America is clearly in need of a digital detox. A new study from Harmony Healthcare found that 45% of Americans say they are addicted to their phones.
On average, Americans are glued to their phones four hours and 37 minutes every day. It’s even worse for Gen Z, who spends six hours daily on their phones.
That’s a big jump from a few years prior. In 2016, the average screen time was 3 hours and 8 minutes a day.
Thankfully, there’s at least some self-awareness when it comes to our excessive phone use. More than half of Americans (52%) agree they’re too dependent on these tech devices. Perhaps that’s why 40% said they’re trying to make themselves less reliant on their phones in 2024 by cutting down on screen time. A 2023 study found that going on a digital detox can not only improve your mental health, it can lead to more excitement in your real life.
“The ‘always-on’, 24/7 culture and devices that promise an abundance of information and entertainment may be fixing our superficial boredom but are actually preventing us from finding more meaningful things,” said Dr. Timothy Hill, co-author of the study. “Those who engage in ‘digital detoxes’ may well be on the right path. The problem we observed was that social media can alleviate superficial boredom but that distraction sucks up time and energy, and may prevent people progressing to a state of profound boredom, where they might discover new passions.”
That’s a scientific way to say, it’s time to take a break from your phone.
