The average American spent 2.5 months on their phone in 2024

Americans check their phones an average of 205 times a day, marking a 42.3% increase from last year. Millennials lead in frequency, attachment, and anxiety over phone use, while Gen Z spends the most daily time on their devices, averaging over six hours. PCMag reports:

If you're reading this on your phone, it’s likely one of the 205 times you'll check it today, according to a survey by Reviews.org. That translates to checking your phone about once every five minutes while awake—or two and a half months of your year spent on your device.

This figure represents a sharp increase from last year’s average of 144 daily phone checks. Here's how those 205 checks break down:

• 80.6% check their phones within the first 10 minutes of waking up.
• 65.7% use their phones while on the toilet.
• 53.7% have texted someone in the same room.
• 38.1% use or look at their phones during dates.
• 27% use their phones while driving.

Notifications also play a significant role, with 76% of people checking their phones within five minutes of receiving one. Millennials are the quickest, with 89.5% responding within 10 minutes. Gen Z and Gen X are tied at 84%, while Boomers and the Silent Generation are less hurried, with 69% and 53.3%, respectively, checking shortly after receiving a notification.