30 Eye-Opening Tech Addiction Statistics & Facts

Technology is omnipresent in our daily lives and has a great impact on them. But, unfortunately, according to tech addiction statistics, more than 210 million people demonstrate some kind of addictive behavior when it comes to internet use. 

Social media and various apps help us organize our schedules, remember important events, stay informed on topics that interest us, and connect with our friends and family. But where is the fine line between the normal use of technology and the point when it becomes a problem or even an addiction? Most often, that line is not visible to the addicted person, at least not at the beginning.

Technology addiction definition explains this phenomenon as a technology-related behavior that is frequent, obsessive, and increasing despite the negative consequences upon the user.

Like other forms of addiction, it seems that this one also has a powerful impact on the lifestyle of a person, making them less functional and present in their everyday life. Statistics also talk about many psychological and social changes in the addicted person’s behavior.

If you’re on the lookout for interesting facts and statistics regarding this particular type of addiction, keep reading and find out some compelling data.

Technology Addiction Statistics 2019

Technology has been around for quite a while now, but it’s usage has increased rapidly over the last few years. And the trend seems to carry on.

1. The total number of internet users worldwide in 2019 was 4.39 billion.

(Digital in the round, DatarePortal)

Two years later, in 2021, that number grew to 4.88 billion users. All in all, the number of Internet users increases by over 600,000 every day, and at an annual rate of nearly 5%. 

Moreover, statistics on technology use point out that the average Internet user globally now spends nearly seven hours online per day, but were things any different in 2019? Read the following statistic and find out. 

2. The average user spent approximately 6 hours and 42 minutes online every day in 2019.

(Compare camp)

Social media are the platforms users spend the most time on, with an average of approximately 3 hours. In addition, 12.4% of internet users stated that they often spend much more time online than they initially planned, according to dependence on technology statistics.

And this is the average time spent online, meaning that users exceed the average time and spend the majority of their day interacting via apps and platforms.

3.In the US, 81% of people claim to go online every day.

(Pew Research)

According to a Pew Research Center’s survey conducted in early 2019, 28% go online almost constantly, and 45% are online several times a day. On the other hand, 9% of surveyed people go online just once a day, and 8% are online several times a week or less; also, 9% of people claimed they don’t use the internet.

4. Tech addiction statistics show that 48% of younger adults aged 18–19 go online almost constantly.

46% in this age group claim to go online several times a day.

The lowest percent (only 7%) of users who claim to go online almost constantly are among the population over 65, of which 35% go online several times a day.

The highest percent (34%) of constantly online users have a household income of $75K or more a year.

As per statistic on technology use, people who live in urban and suburban areas stated they are online almost constantly, more often compared to those living in rural areas,

5. According to 2019 data, 3.4% of high school students had a severe form of internet addiction.

(Compare camp)

A lower level of internet addiction was present in 39% of high school students, while 32% had moderate-level addiction. This suggests that the performance and focus on education decrease due to tech usage in more than 70% of people at a very young age.

A different study found that 65.5% of the slightly younger junior high school students are in the internet addiction-risk group, while 6.5% are in a severe internet addiction group.

Technology Addiction Statistics 2020

We think that we could all agree that 2020 was a particular year, to say the least. The global pandemic and social distancing measures conditioned an increase in the use of technology among all generations. 

Partially for fun and partially out of necessity, online options were sometimes the only way to get things done, to work, or continue education when schools were closed.

No doubt that the pandemic changed our habits and the way we perceive things. Nevertheless, the following statistic on technology use is worrying, especially concerning children.

6. The number of internet users worldwide in 2020 was 4.66 billion.

(Statista)

This makes approximately 59% of the world’s population and an increase of around 28 million people compared to the data from 2019. In addition, 92.6% of all internet users use smartphones to access the global network.

Countries with the biggest number of internet users are China, India, and the US. Although, India with approximately 560 million and China with over 854 million internet users still have large parts of their population that are offline.

7. As can be seen from statistics about technology use, 92.6% of people using the global network are mobile internet users.

(Statista)

More than 4.32 people use their smartphones to access the global network. Out of 4.14 billion people who are active social media users, 4.09 billion use mobile social media.

Considering the availability of different content and the convenience of smartphone use, this comes as no surprise.

In 2020, the Google Play store had an astonishing number of 3.14 million available apps for Android users, followed by the Apple App store with 2.09 million apps for IOS users. 

8. In 2020, 48% of children and teens spent over six hours online every day.

(Parents Together)

Compared to 2019, statistics on technology usage show that this is an astonishing increase of 500%. On top of that, 26% of children were spending more than eight hours online daily.

78.21% of children mostly used Youtube. Besides Youtube, the platforms that kids used the most in 2020 were Netflix (49.64%) and TikTok (33.41%).

9. 85% of parents expressed their concerns about the excessive amount of time their children were spending online.

(Parents Together)

This data shows that most parents are aware of the negative consequences too much screen time can cause, especially at a young age.

And screen time is not the only concern here.

