Phone Addiction Statistics

How Many People Have a Phone Addiction in the U.S.?

In one survey report in August 2023, 56.9% of American adults self-reported a cell phone addiction.

Self-reports of addiction are incredibly helpful measures of these mental and behavioral health conditions. After all, the first step to getting help for an addiction or substance use disorder is admitting to yourself that the condition is real.

Cell phone addiction is not a behavioral disorder that healthcare professionals formally recognize yet. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) does not include it.

However, as statistics show, people with phone addictions see signs of problematic use, effects on their mental health, effects on relationships, issues at work or school, and more.

Here are some key facts on self-reports of cell phone addiction in Americans:

• Average Use: Americans average 4 hours and 37 minutes of screen time on their mobile phones daily. This figure does not include talking on the phone.
• Effects: 47% of respondents from the survey above said they feel panic or anxiety when their phone gets a low battery.
• Risks/Dangers: 27% of respondents admitted to looking at or using their phone while driving.
• Addiction in Teens: About 50% of teens feel they are addicted to mobile phone use.
• Addiction in College Students: A study of more than 550 university students showed that 37.4% of all male and female students were addicted to phone use.

Cell Phone Addiction Rates in the U.S. vs. Other Nations

The U.S. is not the only country affected by cell phone addiction or problematic smartphone use.

A study from 2014 to 2020 of 24 countries with more than 33,000 participants showed that phone addiction and phone misuse is increasing worldwide as well.

This study found the following on global cell phone addiction and use statistics:

• Global Users: As of early 2024, there are 6.1 billion mobile phone users worldwide, with smartphone ownership reaching over half the global population.
• Usage Rates by Country: Phone use is highest in China, Saudi Arabia, and Malaysia, while France and Germany report the lowest usage rates.
• Awareness and Concerns: Nearly 50% of cell phone users in developed countries feel they overuse their phones and are looking for ways to reduce their screen time.
• Growing Trends: Cell phone use continues to rise worldwide, with noticeable increases in regions experiencing high levels of problematic use.

Statistics on Phone Use

The average American spends 4 hours and 37 minutes daily on their phone. This adds up to about 1 day per week, 6 days per month, and 70 days per year of phone time for the average person.

And with the average American child now receiving a phone at the age of 12, this adds up to years of their life spent using a cell phone.

Statistics on Phone Use in the U.S.

• Daily Screen Time: The average American spends 4 hours and 37 minutes on their phone daily—equivalent to about 1 full day per week, 6 days per month, and 70 days per year.
• Phone Ownership: 97% of Americans own a cell phone, 90% of which are smartphones. This has risen significantly from 35% in 2011.
• Phone Checks: Americans check their phones an average of 144 times per day.
• First Use: 89% of people report using their phones within 10 minutes of waking up.
• Anxiety and Dependence: 75% feel uneasy if they leave their phone behind, and 60% sleep with their phone beside them.
• Immediate Responses: 75% check their phone within 5 minutes of receiving a notification.
• Boundaries: 75% of people admit to using their phones in the bathroom.
• Social Behaviors: 69% have texted someone in the same room, and 46% use their phones during dates.
• Continuous Use: 55% of Americans say they have never gone more than 24 hours without using their phone.
• Projected Trends: Daily phone use is expected to increase slightly to 4 hours and 39 minutes per person by 2024.
• Smartphone Dependency: 15% of U.S. adults rely solely on their smartphones for internet access.

Internet Use and Phone Addiction

One of the biggest ways people spend their time on cell phones and smartphones is on the internet.

Whether using mobile apps, scrolling, participating on social media, reading news outlets, or other ways, cell phone usage is largely connected to internet use in 2024.

In fact, most people’s greatest connection to the internet is via their cell phones. With the internet such a prominent part of people’s daily lives, this use can become problematic or even addictive.

A report studying cell phone usage among Americans aged 18 and older showed that the average weekly smartphone app or web use amount is 16 hours and 24 minutes.

Cell Phone Addiction Statistics by Demographic

Understanding phone use and phone addiction rates by different demographic groups can help highlight who may be at risk for phone addiction, inform healthcare professionals on ways to prevent it, and more.

Gender and Phone Addiction

One large-scale study of over 30,000 participants showed that, since January 2014, females use smartphones more often than males.

Statistics on phone use by sex are as follows:

• Female smartphone use: average of 166.78 minutes of use per day.
• Male smartphone use: average of 154.26 minutes per day.

Another study conducted on records from 2011 to 2023 showed that while 91% of males own a smartphone, 90% of females own one.

Age and Phone Addiction

The vast majority of people own and use cell phones, most of which are smartphones. Much smartphone usage now occurs within apps and during non-voice time (i.e., not phone calls).

However, older groups of people show lower rates of owning cell phones or smartphones.

