Studies show that screen time accounts for about 38 to 43 percent of waking hours. That’s a lot of time spent looking at screens! And it’s not just adults who are spending more time staring at screens; children are, too.
In fact, the average child spends about seven hours a day looking at screens. That’s more than the amount of time they spend sleeping! This increase in screen time has led to some concerns.
Some worry that too much screen time might lead to problems such as obesity, poor sleep, and social isolation. However, not all screen time is bad. Screen time can also be used for educational purposes or to stay connected with friends and family.
So how can we strike a balance?
Some experts recommend limiting screen time to two hours or less per day.
Others suggest making sure that we have plenty of face-to-face interaction with our loved ones.
The key is to find a balance that works for you. So go ahead and pick up your phone but just don’t forget to put it down every once in a while, too!
Screen time key stats
- Average US smartphone user spends 3.15hrs daily on their phones.
- Most people check their phones 58 times a day.
- 91.6 percent of Americans use the internet for entertainment media.
- The average American spends over 2 hours a day on social media
Screen-Time statistics to know
The average US smartphone user spends three hours and fifteen minutes daily on their phones.
Screen time has become inescapable in today’s world.
- The average person spends a total of 6 hours and 57 minutes looking at a screen each day, most of which is spent on mobiles.
- This includes 2 hours 27 minutes scrolling through social media, 1 hour and 12 minutes playing games, and 53 minutes watching videos.
With such a large chunk of our time spent glued to screens, it’s no wonder that we’re seeing an increase in mental health problems such as anxiety and depression.
Screen time can also lead to physical issues such as neck pain, eye strain, and headaches. It’s important to be aware of screen time’s impact on our health and to take steps to reduce our exposure where possible. One way to do this is to set aside screen-free time each day, even if it’s just 30 minutes.
This will give your mind a chance to rest and recharge. Screen time is not going away anytime soon, but we can control how much we allow it to dominate our lives.
Most people check their phones 58 times a day. Thirty of those times are during work hours.
Smartphones have become a necessary tool in our modern world. We rely on them to stay connected with our loved ones, our work, and the world around us. However, this constant connection comes at a cost.
A recent study found that the average person checks their phone 58 times a day, 30 of those times during work hours.
The average person spends almost 7 hours a day looking at a screen.
Screen time has become inescapable in modern life.
- The average person spends almost 7 hours a day looking at a screen, whether it’s a smartphone, TV, laptop, or tablet.
- That adds up to over 2,500 hours a year – the equivalent of nearly 100 days! Studies have linked excessive screen time to everything from sleep problems and headaches to anxiety and depression.
In fact, the World Health Organization has even classified “gaming disorder” as a mental health condition.
Cellphones continue to be the most popular web device, responsible for 55% of all internet traffic.
- Cellphones are now the most popular web devices, responsible for 55% of all internet traffic.
- This is hardly surprising when you consider how much time we spend looking at our screens.
- According to a recent study, the average American spends over 11 hours a day looking at screens. That adds up to a staggering 438 hours per month!
During the pandemic, children’s everyday screen time grew massively.
A new Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) study showed that children’s screen time increased dramatically through the pandemic. It found that nearly 90 percent of Canadian children were exceeding the recommended two-hour daily limit, while Tunisian children (aged five to 11) increased their screen time by a whopping 111 percent.
91.6 percent of Americans use the internet for entertainment media.
Countries that spend the most time on screens
The country with the highest screen time consumption in the world is the Philippines.
- The average person in the Philippines spends more than 10 hours a day looking at screens, including phones, computers, and televisions. That’s about two hours more than the global average.
- The Philippines isn’t the only country with high screen time statistics. Other countries in the top 10 include Brazil, China, Mexico, and Thailand.
Average screen time statistics
Age:
8-10 years old: Six hours. 11-14 years old: Nine hours. 15-18 years old: Seven and 1/2 hours.
Adults: Limit recreational screen time to 2-4 hours a day. Keep work-related screen time around 8 hours a day.
- According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, children ages 8-10 should limit their screen time to six hours a day. For 11-14 year-olds, that number jumps to nine hours a day.
- For adolescents 15-18 years old, the AAP recommends seven and a half hours of screen time per day. As for adults, the AAP recommends limiting recreational screen time to two to four hours a day, with work-related screen time around eight hours a day.
- With the average American spending more than 11 hours a day staring at screens, it’s clear that we have some work to do when it comes to screen time management. Perhaps these recommendations from the AAP will help us all to find a better balance.
Children’s screen time statistics
According to a recent study, the average child in the United States spends 4-6 hours a day watching or using screens. This includes time spent on smartphones, tablets, gaming consoles, TVs, and computers. While screens can be enjoyable and provide entertainment, too much screen time can lead to problems. For example,
Teenage screen time statistics
The number is even higher for teenagers, with up to 9 hours spent on screens each day.
According to a recent study, teenagers and young adults are now spending an average of 5.1 hours per day in front of a screen. This was a significant increase from just a few years ago, when the average screen time was 3.5 hours.
Social media screen time statistics
- Social media accounts for just over 31 percent of Americans’ overall screen time. This is about 1 hr 29 minutes.
- This equates to an average of 2 hours and 14 minutes per day spent on platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
- This is slightly higher than the figure for the British, who consume an average of 1 hour and 48 minutes of social media per day (just over 29 percent of their overall screen time).
- The study also found that social media use is highest among young people aged 18-24.
Key takeaways
- The average screen time for teenagers has doubled during the pandemic, and it’s 7.7 hours per day. More than 50% of adults have increased their screen time on at least two different devices. Generation Z spends nine hours a day in front of a screen. Americans’ average time in front of the phone screen is 3 hours and 54 minutes.
- The average phone screen time per day is 3 hours and 23 minutes in the UK. People spend around five hours in front of their laptops each day. People spend about 145 minutes on social networking.
- Snapchat users spend roughly 25 to 30 minutes a day on the app. Limiting social media screen time to 30 minutes per day improves well-being and reduces depression.
- While there’s no need to cut out screens from our lives completely, it’s important to be aware of the risks and take steps to limit our screen time.
- Even small changes such as putting away our phones an hour before bed – can make a big difference in our overall well-being.