Author: Damjan Milenkovic

Since you’re probably a mobile phone owner, these mobile malware statistics will open your eyes. Maybe you believe that you should only protect your PC or a laptop, but mobile phones can become an easy target for hackers. Your mobile device also connects to the internet, and you use social media platforms and apps, so chances are you can become a victim of mobile malware.

Cybercriminals keep on inventing new malware, and these attacks are becoming a real challenge for the security industry. While it’s not as prevalent as other cyber attacks, it is a growing threat. Read the statistics below to learn why you should protect your mobile phone. 

Facts to Make You Think 

Neither iOS or Android is completely safe from cyber attacks. Viruses, ransomware, Trojans, and many other malicious software are created to work in a mobile environment, and owning one or another device doesn’t guarantee safety. 

1. Kaspersky found more than 5.7 million malicious installation packages in 2020.

(Securelist)

According to the mobile malware statistics from Kaspersky, there were around 5,683,694 installations of malicious packages in 2020. Attacks on personal data became more frequent, and Trojans have become more advanced. 

2. Almost 4,000 people are victims of SMS phishing attacks. 

(Lookout)

More people started using mobile phones for banking, and cybercriminals have found a way to obtain their data. They send fake SMS, pretending to be the bank, asking users to click on a malicious link that steals their private information. 

3. 2.5 million people downloaded multiple mobile adware apps. 

(Zdnet)

More than seven adware apps were downloaded from Google Play Store and Apple App Store. These apps were promoted on TikTok and other social media. They work simply by showing an aggressive pop-up ad to users, asking them to click to remove it. 

4. 6.8% of iOS and 3% of Android devices are connected to third-party app stores.

(Wandera) 

Third-party app stores can be a source of threats. 6.8% of iOS and 3% of Android devices are connected to multiple stores apart from the official Google and Apple ones. To use these stores, users have to jailbreak their iPhones and configure Androids, making the devices more vulnerable. 

5. 36.5% of organizations have suffered from a malware incident. 

(Wandera)

It’s not only individuals that suffer the consequences of malware for mobile devices. Once the malware is installed, it can secretly steal all data about the user and potentially grab the work-related information. 

6. 29.1% iOS and 0.7% of Android devices run on old systems.

(Wandera)

The percentage of users who don’t update their OS is down for Android but up for iOS. Unfortunately, outdated operating systems leave space for malware on Android and iOS devices. 

7. 50% or iOS and 20% of Android users jailbroken and rooted their devices in 2019.

(Wandera)

Just like outdated OSs, when a device is jailbroken or rooted, it gives way to unauthorized apps. These apps are often installed by users who might be unaware of what they’ve installed.

8. 39.56% of mobile users in Iran were victims of mobile malware attacks in 2020.

(Statista)

Malware is present all over the globe, but some countries have it worse than others. Iran, Algeria, and Bangladesh have the highest percentage of mobile malware victims, with 39.56, 21.44, and 18.58%, respectively. 

Android Malware Facts 

While Android provides more flexibility to its users, many can become victims of malicious apps. Luckily, Google is working on preventing scammers and hackers from even listing their apps in the Store for download. 

9. Android malware statistics show there are more than 4.18 million malicious apps. 

(Gdatasoftware)

There are around 11,000 new Android malicious apps on the market each day, and most of them are adware. These apps are still mainly focused on individuals, less on companies. 

10. Google removed more than 1,700 malicious Joker apps.

(Zdnet)

In recent years, Google has removed more than 1,700 apps with Joker malware or Bread apps, from its Play Store. Many of these apps were downloaded more than 50,000 times. Bread apps originally worked by sending fraudulent SMS. 

11. Google Play Protect scans more than 500,000 apps daily.

(Android Security and Privacy Report)

Google works hard to keep old and new Android malware away from users’ screens. Its cloud-based vetting process analyzes and reviews up to 500,000 apps daily and prevents the malicious ones from reaching the Store. 

12. Even apps with a 4.5-star rating can be scams.

(McAfee)

One such app had more than 7,000 positive reviews used to build fake credibility and app rating. High ratings and positive reviews increase downloads, enabling the creators to utilize malicious apps further. 

13. Almost 50% of malicious apps are hidden.

(McAfee)

According to mobile malware statistics from 2020, hidden apps make up almost half of malicious telemetry. These apps hide their presence on mobile devices while showing intrusive ads to users.They’re hard to find on the device and uninstall. Aside from that, they’re annoying for the users. 

