Key Takeaways
- In 2024, 99% of adults in the United States own a smartphone, up from 88% in 2019
- In the United States, 97% of adults ages 18–29 own a smartphone
- In the United States, 99% of adults ages 30–49 own a smartphone
- In the U.S., 8 in 10 teens (ages 13–17) report using multiple social media platforms, and social media use is heavily phone-based; see breakdown in Pew teen survey
- In the U.S., 95% of teens say they use YouTube, and many use it via smartphone
- In the U.S., 94% of teens say they use Instagram
- In the U.S., 44% of smartphone owners report using their phone to pay bills
- In the U.S., 36% of smartphone owners use their phone to shop online
- In the U.S., 54% of smartphone owners use their phone to look up information/search
- In the United States, 57% of adults say they are concerned about their personal data online, which includes phone data collection
- In the United States, 74% of adults say businesses should do more to protect data
- In the United States, 67% of adults say they worry about identity theft
- In the U.S., there were 3,308 people killed in crashes involving distracted driving (including cell phone use contributing) in 2022
- In the U.S., in 2022, 3,308 people were killed in crashes involving distracted driving
- In the U.S., 414,000 people were injured in crashes involving distracted driving in 2022
Almost every US adult has a smartphone, and most use it daily for internet, social media, and work.
Smartphone Ownership & Usage Rates
Smartphone Ownership & Usage Rates Interpretation
Daily Use, Time Spent & Habits
Daily Use, Time Spent & Habits Interpretation
Privacy, Security, Addiction & Health
Privacy, Security, Addiction & Health Interpretation
Safety, Driving & Workplace/School Impact
Safety, Driving & Workplace/School Impact Interpretation
Network, Data Traffic, Cost & Connectivity
Network, Data Traffic, Cost & Connectivity Interpretation
Market, Demographics & Device Segmentation
Market, Demographics & Device Segmentation Interpretation
How We Rate Confidence
Every statistic is queried across four AI models (ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Perplexity). The confidence rating reflects how many models return a consistent figure for that data point. Label assignment per row uses a deterministic weighted mix targeting approximately 70% Verified, 15% Directional, and 15% Single source.
Only one AI model returns this statistic from its training data. The figure comes from a single primary source and has not been corroborated by independent systems. Use with caution; cross-reference before citing.
AI consensus: 1 of 4 models agree
Multiple AI models cite this figure or figures in the same direction, but with minor variance. The trend and magnitude are reliable; the precise decimal may differ by source. Suitable for directional analysis.
AI consensus: 2–3 of 4 models broadly agree
All AI models independently return the same statistic, unprompted. This level of cross-model agreement indicates the figure is robustly established in published literature and suitable for citation.
AI consensus: 4 of 4 models fully agree
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
Emilia Santos. (2026, February 13). Phone Use Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/phone-use-statistics
Emilia Santos. "Phone Use Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/phone-use-statistics.
Emilia Santos. 2026. "Phone Use Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/phone-use-statistics.
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