Although you are reading this on a screen, we recommend you to take a break after reading the article to avoid staring at pixels for years of your life. That’s not an exaggeration. According to a new report, internet users around the world spend an average of 400 minutes a day online, which means they spend nearly 7 hours online.
Digital reference library DataReportal released its annual Global Overview Report in January, revealing that internet users ages 16 to 64 spend an average of 6 hours and 40 minutes every day surfing the web on any device. That’s about 47 hours a week, or 101 days a year. According to this estimate, a person who lives from the age of 18 to the age of 80 will spend more than 17 years of his adult life using the Internet.
In the United States, it’s even worse, with Americans spending an average of 7 hours and 3 minutes a day online, more than 18 years of their adult lives. People in Japan spend the least amount of time online each day at 3 hours and 56 minutes, while people in South Africa spend the most time online at 9 hours and 24 minutes. Between the ages of 18 and her 80, they will have spent 10 and 24 years online respectively.
The idea that people around the world spend the equivalent of their entire childhoods connected to the Internet may be unsettling. But according to Alex Turvey, MD, a researcher in Tulane University’s Cities + Culture + Communities Program who studies social media and internet culture, an important step in coming to terms with this alarming statistic is that it’s inevitable. It is said that it is about accepting.
“The reality is that a lot of screen time these days is unavoidable,” says Turvey. luck. “A non-negotiable part of our work and social lives inevitably happens on or through screens. And we want to save some of our relaxing time on screens in a guilt-free way. There’s a real reason.
“However, setting unrealistic goals is not helpful. It is better to start by truly recognizing what you need from your professional and social life in 2024.”
Do I really spend 7 hours a day online?
If you associate the phrase “screen time” with Instagram doomscrolling or TikToks updates, you’re not alone. Although it is well established that social media addiction is a behavioral disorder, it is only one form of digital addiction. Approximately 25% of the general population worldwide may be suffering from at least one type of digital addiction, such as internet or gaming addiction, according to a 2022 study published in the same journal. Clinical Psychology Review. Still, you don’t have to be as digitally addicted to use the Internet as DataReportal suggests.
Think about how many times you look at a screen on a typical weekday and how long you are glued to it. If you have a desk job, chances are you’ll be in front of a computer screen for at least eight hours a day, even from home. Not to mention constantly checking your phone or smartwatch. In the evening, you might be training on an app on your smart TV, streaming a show on your tablet, playing on a game console, video chatting with your loved one, or reading a new book on your e-reader. Probably.It may be easier to add up working hours it’s not connected to the internet.
To cut down on screen time, Turvey recommends an “integration rather than separation” approach, such as combining digital and physical activity and listening to podcasts or audiobooks while you go for a walk.
“Recognize that the dichotomy between screen time and off-screen time is becoming increasingly blurred,” Turvey says. “Incorporating meaningful screen-free activities into daily life rather than strictly separating them may be helpful.”
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How you are exposed to screens matters
Dr. Matthew LaPierre, associate professor in the Department of Communication in the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences at the University of Arizona, wasn’t surprised by DataReportal’s estimates of how much time people spend online. But he says these numbers should be taken with a grain of salt because of the complexity of collecting such data on a global scale.
When considering your total daily screen time, LaPierre recommends assessing your engagement level. For example, streaming TV for hours in the background while doing housework may not be as harmful as sitting in front of a computer for 40 hours a week. He emphasizes that it’s less about how much screen time you’re exposed to and more about how you utilize it.
“My own research on smartphones shows that we do better as people when we use our smartphones to build interpersonal relationships,” says LaPierre, who studies media and health. luck. “I feel more connected and a greater sense of belonging.”
Turvey also emphasizes quality over quantity of screen time, saying, “Fostering engagement with rich and purposeful digital content can lead to more fulfilling and lean screen time usage.” ”.
There’s good reason to be careful about your technology habits, but there’s no need to panic about how long they’ve accumulated unless they start negatively impacting your life, LaPierre says. In addition to digital addiction, excessive screen time can cause other health problems, ranging from digital eye strain, depression, and sleep disorders.
“Aside from that, I think the idea that we’re spending more time on screens is just moving toward reality,” LaPierre said.
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Consider “notice leave”
Global internet usage is unlikely to decline anytime soon. According to the Pew Research Center, in 2000 about 52% of American adults used the internet, by 2023 he will be 95%. According to DataReportal, in 2000 there were 396 million people using the Internet worldwide, but that number jumped to nearly 5.3 billion last year.
“The bottom line is we are adapting to a new way of life,” LaPierre says. “My hope is that we reach equilibrium.”
Avoiding screens completely, even for one day, is not only impractical, Turvey says, but also a privilege tied to professional and/or economic status.
“For most people, they need to be close to their devices to stay in touch with their boss, co-workers, and manage their family’s lives,” says Turvey. “It usually requires professional status and resources to completely walk away from these things, so it’s not a reasonable expectation for most people.”
Instead, consider a “notification holiday” that mutes unnecessary notifications, Turvey says. That way you can stay connected without your device hogging too much of your time. We also recommend taking a break from screens for a few hours on weekends and weekdays if possible, and we appreciate how screen time can improve your quality of life.
“Focus on using technology to support your values, not to undermine them,” Turvey says. “This approach encourages intentional use of screens and ensures that digital engagement enhances, rather than detracts from, the real-life experience.”
Learn more about screen time and health below.
