Smartphone Addiction Statistics To Know In 2023

Smartphone addiction, often referred to as “nomophobia” (fear of being without a mobile phone), is becoming an increasingly serious issue all around the world — as it continue to rise at an alarming rate.

In this post, we’ve pulled together the most up-to-date information from the internet and included data from our recent survey of over 5,000 American cell phone users, to bring you a comprehensive list of smartphone addiction statistics and facts that you should know in 2021.

Key Smartphone Addiction Statistics

• 66% of people are addicted to their smartphone.
• There are 5.22 billion smartphone users in the world (66.6% of the global population).
• 98% of Americans own a mobile device.
• Users spend an average of 2 hours and 51 minutes a day on their smartphones.
• Teenagers are the most likely to be addicted to their phone.
• 71% of smartphone owners sleep with their cell phone at night.
• 26% of car accidents are caused by smartphone usage.
• Teenagers are the most likely to be addicted to their phone.
• The Philippines has the highest smartphone addiction rate of any country.
• 45% of American children aged 10–12 have a smartphone.

General Mobile Phone Addiction Statistics

• Compared to teens who only spend an hour on electronic devices daily, teens who spend five or more hours a day on electronic devices are 71% more likely to exhibit suicide risk factors.
• 47% of parents surveyed believe their child has a smartphone addiction.
• Of the teachers surveyed, 67% noticed their students being negatively distracted by mobile devices.
• 89% of parents take responsibility for their child’s cell phone usage.
• In the 18 to 29 year old age category, 22% of smartphone using respondents admitted to checking their device every few minutes. If that doesn’t say phone addiction, what does?
• 36% of millennials say they spend two or more hours per workday looking at their phones for personal activities.

Smartphone Usage Statistics

• Adults spend an average of 45 minutes a day on social media alone.
• 41% of teenagers feel overwhelmed by the quantity of notifications they receive on a daily basis.
• Of parents surveyed in the UK, 46% said they “feel addicted” to their mobile devices.
• Rather than in-person interaction, 33% of teens spend more time socializing with close friends online.
• 52% of teens sit for long periods of time in silence, on their smartphones, while hanging out with friends.
• When divided by country, Brazil has the highest smartphone usage—followed by China and then the United States.
• As of June 2019, 96% of Americans own a cellphone of some kind — most of them reply to texts within minutes.
• Approximately one-in-five American adults are “smartphone-only” internet users. This means that they own a smartphone, but do not have traditional home internet service.
• 66% of the population shows signs of nomophobia, the fear of being without your phone.
• The average time spent on smartphones a day is 2 hours and 51 minutes.

Teenage Smartphone Addiction Statistics

• The average smartphone owner will click, tap or swipe their phone 2,617 times a day.
• When leaving their phones at home, 50% of respondents feel uneasy.
• 26% of accidents involving cars are caused by cell phone use while driving.
• While 58% of smartphone users have admitted to trying to limit their device usage, only 41% succeeded in lessening their cell phone addiction.
• 87% of smartphone users check their device within an hour of going to sleep or waking up.
• 69% of smartphone users check their device within the first five minutes of waking up in the morning.
• More people have smartphones than toilets on a global scale.
• 20% of respondents in a smartphone usage survey would rather go without shoes for a week than be without their phone.
• Almost 40% of all consumers and 60% of 18-to 34-year-olds admit to using their phones too much.

Cell Phone Usage Statistics by Age

1. On average, people will spend 5 years and four months of their lifetimes on social media.
2. On average, smartphone owners unlock their phones 150 times a day.
3. Over 50% of smartphone owners never switch off their phone.
4. 71% of smartphone owners sleep with or next to their mobile phone on a typical night.
5. 75% of smartphone users admit that they have texted while driving at least one time.
6. 40% of adults check their phones while they’re using the bathroom.
7. 12% of adults use their smartphones in the shower.
8. 44% of adults will check work-related emails while they’re on vacation.
9. The average smartphone user checks their phone 63 times a day.
10. According to data collected in 2019, 86% of smartphone users will check their device while in conversations with friends and family.
11. Constant interruptions by alerts and notifications can contribute to AD/HD.
12. 84% of working adults in the U.S. use their personal phones during working hours.

Frequently Asked Questions

• How many hours of phone time is considered an addiction?

There are no clear guidelines on how much time we should devote to our cellphones right now and what’s considered an addiction. However, experts recommend that children under the age of three do not spend more than 2 hours a day in front of a screen.

• How many people are addicted to mobile phones?

The fear of being unable to access their cellphones is common, with 66% of respondents claiming they are concerned about this. This matches the number of individuals addicted to mobile phones, suggesting that Nomophobia is a strong predictor of smartphone addiction.

• How much time does the average person spend on their phone?

The average time spent on smartphones is 171 minutes a day (2hrs 51mins)

• What are the signs of cell phone addiction?

There are several indicators that you or someone around you might be addicted to cell phones. Cell phone addiction affects us in the sense that it distracts us from our regular activities. If you’re hooked, you’ll probably be touching your phone frequently instead of finishing your tasks and chores.

The following are some of the most common symptoms to be on the lookout for:

• Signs of withdrawal from friends and family
• Failure in adhering to cut down mobile phone use
• No sense of time when using mobile phones
• Eye complications such as eye strain and soreness
• Insomnia

• How bad is cell phone addiction?

Cell phone addiction is harmful because it encourages us to overlook important aspects of our environment. For example, most people use their cell phones to pass the time or alleviate boredom, loneliness, and sadness. The internet provides us with fast pleasure, making us feel less lonely and sad for a few minutes.

However, in the long run, this habit can lead us to withdraw even further from reality, which translates to fewer genuine human interactions. In the end, loneliness and sadness will get worse.