Children’s online safety is also a significant issue that we must consider and address appropriately. Keeping in mind that, according to statistics on technology use, 30% of children are spending over four hours online unsupervised increases the risk of falling victim to online predators or being exposed to cyberbullying.

10. 93% of parents agreed on the need to expand the protection of the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act and include children aged 13–17. 

(Parents Together)

With children spending excessive time on screens, statistics revealed that parents were more aware of the negative sides of the internet. Most concerns were about cyberbullying, sexual predators, etc.

Only 14% of surveyed parents consider that Big Tech companies are doing enough to protect children online. Yet, 85% think that the US Congress should include legislation that would protect kids from sexual predators, deceptive advertising, and other forms of danger in the virtual world.

Social Media Addiction Statistics

Social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Youtube, and others are highly addictive and often create a virtual space that users choose over the real world.

And some users find themselves unable to stop scrolling.

11. 37% of 18–24-year-old users find being unable to check social media unpleasant.

(Compare camp)

In the same age group, 21% feel restless when they cannot check social media for messages.

According to overuse of technology statistics, being consistently present and up to date on social media can potentially lead to narcissism or lower self-esteem, especially with the younger population. Besides, when exposed to content that others can easily manipulate or hide behind a fake identity, the vulnerability of users is increased.

12. 41% of teenagers are aware and admit to spending too much time on social media.

(Compare camp)

Tech addiction facts show that time spent on social media and other online activities prevails. Young people spend less and less time socializing in person with their friends and family.

And not just the young. This applies to internet users of all ages.

Time spent on social media surpasses the time spent on sleeping, shopping, house chores, eating, and drinking.

13. The whooping 52% of US residents between 23 and 38 years old admit to being addicted to social media.

(Compare camp)

45% of users aged 18–22 and 35% in the age group 39–54 also claim that they are addicted.

According to overuse of technology statistics, the lowest percentage (22%) admitting their addiction is the population aged between 55 and 64.

Very often, people are not aware of the problem of addictive behavior. Therefore, we may conclude that people are facing this problem without realizing it.

14. With 2.74 billion users, Facebook is one of the most popular social media platforms.

(Statista)

Facebook is the first social network with more than one billion registered accounts. Currently, according to social media addiction statistics, it has over 2.74 monthly active users.

Also, Facebook owns four of the biggest social media platforms, each of them with over a billion monthly active users.

Besides Facebook as a core platform, the company also owns WhatsUp, Facebook Messenger, and Instagram.

15. A region with the biggest number of Facebook users in the world is Asia.

(Statista)

The number of users across this region in 2020 was 1.03 billion, and it’s estimated that by 2025 it will reach 1.35 billion.

On the other hand, Instagram has the biggest number of followers in the US, India, and Brazil. The US and India both have around 140 million people using Instagram, while Brasil counts for 99 million.

Smartphone Addiction Statistics 2020

The convenience of always having access to your favorite app, game, or social network makes smartphones one of the most practical devices we can use to go online.

However, convenience comes with a price.

Statistics on cybercrime show that most attacks go through smartphones. So it’s crucial to be well informed and cautious while using our phones. Not only because of the risk of addiction but also regarding privacy protection.

16. Predictions say that by 2023, there will be 7.33 billion people with mobile phones.

(Digital in the round)

The current number of smartphone users surpasses three billion. AC US, China, and India are leading countries in the number of people using smartphones, with over 100 million users each, according to statistics of technology use. 

Some earlier statistics show that more people in the world own smartphones than basic sanitary necessities, such as toilets.

17. Between 10% to 30% of children use a smartphone or other device in such a manner that not having the device around causes them significant discomfort.

(Bagby)

Children get easily stimulated with overwhelming and colorful content displayed on the screen. But, like Bill Gates and Steve Jobs, some of the top tech leaders admitted to limiting their children’s screen time.

The age that children get introduced to technology gets lower by the year. Statistics about technology use show that 22% of children get a service plan at the age of ten.

18. In 2020, the number of hours spent on smartphones daily increased by 39%.

(Twigby)

Due to social distancing measures in 2020, habits changed when it came to smartphone usage. People were relying more on online resources for shopping and staying in touch with friends and family.

Most of the surveyed people (37%) were texting more. Stats on technology addiction show a 36% increase in social media usage, a 32% increase in video calls usage, and 23% of people used shopping apps more.

19. In the US, the average time spent using smartphones in 2020 is 3.82 h per day.

(Compare camp)

Time spent on smartphones was over three hours in previous years and slightly increasing every year. But, it’s just a little over the time that an average person in the US spends in front of the TV at the current rate.

Most surveyed people used their smartphones mostly for communication, reading the news, and shopping.

Teenage Cell Phone Addiction Statistics 

20. 95% of teenagers in the US have access to smartphones, and 50% are online almost constantly.

(Digital in the round)

Social media is one of the dominant activities of smartphone use when it comes to teenagers. Facebook was the most dominant platform to use, but recent statistics show that its use dropped to 51%.

