35+ Scary Smartphone Addiction Statistics to Make You Turn it Off

The following smartphone addiction statistics show that almost all age groups struggle when it comes to too much phone use. Many are aware of how much they use their phones, but whether they consider it a problem or not is another matter. 

Smartphones with access to the internet seem to be a real issue to tackle. People sleep, drive, and use them on the toilet. Smartphone addiction went so far during 2020 that families decided to go to digital detox to stop or reduce their phone use. 

Cell Phone Addiction Statistics (Editor’s Choice)

  • About 5 billion people have a mobile device
  • The average smartphone user touches their phone 2,617 times per day
  • One in three mobile phone users would rather give up sex than their phones
  • An average user spends 8 hours and 41 minutes on an electronic device
  • Roughly 43% of teens use phones to avoid social interaction
  • Four in 10 young adults have issues with sleep because of smartphone use
  • There are 280.54 million smartphone users in the US
  • About 55% of US drivers admit checking their social media while driving

Tech Addiction Facts

It’s safe to say that we are now amidst a full-on technological revolution, where the advancement of technology propels itself seemingly exponentially, reaching the far corners of almost all areas of human life. As such, addiction to tech is becoming an increasing issue.

Internet addiction is now recognized by the American Psychology Association, and there is a growing moral panic regarding screen addiction and related facts about young people today. 

1. As of January 2021, 59.5% of the global population is using the internet. 

(Statista)

According to the latest data, at the beginning of 2021, there were 4.66 billion active internet users, accounting for about 59.5% of the global population. Out of these 4.66 billion, 4.32 billion accessed the internet via their mobile device. 

2. There are five types of internet addiction. 

(Addictioncenter)

Statistics on smartphone addiction show there are five types of internet addiction. These five types include cybersex addiction, net compulsions, cyber relationship addiction, compulsive information seeking, and computer addiction. While these have not been listed as mental disorders, they have been acknowledged by the American Psychological Association. 

3. About 5 billion people have a mobile device.

(Pewresearch)

The number of people who have mobile devices is growing. Worldwide, about 5 billion people own a mobile device, with the majority of users situated in developed countries where affluence is more established and widespread. 

4. One-third of the global population uses social media. 

(Interestingengineering)

Based on the social media addiction facts, about one-third of the population uses some sort of social media. More importantly, about 210 million show some sort of addictive behavior related to these platforms. 

5. The average smartphone user touches their phone 2,617 times per day. 

(Wishtv)

Phones are always with us and serve so many more purposes than they once did. Still, an average smartphone owner touches their phone 2,617 times each day, according to statistics on cell phone use. People have become so obsessed with their phones that many report decreased productivity, poor interpersonal relationships, interrupted sleep, and even memory loss. 

6. By 2025, 72% of people will use their smartphones to browse the web. 

(CNBC)

Smartphone usage will become so common that by 2025, approximately 72%, or 3.7 billion people will browse the web on their phones. According to smartphone addiction statistics, 2 billion people are currently using mobile internet, meaning it’s set to almost double in the next three years. 

7. China is leading in smartphone use, with 851 million users.

(Bankmycell)

China has the most smartphone users, with a 59.9% market penetration rate. On the other hand, Switzerland has the lowest number of smartphone users—with just 6.2 million. When it comes to the highest market penetration, the UK is the leader, with 82.9%, while Nigeria has only 14.9%. 

Smartphone Usage Statistics 

It’s hard to believe that smartphones have only been with us since 2012, considering how widespread they are. These little devices have so many useful purposes, from entertainment, to work, to gaming, to communicating with friends, and more. Smartphones have become so widespread in such a short time, that people have a hard time imagining life without them. 

8. One in three mobile phone users would rather give up sex than their phones. 

(Comparecamp)

Mobile phones have become so important in people’s daily lives that one in three users would rather look at their phone than have sex. Even more, smartphone addiction stats show that 20% of people aged 18 to 34 also check their phones during sex.

9. About 12% of smartphone users believe their phones are in the way of their romantic relationships 

(Pewresearch)

12% of phone users feel like the devices are getting in the way of their romantic relationships. Roughly 51% claim that their partner is often distracted by their phone when they are trying to talk to them, and according to phone addiction statistics, 40% said that the amount their partner uses their smartphone bothers them. 

10. People unlock their phones about 150 times per day. 

(INC)

While people touch, swipe, and click their phones thousands of times, they also unlock them about 150 times each day. Receiving an average of 94 SMS messages per day might be the main reason. Still, people also use their phones 20% more than they did in 2015. 

11. An average user spends 8 hours and 41 minutes on an electronic device. 

(Dailymail Single Care)

Based on recent studies, the average time spent on a smartphone per day is about 8 hours and 41 minutes. With the average person clocking just 6.8 hours of sleep per night, this is more time spent on smartphones, than actually in bed, sleeping. 

12. One in three people check their phones in the middle of the night.

(Bagby)

As if spending 8 hours a day on a mobile device is not enough, one in three people will also check their phones periodically during the night, based on smartphone addiction statistics. The smartphone is also the last thing most people see before they fall asleep, and the first thing they check when they wake up. 