Apple is Safer than Android 

No device is completely safe from cyber attacks and malicious apps, regardless of its operating system. However, iOS vs. Android malware statistics show that Apple iOS is more secure than Android. Android also has more attacks, likely due to the fact that more users have Androids than iPhones.

14. 0.7% of total mobile malware threats are aimed at iOS.

(TheTechAddict)

Many iPhone users are wondering how safe their phone is, and the answer is it’s safer than Android. It’s extremely hard to penetrate iOS devices, however, it’s not impossible to breach it. 

15. The most famous iOS malware was created in 2015.

(Lookout)

XcodeGhost is the most famous iOS malicious code. It was inserted into iOS apps via tampered Apple Xcode and made its way to the Apple App Store. It’s been the largest attack on the Apple App Store so far.

Known Apps with Malware

Both Apple and Google work on instantly removing scammy apps, and so far, the success has been high. These are some of the most famous apps that contain malware.

16. Apple removed 17 apps. 

(Digitaltrends)

These apps were developed by a mobile security company Wandera. They operated as described in the Apple Store, but they ran fraudulent tasks in the background, such as opening websites or clicking various links. Some of the apps were RTO Vehicle Information, Daily Fitness – Yoga Poses, Around me Place Finder, Dual Accounts Pro, and others. 

17. Android users had to remove these 16 apps manually.

(PCMag)

While Google removed many apps with Joker malware, these had to be manually uninstalled from Androids. According to the latest Android malware statistics from 2020, they are All Good PDF Scanner, Direct Messenger, Private SMS, Style Photo Collage, Unique Keyboard – Fancy Fonts & Free Emoticons, and so on.

Best antivirus software to fight mobile malware threats

Just like mobile malware continues to develop, many antivirus companies have created antivirus software for mobile devices. These are some of the best ones that can be downloaded for free. 

18. McAfee uses 256-bit encryption. 

(Guru99)

It prevents multiple types of viruses, malware, and ransomware from infecting the device. It stores sensitive files in the system by using 256-encryption. 

19. Bitdefender was featured as a product of the year in 2019.

(Bitdefender)

It supports multiple devices, including Android and iOS, with additional parental control options. It comes with many other features, such as a VPN, to enhance security. 

20. Avira antivirus can detect more than 350,000 threats.

(Avira)

The Avira antivirus is a great solution against mobile device attacks. It protects from web-based and other threats. This antivirus also comes with Smart Scan and Device optimization features. 

Conclusion 

While a mobile phone is an ultimate tool in your pocket, it can also become a weapon turned against you. Cybercriminals can use any device that connects to the internet, including yours, to dig up private information and abuse it. Android users are in greater danger, according to the mobile malware statistics. Unfortunately, iPhone users often jailbreak their phones to install third-party apps. This leaves space for malware to penetrate the device and do harm. 

Luckily, Google works hard to remove scammy and spammy apps from its Store. However, criminals will go above and beyond to cause harm. Even if you don’t have any malicious apps installed, you could still receive a convincing SMS that appears to be from your bank, asking you to click a link. That’s why you should be careful with how you use your phone. 

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Smartphone ownership has increased dramatically over the years, even among the youngest. Furthermore, smartphone addiction statistics show how this leads to people becoming overly dependent on smart devices. 

Colloquially known as ‘nomophobia,’ phone addiction has a somewhat negative impact on personal and professional life. Research shows that it can fuel stress and anxiety while also leading to health issues, such as sleep deprivation.

Reliance on smartphones for online access is widespread among young people. So it isn’t surprising that the below stats show a significantly greater number of ‘addicts’ among the young rather than older generations.

Smartphone Usage Statistics

Mobile phone ownership has increased over the past few years worldwide. Many stats and facts show that the United States is one of the leading countries in smartphone usage and internet access. 

1. There were 3.5 billion smartphone users worldwide in 2020.

(Statista)

This number surpassed the previous year by 0.3 billion and will almost surely rise by several hundred million in the next few years. 

Smartphone usage stats show that China, India, and the United States are the leaders in smartphone usage, with each country easily exceeding the 100-million user mark.

2. 72% of the world will access the internet solely from their smartphones by 2025. 

(CNBC/WARC)

The study estimates that 2 billion people on average only use their smartphones for internet access. This WARC forecast suggests that the number will rise by about 1.7 billion in the next few years.

Only a small number, 69 million, are expected to continue accessing the internet using their computers only, facts that suggest more phone addiction in the immediate future. 

3. The current number of smartphone users in the United States is 294.15 million.

(Statista)

The 2020 number shows a 6.36 million rise compared to the previous year and a drastic 212.52 million increase from 2010 when the US registered only 81.63 million cell phone users. 

