians on the first day of the week. As for what they are up to on their devices, it is a mystery. Their most-used app on average is Safari, so there is no telling what captivates their attention.
A similar story runs for Washington and Kentucky, two states also spending more than 8 hours on their phones a day on average. Both days they most often use their phone falls on the weekend, suggesting that phone usage is more about entertainment, rest, and filling up more time than anything else. This theory is further supported by their most-used app, TikTok, an app well known for its endless stream of content directed uniquely to each user via an irresistible algorithm. I mean, can you blame them?
On the other side, Kansas, Maine, and Nebraska spend the least length of time on their phones. While this is a good thing, they still watch the clock tick by on their phones for a large portion of their day.
Residents in Kansas spend an average of 5 hours and 27 minutes on their phones on average per day. This means that Kansans spend 3 hours less on their phones when compared to Arizonians. Although, people in Kansas similarly spend the most time on their phones on Mondays. When they are on their phones, they are most often on TikTok.
Spending less than 6 hours on their phones is also common in Maine and Nebraska. Maine follows the same schedule as Kansas, spending the most time on their phones on Mondays and TikTok, but people in Nebraska spend the most time on their phones on Tuesdays. There must be nothing else going on that day!
Nationally, Americans average around 6 hours and 35 minutes of screen time per day, meaning more than ¼ of the week goes to phones. Following the trend of several states before, the app that gets America’s attention the most is TikTok. Furthermore, Sunday is the most common day to be on your phone. A day of rest or a day of rotting? Interestingly, Saturday is the least common day in America to spend the most time on your phone. Hopefully, that extra weekend time is going to sleep, hobbies, or other forms of relaxation.
How many times do you check your phone per day?
Screen time is not the only way to display just how attached Americans are to their phones. The study also asked respondents to reveal the number of times they pick up their phone per day. Nationally, the average is about 108 times per day. That is more than 750 times per week. It makes sense, considering how many times people look at their phones to read a quick text or check the time, but it is still jarring to consider just how many times the device grabs users’ attention per day.
Some states are more obsessed with checking their phones than others. While North Carolinians spend less time on their phones (6 hours 15 minutes) than the national average (6 hours 35 minutes), they check it more than 20 extra times per day. With 129 pick-ups per day on average, North Carolinians’ phones must ring all day!
Utah and California are the second most likely to check their phones, each averaging about 119 pick-ups per day. Once again, picking up your phone often does not necessarily mean you spend more time on it. Utah also spends less time on their phones (6 hours 21 minutes) than the national average, and California is right at the national average with a daily time of about 6 hours and 35 minutes.
This trend in the data is interesting for understanding phone usage. It almost seems the more you pick up your phone, the less time you spend on it. This may suggest that the key to finding a balance with screen time means spending short bursts using phones rather than taking long breaks or consuming longer form content. This is especially important to consider as streaming platforms and endless algorithms of short videos on social media continue to grow in popularity.
However, states like Maine prove that it is possible to just not be on your phone that often at all. Maine is the only state to boast one of the lowest averages for both screen time (5 hours 28 minutes) and pick-ups (92). If you are looking for somewhere to disconnect, Maine is the place to be.
What does screen time mean for Americans and their health?
The study did not just consider the amount of time spent on phones, it also explores how screen time has changed over the years and the impact it has on the day-to-day health of Americans.
When prompted to pick two reasons they must often use their phone, 73% of Americans most often use their phones for social media purposes. No surprise there. Although they are not just pictures and tweets anymore, 49% said they spend a lot of time watching videos. As for keeping up with the world’s most important updates, 28% say reading the news on their phone is a top priority. Finally, modern work methods have snuck into personal devices and 22% of people primarily use their phones for work-related activities.
If you think these screen time numbers are a little high, that is because it has been increasing for years. About one-fourth of Americans report that their screen time has increased by more than 50% over the past three years. 1 in 5 Americans go on to reveal that their screen time increases by more than 25% during an election year. With all of the extra news and memes, it is hard to not. Finally, the TV used to reign supreme in American households, but now, 44% admit that their smartphone usage has reduced their usage of other devices like TVs and computers.
It has been noted before that using screens before bed can often lead to sleep issues. Americans confirmed this with the majority (51%) saying their mobile phone screen time before bed negatively affects their sleep quality. This is likely because ⅗ of Americans always use their phone within an hour of going to sleep. Further, a stark 73% of Americans believe increased screen time negatively impacts their mental health. For Gen Z specifically, that number jumps to 84%, potentially naming a culprit to the mental health crisis of the 2010 and 2020s.
With all of these impacts, it is unsurprising that 14% of people have made changes and 29% consider making changes to their screen time habits due to sleep and mental health concerns. However, while many Americans acknowledge the negative impacts on their sleep and mental health, only a relatively small portion are limiting their screen time. To take these concerns seriously, changes might need to be made.
Closing Thoughts
It’s no secret that smartphone usage has risen over the last decade, but growing concerns around mental health and quality of sleep make it imperative that screen time is monitored productively. While these devices have allowed for plenty of great things, such as entertainment, convenience, and streamlined communication, putting a time cost on the relationship users have with their phones can help put into perspective just how much of the clock is eaten up by the black mirror in each person’s pocket these days. As with all things, balance is the best way to ensure phone usage remains healthy and productive.
So, whether you’re trying to figure out what app you spend too much time on or just trying to be more intentional with your time and productivity, the screen time feature on your smartphone is a great place to start your journey toward a more balanced relationship with your phone.
Read next: Most of the Gen-Z in America Has Purchased Products After Seeing a Creator-Generated Content on Social Media
