“ In 2022 , daily trends showed that the average Aussie was on track to spend nearly 17.25 years on their phone , across their lifetime .”
PHONE ADDICTION
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Facebook , Emails , Instagram and Netflix are all intertwined in the little miracle we carry around . With . Us . Everywhere .
In 2022 , daily usage trends showed that the average Aussie was on track to spend nearly 17.25 years on their phone , across their lifetime .
A study conducted by Nutrisystem on 200 respondents reports that one in three can ’ t eat a meal without being on their phone , and a further 35 % between the ages of 18 and 25 need to have their phone for every meal . It is also no surprise that GenZ , aka the TikTok generation , has the highest smartphone addiction rate , with a daily use of 6 hours and 37 minutes .
THE AFTER-EFFECTS ARE NOT PRETTY
In the US , Addiction Help lists the following as adverse effects of phone overusing :
w Social interactions : 70 % of participants in one study reported that their phone usage interfered with their relationships . A study linked parental mobile phone use and a general lack of mindfulness while using a phone in children ’ s presence to lower emotional intelligence . w Ailments : May result in cognitive impairments , not sleeping well , and mental health issues like depression and anxiety . w Nomophobia : A fear of being without a phone or its
“ In 2022 , daily trends showed that the average Aussie was on track to spend nearly 17.25 years on their phone , across their lifetime .”
services . Its prevalence varies widely , from 6 to 73 % across various populations . w After-effects : Feelings of a loss of control , intense desire to use the phone , neglect of other responsibilities , withdrawal when not using the phone . w Brain effects : Increase in dopamine ( a feel-good chemical ). w Physical health : Eye strain , neck pain (“ text neck ”), reduced physical activity , weight gain , “ trigger thumb ” ( yes , the thumb gets stuck in a bent position , believe it or not ). w Mental health : Fear of missing out (“ FOMO ”) and loneliness . w Risky behaviour : using a phone while driving is the most significant cause of distracted driving . j
Autumn Issue 2025 | Executive PA 29