The smartphone usage forecast predicts a boost in the current number, expected to reach 311.5 million by 2025, with 17.35 million more than 2020.

4. 85% of Americans own smartphones, while 97% of the US population owns a cell phone.

(Pew Research Center)

Cell phone use statistics show a significant increase in smartphone ownership from the Pew Research Center’s first survey of smartphone ownership conducted in 2011 when the percentage reached a modest 35%, which up to 2021 increased by 142%. 

5. Smartphone users in the United States unlock their devices an average of 4.8 times per hour during working hours.

(Statista)

A 2019 report shows that the rate of unlocks per hour escalates during working hours and early evening, reaching an average of 4.8 times hourly on weekdays, and de-escalates significantly toward nighttime, reaching an average of 3 unlocks per hour.

6. Americans check their phones 96 times a day.

(Asurion)

This Asurion 2019 overuse of technology statistics estimate that about once every 10 minutes, which marks a 20% daily increase compared to a similar survey two years ago. 

Young adults, 18–24, check their phones twice as much as the national ‘norm.’ However, they are also more aware of their heavy phone use rather than the other age groups and more likely to cut down their time spent on smartphones.

Cell Phone Usage Statistics by Age

The statistics organized by age range, including studies on internet access, mobile phone usage, and social networking platforms, show that young people are the most active technology users. 

7. All young adults in the United States use the internet.

(Statista)

Technology use and addiction statistics show that Americans within the 18–29 age group use the internet, closely followed by the 30–49 age range, with 97 percent nationwide. 

This nearly perfect 100 percent is decreasing steadily, until reaching 73% for the 65+-year-olds. Thus, on average, 90% of the US population are current internet users.

8. 99% of American teens and adults own a cell phone. 

(Pew Research Center)

Cell phone usage statistics by age, ranging from 18-year-olds to 65+, show that nearly all teens and young adults in the United States own a cell phone, out of which 96% have smartphones. 

The percentage in any kind of cell phone ownership remains relatively steady, decreasing from the 99%, registered in 18–29 age range, by only 8% toward the 65+-year-olds. However, the fall in smartphone ownership numbers is much more significant: 96% of people in the first age group own smartphones, and only 53% of the 65+ group use smart devices.

9. Gen Z smartphone users in the United States unlock their devices 79 times daily on average.

(Statista)

The latest smartphone usage stats by generation show that Gen Zers in the US ranks first when unlocking their smart device. 

Millennials ranked second, unlocking their smartphones 63 times a day on average, while the Silent Generation had the lowest number of daily opens, at about 18 times.

10. 72% of US adults are active social media users. 

(Pew Research Center)

The statistics and facts about technology addiction by age show that people in the 18–29 age group rank the highest with 90%. At the same time, social media registers a drastic decrease by 50% in the 65+ age group. 

The 50–64-year-olds establish a median between the age ranges mentioned above, at 69%. 

11. Younger US employees are more likely to use their phones during working hours. 

(Screen Education)

This 2020 stat shows that employees aged 18 to 34 spend approximately 3.1 hours every workday on digital content that has nothing to do with their work. 

Cell phone dependency in the workplace diminishes somewhat in workers aged 34 to 54, who spend about 2.4 hours on unrelated digital content and more notably among 55 or older employees. Their average distraction time is 1.8 hours. 

Smartphone Addiction Statistics

Facts and stats about phone dependency in the US show variations determined by classifications into age groups, race, and education. Nationwide, surprisingly, the number of technology ‘addicts’ has been falling.

12. Nearly 57% of people feel ‘somewhat’ addicted to their phones. 

(Reviews)

Out of 500 people who have been part of the study conducted by Reviews, 56.4% feel they are ‘somewhat’ addicted to their smart devices, while 19% admit they are ‘very’ dependent on their phones. 

The same phone addiction statistics show that 24.6% of these people consider themselves ‘not at all’ addicted to their phones.

13. 15% of Americans are dependent on their smartphones. 

(Pew Research Center)

The latest data from Pew Research shows that dependency fluctuates from one year to the next, falling from 17% in the year 2019 to 15% in 2021. 

Looking at the data given by nomophobia statistics by category, if age, race, and education divide present notable fluctuation in percentages from one group to the next, gender only marks a 1% difference.

14. 87.8% of people feel uneasy leaving their phones at home.

(Reviews)

Statistics show that most people who were part of the Reviews study have nomophobia. Similarly, 65.6% check their phones up to 160 times a day. 

Another 65.7% of these 500 people that took part in the survey claim to sleep with their phone at night.