13. About 47% of smartphone users have tried to limit their phone usage at some point.

(Bagby)

The majority of Americans are aware of smartphone addiction, and 47% report trying to limit the use of their phone. About 30% feel like they managed to control themselves, cell phone addiction statistics show, while many others went back to their usual patterns. 

14. Close to 79% of adult users have their phones on them for 22 hours every day. 

(Bagby)

People are so used to being around screens that they barely ever separate from their mobile devices. About 79% of smartphone users admit to keeping their phones close for 22 hours each day, according to the latest mobile phone addiction statistics.

15. About 94% of people aged 18 to 29 have a smartphone. 

(Bankmycell)

When it comes to the demographics of smartphone use, about 94% of people aged 18 to 29 have one, and 6% of them have at least a cellphone. Comparatively, only 46% of people aged over 65 have a smartphone, demonstrating an inverse relationship between age and smartphone use. 

Teenage Cell Phone Usage

The moral panic around teens and cell phone use is rampant, and like it or not, teens today conduct their social life primarily online. Reports show that while iGen may be the safest generation, physically, mental health and suicide rates are skyrocketing—with all fingers pointing to smartphone usage. 

16. Roughly 43% of teens use phones to avoid social interaction. 

(Pewresearch)

Teens today are notoriously socially awkward, so much so that 43% of them use their phones as an excuse to avoid interaction with others. Teen cell phone statistics also show that girls are more likely to do this than boys.

17. About 77% of parents and teens argue about smartphone use.

(Bagby Sciencedirect)

Most parents seem aware of how their child uses a smartphone, making it no surprise that 77% of parents have argued with their teens about using a phone. There are a myriad of concerns regarding teen cellphone use, such as poor personal relationships, cyberbullying, sleep issues, and difficulty focusing. 

18. Close to 90% of US teens use smartphones for social media and gaming.

(Newportacademy)

Smartphone statistics show that 90% of US teens use smartphones for social media and gaming activities. Still, both of these activities have been reported as highly addictive behaviors, not just for teens but for the entire population. Notably, 50% of teens admit they feel like they’re addicted to their smartphones. 

19. Eighth-graders who use social media are 27% more prone to depression. 

(Comparecamp Theatlantic)

Parental panic of teen smartphone use seems to be warranted. Eighth-graders who use social media are 27% more prone to depression, smartphone dependency statistics point out. Notably, nationwide surveys on generations of youth have found a direct relationship with self-reported happiness and the amount of time spent on a screen. 

20. Four out of ten young adults have issues with sleep because of smartphone use.

(Mentalup)

Not only adults suffer from poor sleep due to smartphone use. Four in ten young adults suffer from sleep issues because of using their smartphone. These young adults are so dependent on social media that they have a hard time falling asleep, 2021 smartphone addiction statistics show.

21. Mobile phones are the second most common cause of distracted driving crashes in teens. 

(Comparecamp)

Smartphones are so addictive that both teens and adults face serious dangers while driving and using their phones. When it comes to teens, smartphones are the second most common cause of car accidents. Distraction from other people in the car is the leading cause.

22. According to 2020 teenage cell phone addiction statistics, teens will check their phone nine times per hour while doing homework. 

(Comparecamp)

Homework is often tedious, and that might be the reason teens will check their phones as much as nine times per hour while doing their homework. In general, 78% of teens check their phones once an hour. 

23. About 76% of American parents want digital wellness and online safety classes at school. 

(Financeyahoo)

American parents are worried about how much their children use screens, so much so that 76% of them want digital wellness and online safety classes to be taught at school. Even more so, in 2021, teenage cell phone use statistics showed 28% of parents are so worried that they already took steps to educate their family about online safety. 

24. Teens spend nine hours daily on social media.

(Wvea)

Regardless of parental concern, teens still spend about nine hours each day on social media. This is way more time than what they spend in school, with their parents, or doing pretty much anything else, according to teen cell phone use statistics.

25. Eight to 12-year-olds spend about four hours and 44 minutes on screens per day.

(Mvorganizing, Very Well Family)

Eight to twelve-year-olds spend less time on their screens every day than their teen counterparts. Still, the American Association of Pediatrics recommends no more than two hours of screen time a day for children in this age group, showing a disparity in the realities of the modern household, and what is considered healthy. 

US Smartphone Addiction Facts 

The US is one of the leading populations in smartphone usage, and addiction rates are just as high. Many Americans report sleeping with their phones, driving and checking them constantly, and using them on the toilet. A notable 23% of Americans have gone into debt in order to get a smartphone, and can’t seem to imagine not having it right when they wake up. 

26. There are 280.54 million smartphone users in the US.

(Bankmycell)

There are 280.54 million smartphone users in the US, and the country is ranked as the fourth-highest country regarding smartphone to population penetration, phone addiction stats show. 

27. About 80% of US adults check their phones in the first 10 minutes of waking up. 

(Reviews)

The screen is the first thing 80% of US residents see upon waking up. Further, 70% will take their phone into the bathroom with them and then proceed to check it every 5.5 minutes on average throughout the day.

