A survey by Reviews.org has revealed that the average American checks their smartphone an astonishing 205 times per day. To put this into perspective, that’s equivalent to reaching for your device roughly every five minutes throughout the day. In total, Americans spent an incredible two and a half months in 2024 glued to their phones. This marks a significant 42.3% increase in daily phone usage compared to 2023.
When Steve Jobs unveiled the iPhone in January 2007, he knew it would revolutionize the world. However, it’s unlikely even he could have predicted just how dramatically it would alter human behavior. While the iPhone wasn’t the first smartphone, its intuitive touchscreen, user-friendly interface, and the launch of the App Store in 2008 transformed the way we interact with technology. The sight of people walking with their heads down, captivated by their phones, has since become a universal norm.
The 2024 numbers are a stark contrast to the figures from the previous year. In 2023, the average American checked their phone 144 times daily. Fast forward to 2024, and that figure skyrocketed by 42.3%. It’s possible that the presidential election or other breaking news stories played a role in this surge, as Americans increasingly turned to their devices to stay updated.
What Are Americans Doing During 205 Daily Phone Checks?
Americans don’t just check their phones—they integrate them into nearly every part of their day:
- 80.6% check their phones within 10 minutes of waking up.
- 65.7% use their phones while in the bathroom.
- 53.7% text someone even when they’re in the same room.
- 38.1% use their phones during dates.
- 27% use their phones while driving.
The sound of a notification is almost irresistible for most people. In fact, 76% of Americans admit to checking their phones within five minutes of hearing that familiar “ding.”
Generational Divide: Who Spends the Most Time on Their Phone?
Unsurprisingly, younger generations spend the most time on their devices.
- Gen Z leads the pack, averaging 6 hours and 18 minutes of phone usage per day.
- Millennials follow closely, clocking in at 6 hours and 2 minutes daily.
- Gen X averages 4 hours and 54 minutes.
- Boomers spend about 3 hours and 18 minutes daily.
- The Silent Generation averages just 1 hour and 16 minutes per day.
Interestingly, Millennials pick up their phones more frequently than any other generation, averaging an incredible 324 daily interactions. They also report the highest levels of anxiety when separated from their phones, with 80% admitting they feel stressed after losing their devices. Millennials are also the most likely to upgrade their phones, reflecting their deep attachment to the technology.
Admitting to Smartphone Addiction
While Millennials are frequent phone users, they aren’t the most likely to admit to smartphone addiction. That title goes to Gen Z, with 56% acknowledging their dependency, compared to 55% of Millennials. However, in an interesting twist, the overall percentage of Americans who identify as smartphone addicts dropped by 23% in 2024 compared to 2023, even as phone usage increased.
Breaking the Cycle: Tackling Smartphone Addiction
One effective way to curb smartphone addiction is to make the screen less engaging by switching it to grayscale mode, which removes the vivid colors that often draw people in. This method has been discussed for years and remains a practical solution for both iPhone and Android users.
- On iPhone:
Go to Settings > Accessibility > Display & Text Size. Tap Color Filters, toggle it on, and select Grayscale. You can also adjust the intensity using the slider at the bottom of the screen. - On Android:
Go to Settings > Accessibility > Color and Motion > Color Correction. Toggle on Use Color Correction and select Grayscale under the intensity slider.
If you decide to try grayscale mode on your smartphone, let us know if it helps you reduce your screen time!
