The majority of Americans check their phones at least a few times an hour, a new survey has found.
The Gallup survey showed 11% of Americans with smartphones look at their phones every few minutes and 41% check them several times an hour. Twenty percent of people said they look at their devices about once an hour and the remaining 28% check them just a few times a day or less.
Not surprisingly, young people are more tied to their phones than older people. More than seven in 10 younger smartphone users check their phones at least a few times an hour, with 22% admitting to taking a look every few minutes.
By comparison, only 21% of seniors check their phones at least a few times an hour, with just 3 percent checking it every few minutes.
Differences vary less among educational levels, with college graduates more likely to check their phones frequently than those with a high school education or less.
Men and iPhone owners are slightly more likely to check their phone frequently than women and Android owners.
The constant phone monitoring means people have devices close at hand. The survey found 81% of smartphone owners have their phones close by “almost all the time during waking hours’’ and 63% said they have their phones within reach at night while sleeping.
While people might not be expecting a call or text in the middle of the night, it means they may be checking their phone right before sleeping and as soon as they wake up. Many also might use the phone’s alarm clock as their wakeup call.
While Americans are glued to their phones, they don’t necessarily think they are, possibly because they think constantly checking their phone is rude.
Among survey respondents, 61 percent said they check their phones less often than people they know, with 30% who feel they check it a lot less often. Only 11% admitting to using their phone more often than people they know.
The findings were based on a special Gallup Panel survey conducted among 15,747 adults who have a smartphone. It was conducted April 17-May 18 online and also included a mail survey.
The implications of people staying in constant contact with the world through their phones are not known at this point but are becoming a focus of study.
