Axios: Smartphone revolt

Smartphone revolt
 
Illustration of a manicured hand holding a phone with a spinning black and white vortex on the screen
Illustration: Natalie Peeples/Axios
 
Roughly half of American adults say they spend too much time on their phones — and more than half of younger adults are trying to kick the habit, according to Pew Research Center data out this week.

Why it matters: Over the past two decades, smartphones have come to dominate daily life. Now Americans — especially younger adults — are pushing back against how much of their time and attention they command.

🧠 The big picture: Excessive smartphone use among kids and adults has come under growing scrutiny, with studies linking it to problems ranging from “text neck” to reduced cognitive performance to relationship trouble.

For kids, the concerns have led schools to ban phones and governments to restrict social media.

For adults, there’s a growing market of products, apps and physical spaces designed to keep us off our devices.

By the numbers: 53% of U.S. adults say they’re on their phones too much. That share jumps to 70% when looking just at 18- to 29-year-olds.

45% of all adults say they’ve tried to cut back on phone time in the last year. When considering just those under 50, the share is 58%.

📰 The other side: People want time back from their phones, but they do acknowledge some perks of the devices, Pew found.73% say smartphones help keep them informed, and 51% say they help them stay connected to others.Go deeper: Our tips for digital detox.
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About michelleclarke2015

Life event that changes all: Horse riding accident in Zimbabwe in 1993, a fractured skull et al including bipolar anxiety, chronic fatigue …. co-morbidities (Nietzche 'He who has the reason why can deal with any how' details my health history from 1993 to date). 17th 2017 August operation for breast cancer (no indications just an appointment came from BreastCheck through the Post). Trinity College Dublin Business Economics and Social Studies (but no degree) 1997-2003; UCD 1997/1998 night classes) essays, projects, writings. Trinity Horizon Programme 1997/98 (Centre for Women Studies Trinity College Dublin/St. Patrick's Foundation (Professor McKeon) EU Horizon funded: research study of 15 women (I was one of this group and it became the cornerstone of my journey to now 2017) over 9 mth period diagnosed with depression and their reintegration into society, with special emphasis on work, arts, further education; Notes from time at Trinity Horizon Project 1997/98; Articles written for Irishhealth.com 2003/2004; St Patricks Foundation monthly lecture notes for a specific period in time; Selection of Poetry including poems written by people I know; Quotations 1998-2017; other writings mainly with theme of social justice under the heading Citizen Journalism Ireland. Letters written to friends about life in Zimbabwe; Family history including Michael Comyn KC, my grandfather, my grandmother's family, the O'Donnellan ffrench Blake-Forsters; Moral wrong: An acrimonious divorce but the real injustice was the Catholic Church granting an annulment – you can read it and make your own judgment, I have mine. Topics I have written about include annual Brain Awareness week, Mashonaland Irish Associataion in Zimbabwe, Suicide (a life sentence to those left behind); Nostalgia: Tara Hill, Co. Meath.
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