Millennials Want To Reduce Their Smartphone Use

Millennials Frequently Feel They Need A Break From Their Phone

Nearly half of respondents 42% are so overwhelmed by their smartphone use they feel they need a break from their smartphone one or more times a day.

How often do you feel like you need a break from your smartphone?

Throughout the day Several times a day Once a day Several times a week Once a week Once a month Less than once a month Never

4.6% 5.3%

10.4%

15.4%

13.4% 22.2%

11.7%

16.9%

There are a variety of reasons respondents cite for wanting a break from their smartphones, including the following:

Approximately 20% of respondents expressed feeling "overwhelmed" by their smartphone usage. They mentioned feeling overwhelmed, for example, by sensational news, toxic social media comments, and bombardment by family and friends.

Approximately 22% of respondents were strictly annoyed by their family or friends bothering them at an inappropriate time or by spammers. In a sense, their feelings were less those of being overwhelmed and were the result of frustration due to a lack of peace and quiet.

Finally, approximately 15% of respondents keenly understood feeling overwhelmed was directly related to using their devices. The activities that the respondents most frequently wanted to break away from were games, social media, general smartphone overuse. They also showed a great desire to be more "present.”

I stopped using social media because I would get on my phone for a legitimate reason, notice that I had a social media notification, start browsing social media, and end up not even doing the original thing I got on my phone for. After I stopped using social media I haven't been on my phone nearly as much.*

Millennials Want To Limit Their Smartphone Use

Millennials are so troubled by their smartphone overuse that they believe they should take action to address it. A majority of respondents--67.5%--said they agree it’s important for them to set boundaries on how often they use their smartphone.

It's important for me to set boundaries on how often I use my smartphone

3.9% 6.5%

22.0% 25.5%

42.0%

Strongly Agree Agree Neutral Disagree Strongly Disagree

I had lots of text messages that would have piled up if I didn't answer them. I was investing all my time into my phone and text messages and not with the people around me. I needed a break because looking through those text messages were not enjoyable and I was missing time with my friends.*

Almost every day I feel like I need a break from my phone. It's overwhelming to be so connected to so many different people all at once. You feel a sense of responsibility if someone messages or calls you and you don't want to respond immediately, you feel like a bad friend or family member.*

We are so consumed today with what's on a screen. I used to be an active person. I loved going outside, playing with my son. Now, I pick up my phone and look for something to read or laugh at. I realized it was detrimental to life.*

8Millennials Are Repeatedly Trying To Reduce Their Smartphone Use

Millennials clearly are concerned about the time they are spending using their smartphones and have the desire to reduce their smartphone use. But have they acted upon this desire? Have they taken action to try to reduce their smartphone use? And, if they have, how are they doing this? Millennials Have Attempted To Reduce Their smartphone use

Respondents indicate that they indeed are acting upon their desire to reduce their smartphone use. A strong majority of respondents--72.2%--said they had tried in the past tried to reduce their smartphone use. Almost half--46.8%--say they currently are trying to reduce their smartphone use.

72.2% tried in the past to reduce smartphone use