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Study: Millennials Spend More Than 3 Hours a Day on Mobile Phones

The average U.S. millennial (aged 16-30) with Internet access spends 3.1 hours a day on a mobile phone — totaling 21.7 hours a week or 1,128 hours (47 days) a year, according to a new study from global research consultancy TNS. The annual Connected Life study surveys more than 60,000 Internet users across 50 countries on their digital attitudes and behaviors.

The study also looked at U.S. millennials' consumption of various media and technologies, finding that 76 percent watch online video on a daily basis; 71 percent use social media; and 55 percent use instant messaging. They spend nearly 3 hours a day watching on-demand video and TV shows on the Internet. And while they continue to use traditional media such as television, radio and newspapers, millennials on average spend only 2.9 hours each day consuming content on those platforms.

In contrast, individuals aged 46-65 spend 4.3 hours each day watching TV, reading newspapers and listening to the radio, and just 1.2 hours a day on mobile phones.

For more information on the Connected Life study, visit the TNS site.

About the Author

Rhea Kelly is editor in chief for Campus Technology, THE Journal, and Spaces4Learning. She can be reached at [email protected].

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