Rates on cell phone and smartphone users by age group:

• Ages 18-29: 99% own a cell phone; 97% own a smartphone
• Ages 30-49: 99% own a cell phone; 97% own a smartphone
• Ages 50-64: 98% own a cell phone; 89% own a smartphone
• Ages 65+: 94% own a cell phone; 76% own a smartphone

There aren’t smartphone addiction statistics by age group. Yet understanding which age groups own and use cell phones is important since certain age groups are more affected by cell phone overuse than others, particularly those who use their phones for more than just phone calls.

Another measured factor is smartphone dependence, or people who depend on their cell phones for the internet and, by extension, information gain.

Smartphone dependency by age groups is as follows as of 2023:

• Ages 18-29: 20%
• Ages 30-49: 11%
• Ages 50-64: 14%
• Ages 65+: 16%

Race & Ethnicity and Phone Addiction

Most American adults across racial and ethnic groups own cell phones.

Rates on cell phone and smartphone users by ethnic/racial group as of 2023:

• White: 97% own a cell phone; 91% own a smartphone
• Black: 96% own a cell phone; 84% own a smartphone
• Hispanic: 98% own a cell phone; 91% own a smartphone
• Asian: 99% own a cell phone; 97% own a smartphone

Rates of racial groups who are dependent on the use of smartphones for internet access vary:

• White: 12%
• Black: 21%
• Hispanic: 20%
• Asian: 14%

Socioeconomic Factors and Phone Addiction

Reliance on smartphones for internet access, which can increase the risk of excessive smartphone use and addictive behaviors, is more common in households with lower incomes and levels of formal education.

The prevalence of smartphone dependence increases as income levels decrease.

Statistics on smartphone dependence by income level in 2023:

• <$30,000: 28%
• $30,000-$69,999: 19%
• $70,000-$99,999: 9%
• $100,000: 4%

Statistics on the Effects of Phone Addictions

People’s perceived effects of cell phones and smartphones are more positive than the documented side effects of phone use.

For example, a research report from the Pew Research Center shows that most people perceive cell phone use as mostly positive for society while believing it has negative effects on children, adolescents, and young adults.

Many surveys, reports, and studies have shown that excessive cell phone use is a growing concern for physical, mental, and behavioral well-being.

One large association that seems to be driving mobile phone addiction is a mental phenomenon commonly called fear of missing out, or FOMO.

More than 85 studies were compiled into a single report, which concluded that FOMO is closely related to excessive phone use and a main risk factor in driving phone addiction rates.

Here are facts and statistics on the effects of overuse of phones and phone addiction:

• Effects on social interactions: 70% of participants in one study reported that phone usage interfered with their relationships daily. Another study of 300 showed that people felt less enjoyment and less overall engagement with cell phone use during social interactions.
• Effects of problematic smartphone use: Cognitive impairments, poor sleep quality, and mental health issues like depression and anxiety.
• Nomophobia: This is a health condition recognized by researchers that describes the fear of being without a phone or its services. Its prevalence varies widely, from 6 to 73% across various populations.
• Effects of phone addiction: Feeling of a loss of control, intense desire to use the phone (even if the person recognizes problematic use), neglect of other activities or responsibilities, continued use despite harm to health, withdrawal when not using the phone, forming a tolerance
• Phone addiction brain effects: Looking at a phone can cause an increase in dopamine (a feel-good chemical). This positive reaction can cause you to check your phone more often, leading to phone addiction.
• Effects on physical health: Digital eye strain, neck pain (“text neck”), reduced physical activity, weight gain, “trigger thumb” (thumb gets stuck in a bent position).
• Effects on mental well-being: Fear of missing out (“FOMO”), increased symptoms of mental health disorders (including depression and anxiety disorders), and feelings of loneliness.
• Dangers/risks of phone use: Distracted driving is the number one risk of problematic phone use, and using a phone while driving is the biggest cause of distracted driving, which took the lives of more than 3,300 people in the U.S. in 2022.
• Effects on family life/child development: One study linked parental cell phone use and a general lack of mindfulness while using a phone in children’s presence to lower emotional intelligence.
• Real-life effects/effects on overall well-being: One study found that spending more time on phones had a higher negative effect on learning. Another found that people self-report wasting at least 2 hours per day on their phones while at work.

Find Supportive Resources for Cell Phone Addiction Now

Cell phone use rates are increasing all over the world, and with these increased rates comes a higher rate of cell phone addiction.

Several effective strategies can help you manage your phone use and improve your mental and physical well-being.

If you’re concerned you may be addicted to your phone, there’s no time like right now to get help. You can form a healthier relationship with your phone and set boundaries that allow you to live a more balanced life without getting rid of your phone.

Consider getting professional help by looking at treatment centers through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services administration. You can also discover local support groups for addicts by searching for 12-step chapters near you.