May 2019
Featured in this insight: IT & telecommunications
Survey reveals we spend 50 days a year looking our smartphones: A recent survey has revealed we spend an average of 50 days per year looking at our phone screens, which when broken down equates to an average of 3 hours and 23 minutes every day.
The poll of 2,077 phone users by digital agency, Code Computerlove found that the amount of time spent looking at smartphone screens is even higher among younger consumers, with the average length of time spent by 16-24 year olds being almost 4 hours a day (3hrs 58 minutes) – that equates to 60 days per year. The over 55s by contrast spent the least amount of time looking at their phones.
When asked about how happy they were with the amount of time they spent glued to their phone, 16–24 year olds were the least happy ( 26%) followed by 25–34 year-olds (22%) and 35–44 year olds (21%). Just 5% of over 55s were unhappy with how much time they spent looking at their device screen.
The survey asked respondents about how anxious they would feel at the thought of giving up their apps for 30 days, with 25–34 year-olds being revealed as the most anxious. Sixty-seven percent (67%) said they were 'quite' or 'very' anxious at the prospect, followed by 65% of 16–24 year olds. The group most at ease with giving up their apps were the over 55s with just over a third (36%) saying it would make them anxious.
Speaking of taking a break from their mobiles, the survey revealed three in ten (31%) had taken a digital detox from their phones. Again this was greater among 16–24 year-olds with 44% saying they had taken a digital break, as had 42% of 25–34 year olds and 30% of 35–44 year-olds.
The research also found that most people (64%) use their phone at the same time as watching TV, followed by in bed (55%) on public transport (34%) and at work (33%).
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