With the increase in social networks, the young now focus more on other options such as Instagram, TikTok, and similar.

Worrying statistics showed how important smartphones are to teenagers, with more than half (56%) of them reporting feeling anxious, lonely, or upset without their phones.

21. When with friends, 52% of teenagers still spend a long time on their phones.

(Compare camp)

As can be seen from this and similar facts about technology addiction, the device designed for communication keeps us apart at times, even when we’re close to each other.

The use of smartphones has been infiltrated in normal activities to the point that many teenagers use them regularly during classes without considering it rude. Smartphone usage doesn’t stop while they’re doing their homework, either.

22. The average time spent using technology among teens is 7.5 hours a day, not including schoolwork.

(Marketwatch)

This shows that they spend the majority of their waking hours in front of the screen. Also, technology addiction facts state that most teens are driven by the Fear of Missing Out (FoMO) and frequently check their phones to stay updated.

A different statistic has shown that most teenagers (22%) spend 30–60 minutes on their phones before sleeping, while 11% spend more than three hours. 

23. 71% of teenagers who spend five or more hours a day using their phones are more likely to develop some of the suicide risk factors when compared with other teenage users who spend an hour daily on this device.

(Compare camp)

Comparing the same two groups also shows that 51% of teens who spend over five hours a day using smartphones are less likely to get enough sleep.

Addiction to technology facts show that the amount of time spent using electronic devices also makes a big difference in their effects on the individual.

The statistics above give us a glance at how different habits in technology use may have a different influence on their users.

24. 77% of teenagers have fought with their parents over the use of smartphones.

(Bagby)

The disagreement between parents and teenagers is a pretty common thing. However, parents trying to change their children’s behavior regarding technology use may face even a more significant challenge, considering they overuse technology too.

Statistics of technology usage point out that most parents face the same problem concerning tech addiction. And their children are aware of it. 

25. 39% of teens reported that they are feeling “addicted” to their smartphones.

(The Washington Post)

This is an improvement compared to a similar study conducted in 2016 when 50% felt addicted.

Like the 2016 study, most parents (68%) feel their children spend too much time using smartphones, and 61% consider their children addicted. 

When it comes to parents, more than 50% are experiencing addiction to mobile devices. According to the same statistics about technology addiction, 38% of teens stated that their parents were addicted to smartphones.

Video Games Addiction Statistics

26. It’s estimated that more than 2.5 billion people worldwide are users of the gaming industry.

(Newport academy)

In the US, spending on video games reached a record of $11.6 billion in 2020, and in 2021, the global gaming industry revenue reached $180 billion. 

The most popular games with teenagers are Fortnight, Minecraft, Animal Crossing, and Fall Guys.

27. Addiction to technology statistics reveal that 10% of young gamers display pathological behavior that worsens over the years.

(Pubmed)

As they grow older and become young adults, they express higher anxiety, depression, aggression, and problematic cell phone use. 

In 18% of adolescents, there were moderate symptoms, and they stayed the same over time. Also, 72% of adolescents experienced relatively low symptoms that didn’t deteriorate over time.

These results came from the most extensive technology addiction study involving video games that included 386 adolescents who were followed and observed over six years.

28. In 2019, the WHO listed a “gaming disorder” as a behavioral addiction in the international classification of diseases.

(NPR)

Many people spend a lot of time playing games, but for someone to be considered addicted, the number of hours spent playing games isn’t the criterion taken into consideration. Instead, if gaming interferes with areas of an individual’s life, and he still isn’t able to stop playing, he is considered addicted.

Typically, this situation would continue for at least a year, according to tech addiction facts.

29. 7.8% of the US population spends more than 20 hours a week playing games.

(Statista)

The biggest share of respondents, 18.2%, reported playing games between four to seven hours a week.

13.6% of the respondents claim they play less than one hour a week, while 7.8% of them play over 20 hours a week. , 

We already mentioned that the number of playing hours isn’t one of the official criteria used to determine whether someone is addicted. However, the more hours spent playing video games, the greater the effects on gamers’ lives.

30. As per technology dependence statistics,38% of gamers in the US are between 18 and 34 years old.

(Statista) 

Gaming is a more popular hobby with the younger population.

21% of gamers under 18, and 26% fall in the group of 34–54 years old. Also, 6% of players are older than 65, according to the above statistics.

When it comes to gender distribution, in 2020, 41% of total US gamers were women, which indicates a slight increase of women gamers over the past few years.

Technology Addiction Is Altering Our Daily Habits

Overconsumption of technology and the broad range of activities that people enjoy online bring new challenges.

According to tech addiction statistics, the time spent online is increasing, especially with children, teenagers, and young adults who seem to be most prone to technology use.

Hopefully, the statistics listed above helped you expand your knowledge and understand the potential threats that came with the increase of online activities.

Considering the effects that addictive behavior of any kind, including technology, has on people’s lives, their ability to perform everyday activities, and general health, we must address this condition with the attention it deserves.

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