Americans’ Screen Time Has Increased During Quarantine

Americans’ Screen Time Has Increased During Quarantine

June 04,2020

The Bottom Line:

• The average American will spend a total of 44 years looking at screens
• Each day, folks are spending 17 hours and nine minutes staring at screens
• During lockdown that number has increased to 19 hours and six minutes
• 38% of people say social media is what most of their screen time is dedicated to
• Source:SWNS Digital

The Full Story:

We recently told you about a UK poll that revealed just how much time folks spend on screens. Well, now we have the U.S. numbers and they are appear much worse.

The survey finds:

• The average adult will spend a total of 44 years looking at screens.
• That means 6,259 hours a year - or 382,652 hours and 48 minutes - over an average lifetime of 60.7 years will be spent looking at phones, TVs, laptops and more.
• Each day, folks are spending 17 hours and nine minutes staring at screens.
• Of that time spent on screen:
  • Four hours and 33 minutes are spent staring at their phones.
  • Four hours and 54 minutes are on a laptop.
  • Four hours and 30 minutes a day are spent looking at TV.
  • Three hours and 12 minutes are spent on gaming devices. 

And it shouldn’t come as much of a surprise to find out that those numbers have gone up dramatically since the coronavirus lockdown began.

• In fact, Americans have been spending about 19 hours and six minutes a day looking at screens during lockdown.
• Of that time spent on screen:
  • Five hours and two minutes are spent staring at their phones.
  • Five hours and 10 minutes are on a tablet.
  • Five hours and 9 minutes a day are spent looking at TV.
  • Three hours and 45 minutes are spent on gaming devices. 

And apparently looking at screens is one of the first things Americans do each morning.

• It actually takes less than 10 minutes for the average person to look at a screen after waking up, with 60% of people doing so within five minutes.
• Social media tends to be the thing most folks look at first.
• In fact, 38% of people say social media is what most of their screen time is dedicated to.
  • 37% say it’s TV.
  • 29% say they are looking at screens for work.
  • 23% are shopping.

Source:SWNS Digital

Thought Starters…

• About how many hours a day do you think you spend looking at screens?
• Does the idea that you’ll spend 44 years in front of screens bother you?
• What device couldn’t you live without? Are your devices helping you get through quarantine?
• Do you feel anxious away from your phone for too long? How long is the longest you’ve gone without checking your phone?