New Delhi: Between scrolling, notifications, and messages, smartphones are becoming increasingly ingrained in the daily routine. A new survey by the Pew Research Center found that over half of the adults in the United States believe they spend “too much” time on their phones.
The survey conducted between May and June 2026 found that 53% of adults find their phone screen time excessive, about a third find it adequate, and only 3% say that they spend too little time on the device. These findings are based on a survey of 9,750 U.S. adults.
“Younger adults stand out for describing their smartphone use as excessive,” the survey noted.
Younger adults struggle most to cut back
Seven in ten adults under the age of 30 noted that they spend too much time on their phones, and nearly as many in their 30s and 40s felt the same way. The perception of phone overuse declines with age, with about half of those in their 50s and early 60s saying they use their phones too much, compared with just a quarter of adults aged 65 and above.
Many people are trying to push back. Nearly half (45%) of the adults surveyed say they have attempted to cut back on their phone time in the past year. Of those who tried, just one in four said they were extremely successful, while 52% considered themselves somewhat successful and 23% said they were not too or not at all successful. Younger adults were far more likely than older ones to have made the attempt.
Even so, phones remain a constant presence. About a quarter of adults say they use their smartphone almost constantly, and most of the rest check it several times a day.
The pattern is most prevalent among the younger age groups, with more than four in ten adults under 30 report almost constant use, and another 60% say they use them several times a day. Adults under 30 are the most likely to report almost constant use (42%), compared with 9% of those aged 65 and older.
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Smartphones help people stay connected, but they may hurt sleep
“Americans see both benefits and downsides when asked about the impact that smartphones have on people’s lives,” the survey noted.
The personal reflection on the impact of phone use is varied. Most say smartphones help them stay informed and stay connected with others. Views on productivity and mood are more divided, with many people saying phones neither help nor hurt much.
Adults under 30 are the most likely to say their smartphone hurts their productivity levels.
Sleep is the clearest downside.
“Much larger shares say their smartphones hurt than help the amount of sleep they get (41% vs. 5%), the survey concluded. “Still, nearly half say their phone has no impact on their sleep.”
Edited by Maryam Hassan