Technology is what makes everyone’s lives better. With it, anything can be instant and convenient. From sending a message. The world has been growing reliant on technology. The problem is that some people depend heavily on it, leading to addiction to technology.
Addiction is any obsessive behavior toward an object or activity that technology captures. People addicted to technology are fond of modern gadgets and use them for gaming, social media, and many more.
Since technology has been well-integrated into modern daily life, most people overlook technology addiction. Check out the technology addiction statistics below that prove this phenomenon is real and concerning.
Shocking Technology Addiction Statistics
- 85% of American adults can’t spend a day without going online.
- Smartphone use is involved in 26% of car accidents in America.
- 12% of teen boys have a video gaming addiction.
- 32% of teenagers consider themselves addicted to their smartphones.
- The average person checks their phone 96 times a day.
- Teens spend over seven hours a day in front of a screen.
- The average internet user is online for 43% of their waking life.
How Common Is Technology Addiction in 2023?
Since technology has been growing steadily over the years, most people developed a dependence on it. In some cases, this dependence on technology grows uncontrollably and becomes an addiction.
Why is technology addicting?
The reason lies in dopamine. According to numerous studies, technology addiction works similarly to being addicted to substances or alcohol. Technology triggers a person’s pleasure system, producing a rush of dopamine, the feel-good hormone.
Then, when the rush subsides, the person seeks the stimulation again. That perpetuates the so-called “dopamine loop,” leading to dependence on a certain stimulation.
Here is how Dr. Barbara Jennings describes this phenomenon:
Below are more statistics related to technology addiction, showing the prevalence of this issue in today’s digital world.
Internet Addiction Statistics
One of the main perpetrators of technology addiction is the Internet. Moreover, someone can be addicted to the Internet but not generally dependent on technology. Here’s a helpful visualization of that idea:
1. Internet addiction has increased to 36.7% during the COVID-19 pandemic.
(PubMed and ScienceDirect)
In 2013, studies recorded that internet addiction affected 1.5% to 8.2% of people worldwide. At that time, such a figure was already concerning.
However, Internet addiction has been growing over the past years. Then, the COVID-19 pandemic forced everyone to stay at home and rely on the internet to stay connected.
That led to higher dependence on the Internet, resulting in a staggering 36.7% of Internet addicts.
2. 85% of Americans go online every day.
( Pew Research Center)
One of the more problematic facts about technology addiction is that most Americans can’t spend a day without going online. Even more disturbing is the finding that 31% of Americans are in cyberspace almost constantly.
The Internet makes people feel connected despite being away from others. It also works as a distraction from any unwanted feelings at the moment. That’s why the Internet sees users who divulge in its world constantly.
According to the same data set, only 7% of American adults don’t use the Internet.
Smartphone Addiction Statistics
There are 6.92 billion smartphone users today, and that number is still set to grow over the years. That’s due to the rising dependence on this convenient hand-held device.
According to other data sets, mobile phones make up 52% of the worldwide Internet traffic. Based on these numbers, a smartphone is undeniably a piece of technology that gets some people hooked and addicted.
📖 Definition
Nomophobia or smartphone addiction is the obsessive use of a mobile device. This leads to a “fear” of being without a smartphone. Its signs and symptoms include:
- Fear of missing out.
- Difficulty limiting phone use.
- Increasing time using the phone.
- Anxiously checking other people’s profiles.
- Boredom easily triggers the need to use a smartphone.
- Constantly craving access to a mobile phone or similar device.
- Trouble completing work, school, or home duties due to smartphone use.
The statistics below will show you how common smartphone addiction is and how it affects everyone’s lives.
3. 32% of teenagers admit they feel addicted to their smartphones.
(Source: Cross River Therapy)
| 💡 Did You Know? According to Pew Research Center, 95% of teenagers in America have a smartphone or access to one. That data shows how common it is to have a mobile device at such a young age, increasing the prevalence of smartphone addiction at a young age. |
As revealed by the same set of data, 66% of teens feel anxious whenever they are away from their phones. That emphasizes the next stat, which tells us around 78% of teenagers check their mobile devices every hour.