15. 22% of young Americans are addicted to their smart devices. 

(Pew Research Center)

Statistics about cell phone addiction show that young adults are significantly more dependent on their smart devices than older people. For example, there is a 10% gap between the 18 to 29 age and 65+ groups. 

But while the percentage of young people and adults younger than 49 dependent on their smartphones decreased by 7% from 2019 to 2021, the 65+ age range rate stayed the same — 12%. 

16. 25% of Hispanic Americans show smartphone dependency.

(Pew Research Center)

Hispanic Americans rank highest in smartphone dependency with 25%. While the 2019 difference in percentage between Hispanic and African Americans was not significant, only 2%, the difference between them now is 8%.

17. Higher educated people are less likely to become addicted to their phones.

(Pew Research Center)

The cell phone addiction statistics show that only 4% of US college graduates were dependent on their smart devices in 2021, while the percentage of those with a high school education or less was 23%.

Moreover, around 15% of those who only attended college showed phone addiction in 2021. 

18. Employees in the US spend at least 1.4 hours daily on digital content unrelated to their job.

(Screen Education)

The 1.4 hours estimate is what respondents in 2019 claimed they spent on content apart from their job during working hours. 

Among the smartphone addiction statistics for 2020, this study shows, however, that researchers believe the responders underestimate their addiction and, in reality, spend somewhere between 1.4 to 2.5 hours a day on digital content unrelated to their job.

Teenage Cell Phone Addiction Statistics

Research shows that smartphone addiction among teenagers is the most dangerous from several viewpoints, including lack of focus, mental health issues, and vulnerability to cyberspace bullying. 

19. By age 11, 53% of American kids have their smartphones.

(Common Sense Media)

Smartphone ownership increases as kids grow older, reaching 83% by the age of 15, and 91% by 18. 

Similarly, teenage cell phone use and ownership statistics show a substantial rise over the past few years, presenting a concerning increase from an average of 67% in 2015 among teens aged 13–18 to about 84% in 2019 in the same age group. 

20. Fewer teens feel more addicted to their phones than in previous years.

(Common Sense Media)

A Common Sense Media stat shows that the percentage of teens who feel addicted to their smartphones decreased by 11% from 2016 to 2019, thus reaching 39%. Yet, paradoxically, the rate of parents that are ‘addicts’ is on the rise, from 27% to 45% in the previously stated timeframe. 

This teenage cell phone addiction research also shows that everyone belonging to the same household is likely to feel addicted to their smart devices; 56% of the teens saying that if their parents are addicted, they become addicted themselves.

21. 58% of teens in the United States are distracted by their phones at least once a day. 

(Common Sense Media)

The distraction through the use of smartphones has a notable impact on daily life. As the cell phone addiction statistics show, 36% of teens wake up at night to check their phones at least once. 

Similarly, in 2019, 28% of the parents felt that their relationship with their children was affected by phone addiction. However, a more significant number of parents, namely 55%, thought it had no impact on good relationships, and an even larger number of teens, 72%, agreed with this statement.

22. Cell phone dependency affects the mental well-being of teenagers. 

(Bank My Cell)

Teenage cell phone addiction statistics for 2020 show that teens who spend over 5 hours a day on their phones are 71% more exposed to suicide factors, while those spending just 1 hour daily are far less likely to be exposed to this considerable risk. 

Depression is another risk factor that smartphone dependency leads to among teenagers. For example, eighth-graders addicted to social media are exposed to a 27% greater risk of becoming depressed. 

23. 59% of American teens have experienced online harassment.

(Pew Research Center)

There are numerous articles on harassment online, and particularly on how safe the internet is for kids. However, according to Pew Research Center smartphone addiction statistics, most kids experienced different forms of cyberbullying. 

42% of US teenagers experienced offensive name-calling, and 32% were the victims of rumor-spreading. A worrying 16% of young users also experience physical threats. 

Phone Addiction – The Bottom Line

Living in a world marked by fast technological development, it is hardly surprising that more people own smartphones now than they did just several years ago.

It is equally unsurprising that the dependency on smartphones—to access the internet, social media, emails, calls, texts, etc.—is a leading cause of stress.

Overall, this reliance on smart devices is very likely to continue in the future; thus, the number of people addicted to technology will inevitably be on the rise.

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Teen driving statistics may not seem too bright when observed in general. The number of vehicle crashes involving teens is still relatively high. 

On the other hand, we would come off as pessimistic if we didn’t notice that, for example, the number of drunk teen driving cases has been on a significant drop over the last thirty or forty years. 

