Daily time spent using phones in the U.S. 2023, by generation

According to a 2023 survey conducted in the United States, Gen Z respondents were spending the most time using their phones, over six hours a day. By contrast, Baby Boomers recorded a daily screen time of roughly three hours and 30 minutes.  

Many users feel addicted to smartphones 

As technology’s role in our everyday life increases, consumers tend to spend more and more time using electronic devices, whether it is for working and studying on laptops and tablets, watching TV or scrolling social media on smartphones. As a consequence, many users across all generations feel somewhat addicted to smartphones. According to a 2023 survey conducted in the United States, Gen Z users felt addicted to such devices the most, followed by Millennials.

Taking a step back and nostalgia for early 2000s

How can we combat the overwhelming urge to stay connected and take a step back from our always-on reality? In an effort to reduce screen time, many users, especially those in Gen Z, are expressing a sense of nostalgia for early 2000s technology, particularly dumb phones and wired headphones. For instance, during a 2024 survey in the United States, 28 percent of Gen Z respondents stated they would be interested in purchasing dumb phones, followed by 26 percent of Millennials  - a trend that might involve more users in the future.