Moreover, 72% feel the urge to respond immediately to any messages they receive, while 45% use the internet all the time.
Since smartphone addiction is prevalent and concerning among youth, 72% of parents are compelled to limit their children’s screen time.
4. 26% of all car accidents in the US happen due to smartphone use.
(Source: CompareCamp)
People using their smartphones while driving have caused 26% of all car accidents in the US.
Texting increases the risk of an accident. On the other hand, hands-free phone use is not much safer as it also results in distracted driving. Engaging in a call while driving is as dangerous as texting. Holding the phone or not poses the same danger.
5. Americans check their phones 96 times a day.
(Source: Asurion)
According to Asurion’s research, Americans check their phones once every 10 minutes. That counts to opening their phones 96 times a day.
Ultimately, Americans have an average of 3 hours and 46 minutes of mobile screen time.
| 💡Did You Know? Another compelling statistic about smartphone addiction is that 41% of people would rather choose to give up sex rather than access their phones. |
Technology Addiction in Youth Stats
Since young people grew up in the digital age, it is easy for them to understand technology, no matter how fast it advances.
Moreover, their lives are no exemption from technology adoption. Schools nowadays require computers and tablets at home to access school materials.
Due to these, the youth become victims of technology addiction easily.
Parents have various points of view regarding this concern. One prevalent side is allowing children access to technology. However, parents employ parental controls to closely monitor their children’s device and app usage due to online dangers.
Comment
by u/Bad_wit_Usernames from discussion It’s not young people’s fault they are addicted to technology
in unpopularopinion
6. 44% of teenagers find it hard to go without tech.
(Source: Consumer Affairs)
Looking at tech addiction and how it corresponds to age, younger people struggle more.
Smartphone dependency statistics show that around 44% of teenagers struggle without a technology break.
On the other hand, studies have also found that 41% of people in their 20s struggle without tech. The figure drops to 29% in those over 40.
Understanding the data, younger people are stronger adopters of technology, which makes them more dependent on it. These people know their way around technology and have incorporated it deeply into their lives.
7. Teens in the US stare at a screen for over seven hours a day.
(Source: Common Sense Media)
The concerning thing about this statistic is it does not include the screen time spent on schoolwork. So, on average, American teens have a screen time of over seven hours a day.
Meanwhile, younger children aged 8 to 12 spend an average of 4 hours and 44 minutes daily in front of screens.
| ⚠️ Warning: According to studies, excessive screen time at a young age can lead to lower cognitive abilities. Ultimately, that results in poor academic performance in later years. |
Gaming Addiction Stats
Latest estimates show that over 3 billion people worldwide play video games. Among those gamers, between 3% to 4% are addicted to gaming.
According to reports, boys are twice as likely to get hooked on video games than girls. However, that does not mean the latter is spared from this addiction. Young people, no matter their gender, struggle the most with gaming addiction.
Gaming addiction stats show boys are more often hooked to video games, but girls are not spared from this addiction. You can find some more shocking statistics below.
8. 12% of teen boys are addicted to video games.
(Source: Newport Academy)
Some popular video games are particularly marketed toward young men, including Fortnite. According to data, 72.4% of active Fortnite players are male.
That said, it’s unsurprising that as many as 12% of teen boys are addicted to video games, posing a common struggle for parents with sons.
Still, video game addiction affects everyone, regardless of age or gender.
9. 1% of the world’s population is addicted to gaming.
(Source: Healthy Gamer)
Around 10% of children in Singapore and 14% of students in Hong Kong are addicted to technology and gaming. Meanwhile, 600,000 children in South Korea have some kind of gaming disorder.
Although gaming affects children more, it’s important to note that it impacts adults too. The average age at which people consider themselves video game enthusiasts is 33.
10. The average gamer plays games for over 8 hours a week.
(Source: Limelight)
There are currently 2.7 billion gamers worldwide; an average gamer plays 8 hours and 27 minutes weekly.