Along the following lines, we’ll introduce you to the good and the bad when it comes to teen driving. 

General Teen Driver Facts 

As estimated, there are around 15 million teen drivers in the US. That makes 6.7% of the nation’s driving population. Still, even though it is a small percentage compared to the total number of citizens who drive, the number of crashes caused by teen drivers seems to be relatively high. 

1. The leading cause of teen deaths and disabilities is motor vehicle crashes. 

(CDC)

As teenage crash statistics point out, there are five leading teen death causes. The first one is accidents (unwanted injuries); the others are homicide, suicide, cancer, and heart diseases. Still, accidents take up almost half of teen death cases, and the leading cause of accidents is motor vehicle crashes. To put the numbers into perspective, even though homicide takes second place, it causes (only) 13% of all teen deaths in the US. 

2. There are three main causes of teenage car crashes.

(Tracking System Direct)

All teen driving statistics agree upon one thing—the leading cause of teenage car crashes is distracted driving. Besides, it is the main cause of crashes even among adult drivers. The second most frequent crash cause among teens is speeding or going too fast for the particular road conditions. The third is the lack of scanning the road and the surroundings in general. 

3. 1 in 5 teen drivers has an accident within the first year of driving.

(Do Something, Southern States Insurance)

Based on a survey among 16-year olds, teenage driving accident statistics show that teens are most likely to have a crash during the first year of driving. Besides that, teen drivers are ten times more likely to have a vehicle crash in the first year of driving than other age groups, proving that experience on the road truly matters. 

4. In 2019, 31% of male drivers between the ages of 15 and 20 who were victims of fatal crashes were speeding.

(CDC)

According to the stats on teenage driving, 17% of females in the same age group involved in fatal crashes were speeding that year. Generally speaking, teenagers are more prone to speeding and allowing shorter headways. 

5. Only 44% of teenagers would speak up if someone’s manner of driving scared them.

(Do Something)

Teens not feeling confident to talk when they feel endangered by the driver is a serious problem. Add the fact that crash risk increases proportionally when a teenage driver is impaired with another adolescent passenger. Thus, parents should insist on talking to their children and providing full support about speaking out loud when they feel at risk in traffic. Don’t avoid or neglect this kind of conversation—it may save lives. 

Teen Texting and Driving Statistics

Texting while driving, and using gadgets in general, can be more dangerous than we think, especially for teenagers, when combined with their lack of experience. 

6. Every day, 11 teenagers get killed due to texting and driving.

(Victoria Advocate, edgarsnyder.com)

This means that texting and driving take around 4000 teenage lives each year. To illustrate the unawareness of the possible dangers, 32.8% of high school students admit texting or emailing while driving.

7. Texting while driving is directly connected to other types of risky behaviors. 

(NHTSA)

Young driver statistics revealed that teenagers who text while driving are more likely to engage in other risky behaviors. For example, they are known to drive under the influence of alcohol and drugs, not wear a seatbelt, drive at nighttime, etc.

8. 56% of teenagers admit to talking on the phone while driving. 

(edgarsnyder.com, iii.org)

Furthermore, 71% of high school seniors use their phones while driving. Besides that, 40% of seniors admit changing music, using their phone (or another device), and driving simultaneously. This is one of the most disturbing teen driver facts, especially if we know that talking while driving lowers the young driver’s reaction as if they were 70 years old. 

9. Texting and driving are most common among senior white students.

(CDC)

Not only is it more common among senior students, but it is also more ordinary among white students who drive—44% of them. Opposite to that, only 30% of Afro-American and 35% of Hispanic students tend to text and drive. 

Teenagers Drinking and Driving Statistics

10. On average, eight teenagers lose their lives every day due to drinking and driving. 

(Gaytravel, edgarsnyder.com)

This means that annually, around 3,000 US teenagers die in crashes that involve drinking and driving. Additionally, around ¼ of fatalities include a drunk teenage driver. 

11. 8,2% of high school students admit they were drinking and driving at least once.

(edgarsnyder.com)

Up to 8,2% of high school students drove under the influence of alcohol at least once in their lifetime, as teen drunk driving stats reveal. To make it worse, 15.1% of young drivers aged 18 to 20 admit drinking and driving in the past year. 

12. Almost 60% of drunk teenage drivers involved in fatalities weren’t using a seatbelt.

(edgarsnyder.com)

To add to that, 70% of teenagers who lost their lives in accidents that include drinking and driving weren’t using a seatbelt. 

