MAJORITY OF US ADULTS SAY THEY USE PHONES TOO MUCH

INDUSTRY DESK■ 1 MIN READ

THU, SEP 3, 2026

■ AI-SUMMARIZED FROM 1 SOURCE ▸ TIMELINE

A Pew Research Center survey found that 53% of US adults believe they spend excessive time on smartphones, while 36% say their usage is about right. Young adults aged 18-29 show the highest concern, with 70% reporting excessive smartphone use.

The survey reveals a significant generational divide in smartphone usage perception. While just over half of all American adults express concern about their screen time, the figure jumps substantially among younger demographics. Those aged 18-29 are nearly 20 percentage points more likely than the general population to feel they're spending too much time on their devices. This suggests younger users are acutely aware of their smartphone dependency despite being digital natives. The remaining 11% of respondents did not express an opinion on their usage levels. The findings underscore growing public consciousness around smartphone habits, driven by constant notifications, messaging apps, and scrolling patterns that make devices difficult to set aside. Pew's data indicates that smartphone overuse concerns span across the adult population, though awareness appears sharpest among the youngest users surveyed.

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► Techmeme

■ SUMMARY WRITTEN BY AI FROM THE LINKS ABOVE

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MAJORITY OF US ADULTS SAY THEY USE PHONES TOO MUCH

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