Then, a quarter of video game players spend at least 12 hours a week playing games. Meanwhile, 44% dedicate at least 7 hours.
| 💡Did You Know? Gaming is currently on an upward trend, especially since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. The State of Online Gaming reported that binge gaming increased by 13% in 2021. |
Screen Addiction Stats
Screen addiction facts have shown that people between 8 and 28 have a screen time of 44.5 hours a week and could have an addiction to electronic devices.
As mentioned, today’s academic curriculums demand the use of technology. Meanwhile, the majority of jobs today require technology to function efficiently. For instance, 82% of basic restaurant jobs might turn automated due to the growth of technology.
All those factors contribute to the rising screen time. As more people rely on technology, screen time is also set to increase.
11. The typical internet user spends 43% of their waking life online.
(Source: DataReportal)
Recent data on technology use show that people spend an average of 6 hours and 53 minutes online daily. Looking at the average American who is awake for 16 hours a day, that means they spend 43% of their waking life on the Internet.
| ⌛ In a Nutshell: Analyzing the data further means that 5 billion Internet users worldwide spend over 2 trillion minutes of screen time daily worldwide. |
12. South Africans are The biggest desktop screen time consumers, producing over 4 hours of screen time.
(Source: Comparitech)
South Africans spend an average of 4 hours and 25 minutes of screen time on their computers daily.
As experts looked into this extreme screen time data, they have concluded that most of the South African population are digital natives. That means being online is a huge part of who they are.
13. Filipinos spend over 5.5 hours on their mobile devices.
(Source: Comparitech)
Mobile device users in the Philippines have the highest mobile use worldwide. Every day, Filipinos spend 5 hours and 31 minutes on their phones.
Most Filipinos use their phones for gaming and social media. In the Philippines, mobile phones are the best way to connect with others and stay informed.
Social Media Addiction Facts
Social media has made us more connected than ever. People spend so much time on social media. Unfortunately, it has also sparked social media addiction, especially for some age groups.
14. Almost 40% of people in the US are addicted to social media.
(Source: Statista)
Social media addiction is most prevalent in people aged 23 to 38. 37% of Americans in this age group feel somewhat addicted to social media, while 15% identify as completely addicted.
Next are those aged 18 to 22, with 40% of respondents slightly addicted to social media. The rest, 5%, feel fully addicted to social media.
On the other hand, older generations are the least affected by social media addiction. Only 21% of people between 55 and 64 identify as somewhat addicted, and 1% are completely addicted to social media.
15. Internet users worldwide spend an average of 2 hours and 31 minutes daily on social media.
(Source: Statista)
This 2023 data shows a 4-minute increase from the previous year’s record. For over a decade, time spent on social media has been slowly rising.
Surprisingly, men account for 54.2% of social media users. Yet, numerous reports reveal young females are also addicted to social media more than any other group.
16. 1 in 5 young people wakes up at night to check their social media profiles.
(Source: Science Daily)
Social media distracts teenagers even from their sleep. That’s how addictive social media can get. Around 20% of those aged 12 to 15 often open their social media accounts at night to respond to messages, read comments, and check for posts and likes.
Wrap Up
Things have changed dramatically over the last few years regarding technological adoption. The facts about technology addiction above prove just that.
Although it has helped us gain efficiency and convenience, technology has consumed our lives positively and negatively. Still, it lies in people’s ability to control themselves using their devices and how the Internet impacts their lives.
FAQs
Why is technology so addicting?
Technology is addictive because it can quickly provide stimulation, interaction, environmental change, and distraction. Scientific research shows that being addicted to technology can affect one’s brain and cognitive health, much like substance addictions.
What percent of America is addicted to technology?
Statistics show that 85% of Americans go online daily, while over 30% are constantly in cyberspace, indicating overuse and addiction.
Is technology addiction increasing?
Yes. Technology addiction has steadily increased, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Moreover, the severity of technology addiction has been rising.
Sources
Timeline Of The Article
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Deyan is an avid enthusiast and self-proclaimed fan of the Windows operating system. His passion for discovering new functionalities and hidden gems within Windows drives his insatiable curiosity and fuels his desire to share his findings with others. As an avid writer, Deyan frequently shares his expertise through articles that provide tips and tricks to optimize the Windows experience.