13. Boys are more likely to drink and drive than girls. 

(edgarsnyder.com)

Teenage crash rates point out that 27% of male teen drivers have been a part of a fatal crash involving drinking and driving, compared to 15% female drivers. 

14. Almost 17% of high school students rode with a drunk driver in the last month.

(Tracking System Direct)

Almost 17% of US high school students stated they had been driven at least once in the previous 30 days by a person drinking before operating a vehicle.

Teen Driving Death Stats

Even though the US Government and the states individually have introduced a list of laws to lower the number of teen deaths in traffic, unfortunately, they still occur. 

15. The fatal crash rate is almost three times higher among teenagers.

(iihs.org) 

Compared to people aged 20 and over, teenagers are three times more likely to be involved in fatal car crashes. The most endangered age group is from 16 to 17. 

16. In 2019, 2,375 teenagers lost their lives in motor vehicle crashes. 

(iihs.org)

Since this research investigated all motor vehicle crashes combined (not just car crashes), teenagers aged 13 to 19 were a part of the study. Still, these teen driving stats are somewhat bright if we know that the numbers have dropped by 5% compared to the year before. 

17. 13% of passenger deaths occurred while a teen was driving. 

(iihs.org)

Research showed that in 2019, 13% of passenger deaths occurred when the driver was a teenager. The same year, two out of three teens who lost their lives in crashes were male. 

18. Nighttime and weekend driving are one of the leading causes of teenage fatalities. 

(DDLawtampa)

Teen drivers’ statistics expose that more than a half (52% to be precise) of crash deaths involving teenagers happen on Friday and during the weekend. Additionally, 37% of these fatalities occur between 9 pm and 6 am. 

19. 55% of teens who lost their lives in crashes weren’t using seat belts. 

(Southern States Insurance)

More than half of teens who died due to car crashes weren’t using a seatbelt. Different studies have shown that one of the most critical factors of this issue is communication with parents.

Teenage Road Rage Statistics

Anyone who ever got a glimpse at child psychology and psychology in general, knows that teenagers express rage more often than the other age groups. Hence, the fact that road rage occurs among teens usually doesn’t come off as a surprise. 

20. Teenagers are more likely to express dangerous behaviors in traffic.

(JSF)

For instance, in 2019, almost 50% of teens in fatal crashes were unbelted in North Carolina, as statistics on teenage driving uncovered. One of the reasons behind these dangerous behaviors might be that teens don’t get good example behavior from their parents. 

21. Almost 50% of teenage drivers admit to driving under the influence of marijuana.

(iii.org)

To be precise, 48,8% percent of them admit to having used marijuana and drove after it, judging by the 2020 study. Nonetheless, this type of behavior is on the rise. For example, the number of teens driving while being high on marijuana is 17% higher than in 2014. To add to that, statistics on teenage drivers show that most of them believe that driving under the influence of marijuana is less dangerous than ingesting alcohol and driving.

22. 75% of serious teen crashes are due to critical errors. 

(Safe Ride 4 Kids)

These errors include lack of scanning to detect and react to dangerous situations, being distracted, and speeding. In fact, over a third of fatal teen crashes involve speeding. 

Teens are more likely to speed than adults, and they don’t leave a proper amount of distance between them and the vehicle in front.

23. Teens are 2.5 times more likely to show risky behavior in traffic if accompanied. 

(NHTSA, edgarsnyder.com)

Statistics on teenage drivers report that the risk of crashing gets higher if the passenger is close to their age. Namely, teens get easily distracted by their surroundings and are more likely to cause a crash. Moreover, 12% of all fatal car accidents involve a distracted teenage driver. Because of this, most US states have banned adolescent passengers in the vehicle if the driver is a teenager themself. 

24. 40% of teens say they feel anger. 

(Moto Safety)

Since it is hard for teenagers to control their feelings in general, they can just as easily get overwhelmed with emotions while driving. Besides that, ingesting alcohol can easily enlarge emotions. So, keep in mind—it is of critical importance that teens do not drink and drive. 

Positive Facts about Teenage Driving

Even though the statistics sometimes don’t seem too bright, there are some positive facts regarding teen driving. It is essential to notice that parents’ involvement and persistence in educating their teenagers on the dangers on the road is the first step towards improving adolescent driving stats. 

25. Teen drivers with involved parents tend to wear seatbelts twice as much.

(Do Something)

To add to that, statistics on teen drivers affirm that 56% of teenage drivers rely on their parents to teach them how to drive. This is an encouraging fact. Parents should educate and support their kids in becoming young drivers. 

26. 66% of teen drivers say they care about their parent’s opinion on driving and using a phone.

