How do we, as individuals and a society, peacefully coexist with technology? Since the beginning of the mobile revolution of the 2010’s, this is a question that almost everyone has asked themselves.
Most of us know that too much screen time has negative effects on our mental health, mood and lifestyle. Sometimes it feels like you can’t stop yourself from doom scrolling, and if you’re in Gen Z, that’s probably a sentiment you share with your friends.
We felt this way for a long time before founding BePresent to help us and others combat these habits. While we’ve found almost everyone has been thinking about this problem, in 2024, we’ve seen a dramatic increase in public awareness around this topic, catalyzed by recent news like the US Surgeon General recommending warning labels on social media and Jonathan Haidt’s bestseller The Anxious Generation sweeping the nation.
In June 2024, we commissioned the BePresent Digital Wellness Report to better understand current usage patterns, emotional responses and mental health impacts of phone usage. Who is dealing with phone addiction the most? And what impact is that having on their lives?
Summary Findings
Screen time: 76% of people believe they spend “too much” time on their phones
Of all the adults surveyed, 80% of people are spending three or more hours on their phone a day. 40% are spending five or more hours, and 20% are spending seven or more
Average screen time is five hours
74% of people who have tried to reduce their screen time struggle to do so
Mental Health Impacts: 73% of people believe their phones have a negative impact on their mental health
50% reported getting less sleep because of their phones
33% have experienced an increase in anxiety
26% have fewer social interactions as a result of their excessive screen time
Gen Z is the most affected, and they know it. Gen Z reports much higher rates of compulsive phone usage and negative health effects on their mental health and productivity.
83% of Gen Z believe they have an “unhealthy” relationship with their phone, compared to 74% for other generations
20% of Gen Z spends 8+ hours on their phones, compared to 10% for other generations
66% of Gen Z struggle with less sleep due to their phones, compared to 46% other generations
43% struggle with productivity, compared to 25% for other generations
Dating app usage among Gen Z has significantly dropped — 85% said they have stopped or are reducing their time on dating apps, in favor of in-person connection.
Phone usage: Top usage categories are social media and entertainment, but many also use their phones for work or school.
25% say they use their phone to consume news, but 30% said their news consumption has gone up this year with the upcoming election
Of Gen Z respondents, 73% said they use their phones for entertainment, like streaming or gaming, 61% say they use social media and 43% do so to stay connected with friends and family
Dating app usage among Gen Z has significantly dropped — 85% said they have stopped or are reducing their time on dating apps, in favor of in-person connection.
“Excessive phone usage overwhelmingly impacts mental health and productivity. Half of the population isn’t getting enough sleep and more than a third are experiencing increased anxiety. Phone addiction is spiraling out of control,” said Jack Winston, CEO of BePresent.
Recognizing the scale of excessive phone usage and the motivations behind it presents us the opportunity to promote healthier digital habits. With BePresent, we use AI and psychology-based social gamification to help people use technology to enhance their lives, not be controlled by it.
Downloads the full report here:
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