28. Close to 62% of US mobile phone owners sleep with it right beside them. 

(Reviews)

Since Americans spend about 50 minutes online on their phones right before bed, most of them fall asleep with the phone right beside them, according to technology dependence statistics. 

29. Almost 63% of people have answered a phone call while sitting on the toilet. 

(CBS)

According to CBS, 75% of Americans admit to taking their phones to the toilet to browse the web, play games, and even make phone calls. Even more, 41% people said they initiated a phone call while sitting on the toilet, and 63% say they’ve answered one. 

30. About 80% of men have a smartphone in the US. 

(Bankmycell)

There’s not that big of a difference in the number of US men and women who own a phone, smartphone demographics show. About 95% of men and 94% of women own mobile phones, while 80% of men and 75% of women have a smartphone. 

31. Over three-quarters of American families decided to go through digital detox after lockdown. 

(Itstimetologoff)

Digital detox has become important in the last couple of years, but more are considering it after the 2020 lockdowns. Over three-quarters of American families reported implementing a digital detox for their family in 2021, and two-thirds of Americans think that they would benefit from taking a break from their smartphones, according to the latest addiction statistics. 

32. About 92% of Americans believe smartphone addiction is real. 

(Bagby Reviews)

Most Americans are fully aware of the dangers of smartphone addiction. About 92% of them believe that this kind of addiction is real, and 48% feel personally addicted to their phone. 

33. Between 11% to 43% of social media users in the US feel bad when they receive few likes on their posts.

(Comparecamp)

People use social media for various reasons that include keeping in touch with family, finding job opportunities, and sharing their life. Still, cell phone addiction facts show that 11% to 43% of social media users feel bad when their posts receive a low number of likes. 

34. About 55% of US drivers admit checking their social media while driving.

(Therealtimereport)

US drivers seem so addicted to screens that they won’t leave their devices even while driving. About 55% of US drivers admit they checked social media while behind the wheel, and recent US smartphone addiction statistics show that 68% of Americans have seen their driver looking at a screen, checking social media while driving. 

35. The average American spends three hours and 43 minutes on their phone. 

(Elitecontentmarketer)

The number of hours Americans spend daily on their phones is three hours and 43 minutes. Perhaps surprisingly, it’s also been observed that the average smartphone owner spends more time on their phones during weekdays compared to weekends. 

36. Nomophobia is present in about 66% of the population. 

(Slicktext)

Nomophobia is described as the feeling of unease and fear when someone is separated from their phone. Nomophobia statistics show that 66% of the population may suffer from this condition, with it being most common in teenagers and young adults. 

37. About 23% of Americans have gone into debt to purchase a smartphone. 

(Reviews)

Phones have become so important that about 23% of the US residents go into debt to purchase them, and 43% say that it’s the most valuable thing that they own. 

Conclusion 

These stark smartphone addiction statistics indicate a growing problem in the lives of billions of people across the globe. In less than a decade, smartphones have become a pillar of modern life, and now living life without our little devices seems not only unimaginable, but impossible.

While it is an undeniably useful tool, the question of whether this technology is having a negative impact on individuals and society at large has ultimately been answered. With more than half of people feeling personally addicted to it, losing sleep, struggling in interpersonal relationships, and getting anxious when it’s not around, a change in how we relate to tech may be the only solution.

People Also Ask

It might seem that smartphone use isn’t even close to addiction, but the data says otherwise. An average smartphone user will unlock their phone about 150 times each day and touch it astonishing 2,617 times. 

About 43% of people consider themselves addicted to their phones, and there is a biological explanation for it. The use of social media and mobile games stimulates the release of dopamine, the pleasure chemical, which is known to be highly addictive.

Students might need their phones to calculate things or conduct a quick online search. Still, phone addiction among students and teens is a growing concern, especially the way it impacts focus, brain development, and mental health. 

Four in ten young adults have trouble sleeping because of their phones. The latest research found that 38.9% of students are addicted to their phones, and out of those, 68.7% have sleeping issues.

When a person uses their smartphone, it’s likely that they experience an increased amount of dopamine, which releases more feel-good chemicals that reinforce the addiction. Similar to any chemical dependency addiction, phone addiction can become serious and can cause many negative side effects to the user. 

This is why people tend to feel anxious if they’re left without their mobiles for a longer period of time. Continuous exposure to smartphones is linked with increased depression, poor attention span, interrupted sleep, neck pain, and other physical and mental issues.

According to many experts, phone use of over two hours per day can be considered addictive. Based on this definition, that places most age groups at risk of being addicted to their phones, with the average person using their phone for around 3 hours each day. 

About 20% of people spend even more time staring at their screen, with about 4.5 hours every day, excluding weekends. Teens tend to spend about nine hours daily on social media, not including the time they spend using devices for school.

People are so addicted to their phones that they might check them up to 150 times per day. Often, they will also take it in their hands or touch it 2,617 times. On average, a teen will check their phone about nine times while doing homework.

People aged 16 to 29 also spend about three hours checking and browsing on social media, while millennials do so for about two and a half hours. All in all, smartphones are useful, but also highly addictive, according to the latest smartphone addiction statistics.