(Southern States Insurance)

Thus, as a parent, you should talk to your teenage drivers and educate them on the issue. Undoubtedly, provide them with a phone holder. This way, you will lower your teen’s chances of using a phone for GPS purposes while driving.

27. Drunk driving fatalities among teens have decreased by 81% since 1982.

(Responsibility)

Teen drinking and driving statistics reveal the falling number of teen drunk driving fatalities. According to the National Traffic Safety Administration or NHTSA, among people younger than 21, there were 5,215 recorded cases in 1982. That was also the first year for this organization to monitor the number of teen deaths in traffic. 

28. The number of teens who drink and drive has decreased by 54% since 1991.

(Talk it Out)

The last two teenage drunk driving facts are very optimistic. Still, teenage underage drinking and driving is an existing problem to this day. In addition, some studies show that most teens usually have a taste of alcohol at the age of only 14. 

Conclusion

Even though teen drivers are the most endangered age group on the road, it is wrong to distract them or ban them from driving. Instead, support your teenagers and educate them on the matter of safety on the road. This way, you will give your part to lower the number of teen car crashes. 

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Hunger is a global issue, and the situation in the US makes no exception. As part of a prevention strategy, the government has established the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or SNAP.

The program distributes benefits to everyone in need, known as food stamps. The process happens through a digital system — the Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT). Food stamps have become the country’s safety net against hunger and food insecurity, especially during the pandemic. 

However, not everyone has the same positive intentions when utilizing these benefits. The latest food stamp fraud statistics reveal a significant increase in malpractice when it comes to distribution. 

To find out more about this topic, here is a complete list of facts about the current predicament of food stamps abuse in the US.

Frequency of Welfare Fraud Statistics

Benefit programs such as SNAP contribute to the general welfare of the country. Unfortunately, some people unrightfully take advantage of the initiative. 

Here are some facts about the frequency of fraud cases in the US food stamp program and the costs of preventing such actions.

1. USDA spends around $5 million every year to fight food stamp scams.

(FSN)

Cases of individuals extorting food stamp benefits have become so common, the authorities have taken various steps to prevent them. 

A recent news report reveals the US Department of Agriculture invests nearly $5 million from federal taxpayers’ money every year to investigate food stamp fraud cases.

2. According to a food stamp fraud report, the cost of trafficked benefits is between $1 and $4.7 billion every year.

(FGA)

Billions of dollars are dedicated to satisfying the massive demand for food stamps annually. Unfortunately, a significant percentage does not go to the determined recipients of SNAP. 

The Food and Nutrition Service estimates that up to $4.7 billion are stolen from the program every year.

3. Food stamp abuse facts reveal that over one in ten retailers are likely committing fraud.

(FSN)

Fraud cases are not just an individual effort. Some retail stores registered in SNAP find loopholes to exploit, despite the program’s prevention protocols. Retailers might sell ineligible items and misrepresent information to gain benefits for themselves. 

4. 90% of small business stores are targets for retailer trafficking.

(FSN)

Authorities often look at the most likely targets to determine how to prevent fraud cases from increasing. Research shows that the welfare fraud percentage in small retail businesses is very high. Since small business owners have an average income of about $71,000, fraud significantly impacts them.

5. 40% of large stores are among the main retailer trafficking targets.

(FSN)

Food stamp fraud statistics reveal that primary retail stores and supermarkets are also part of the scheme. Even restaurants in some states that provide hot meals for food stamp recipients are investigated for malpractice.

6. Investigations of food stamp fraud cases have increased by over 30% in the last few years.

(Forbes)

The depth of this issue has led to a surge of inspections focused on food stamps abuse. According to most recent statistics, investigations have risen by more than a third, compared to 2012, and are likely to increase even more.

7. Over one in five US households experience food insecurity.

(Poynter)

Regardless of the food stamp abuse statistics, there is an actual need for the program. Food stamp distribution is one of the primary US solutions to national hunger.

Food Stamp Abuse Statistics by State

The cost and impact of deception in the food stamp program vary in every state. Let’s take a look into more detailed facts about the demand and irregularities in the distribution of food stamps across the US.

8. New York and California are the US states with the highest percentage of welfare fraud investigations.

(FNS)

New York and California are the two states with the highest percentage of food stamp investigations. Almost half of the country’s cases are from New York.

9. Taxpayers in Florida lost over $12 million due to food stamp abuse in 2018.

(Florida Daily)

Maintaining benefits programs like SNAP requires tax money. Around 6% of your tax goes to food stamps, energy assistance, and other income security programs.

