How often do people check their phones? The average American checks their phone 205 times a day, or almost once every five minutes while we’re awake.
According to our recent survey, over 43% of Americans admit feeling addicted to their phones. However, self-reported cellphone addiction is down 24% compared to last year. Maybe those pandemic-era scrolling marathons are finally getting old, or maybe we’re getting a bit burned out from being so online all the time. In the worst case, fewer people think of themselves as addicted despite not changing or possibly even increasing their cell phone time.
Meanwhile, experts continue to highlight how social media can exacerbate mental health challenges, especially for younger users, and warn against misinformation that oversimplifies these complex issues.
So how are habits looking these days? Let’s take a closer look at how Americans spend time with our cell phones—our constant companions.
From the moment we wake to the last scrolls before sleep, our phones work as extensions of ourselves. Over 80% of Americans check their phones within 10 minutes of waking up, and more than half keep their devices within arm’s reach while they sleep.
Leaving home without a phone? That’s a no-go for 78% of us. Even on the throne, 65% of people can’t resist checking their phone (toilet time is prime meme time, apparently). For nearly half of Americans, going without a phone for more than 24 hours isn’t just rare—it’s never happened. And when notifications pop up, three-quarters of us pounce on them within five minutes. Battery anxiety is real, too—nearly 40% of people feel panic the moment their charge dips below 20%.
Although we often have reasons to justify our constant cell phone use, our habits often stray far from connection, productivity, or safety—and sometimes directly contradict them. Over half of us have texted someone in the same room (because why talk when you can type?), over 38% admit to using their phones during dates, and an alarming 27% do so while driving.