Misusing funds can have a significantly negative effect on the whole state. An example is Florida, where taxpayers lost over $12 million in a year due to food stamp fraud.

10. Illinois has canceled benefits for over 150,000 SNAP participants due to ineligibility, according to EBT fraud statistics.

(PEW)

Not everyone can be eligible for the food stamp program, however, social workers lack the time and resources to check every application adequately. 

An example of such irregularities is Illinois. SNAP canceled food stamp benefits for over 150,000 people in a year after an additional investigation deemed them ineligible. This action saved up to $70 million. 

11. SNAP fraud statistics show that around 20% of those who were denied benefits in Illinois re-applied.

(PEW)

Because of multiple changes in the system, SNAP applicants had a short period to provide the necessary information for their eligibility checks. That led to a failure in response and consequential benefit cancellations. Fortunately, 20% of them were able to re-apply for the benefits program.

12. SNAP has investigated only five out of nearly 51,000 reported cases in Missouri.

(AP News)

Due to underdeveloped investigation processes, only five of 51,000 reported cases were opened for further action. The reason is the lack of enough information to continue the research on the alerts.

SNAP Fraud Rate and Expenses

SNAP aims to help people in need, however, the success of its mission and the social perception of its work might be two very different things. The following stats will show you some interesting information on the fraud rates and the initiative’s costs.

13. Less than half of the US adults consider SNAP as a trustworthy benefit program.

(YouGov)

The SNAP fraud stats have become a public concern. With millions of people depending on this nationwide project, only 47% of them actually believe in the way SNAP operates. 

For comparison, 57% consider Medicare trustworthy. To put things in perspective – 18.1% of people in the US have Medicare.

14. SNAP’s expenses have increased by $2 billion per month to cover the effect of the pandemic.

(FSN)

The pandemic caused the hunger and food insecurity rates to go higher than ever. In response, SNAP has increased its expenses by $2 billion monthly to ensure fair distribution and decrease the food stamp fraud rate.

15. Congress should increase SNAP benefits by 15% in response to the general rate of food insecurity and food stamp fraud.

(Poynter)

Despite the additional effort, authorities have concluded that it might not be enough. As more households become financially unstable due to the pandemic, putting food on the table is becoming an even more significant issue. 

According to a statistical study, the US Congress should increase the nationwide food stamp benefits by at least 15% to cover every family’s needs.

16. 14 out of 10,000 households involved in SNAP are guilty of food stamp abuse.

(YouGov)

These numbers show that intentional fraud regarding the food stamp benefit is rarely happening. The detailed application process is ensuring fair distribution based on elaborate background checks.

17. Welfare fraud statistics show that 59% of US adults believe that misrepresenting information in SNAP applications is a common occurrence.

(YouGov)

As a consequence of the growing rate of welfare fraudulent cases, the general public’s opinion of the benefit programs is unfavorable — over half of the US adults think that fraud is common in SNAP applications. 

18. The food stamp error rate for SNAP is estimated to be 3.7%.

(PEW)

The high demand for the benefit means various administrative processes are delayed, and errors are becoming more prevalent. Food stamp fraud stats estimate the error rate in SNAP to be nearly 4%.

19. EBT fraud statistics reveal that over 320,000 retailers participate in SNAP and are often a subject of inspection.

(FSN, USDA)

Aside from households, retailers often make up a significant part of the SNAP participants’ list. All of these participants are analyzed routinely by FNS to detect and penalize fraudulent retailers.

20. The highest ever payment accuracy rate of SNAP was 96.58% in 2012.

(USDA)

Due to the risk of abuse of food stamps, the authorities have cooperated to improve the level of integrity of SNAP’s processes. One of those collaborative efforts is known as the SNAP Stewardship Solutions Project. 

The ongoing strategy aims to ensure the correct administration of food stamp benefits. Fortunately, SNAP’s payment accuracy rate peaked at over 96% since the project began, marking it as the highest ever achieved.

Conclusion

The issue of hunger and food insecurity has become non-dismissible in the US, leading to the SNAP establishment. A significant number of households and retailers, however, take unrightful advantage of the program. They either sell ineligible items, misrepresent data, or lie in the application process.

Current food stamp fraud statistics have revealed that not only abuse cases are on the rise, but the percentage of families reliant on the program. SNAP supports approximately 38 million residents in the US, and the number is expected to increase as an aftermath of the pandemic. 

In response to this nationwide demand, authorities have delivered multiple plans to ensure quality and fair service for every household in need. Examples are the increasing funds for fraud investigations, mobile food access, and further checks on SNAP applicants.

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