Boomers Are Spending Hours a Day on Their Phones — and Many Say They Feel Anxious Without Them

A new survey is flipping the script on who’s glued to their screens. It turns out Baby Boomers, not just Gen Z, are spending serious time on their phones, and many admit they feel uneasy when they can’t check them.

According to a new report from AddictionResource.net, half of Boomers (ages 59–77) spend more than three hours a day on their smartphones. One in five clock in at over five hours. For a generation that grew up before the internet, that’s a big shift, and a sign that digital dependency isn’t just a “young person” problem anymore.

Anxiety, Meals, and Morning Habits

The survey of 2,000 respondents revealed some telling habits:

• 40% said they feel anxious or uncomfortable when they don’t have access to their devices.
• 50% check their phones within an hour of waking up every single day.
• 30% tried cutting back on screen time this year — but couldn’t.
• And 30% said they often or always use their phones during meals.

For many, screens have quietly become part of daily life — from scrolling over breakfast to winding down at night. And while not everyone who spends hours online is “addicted,” experts say these patterns reflect emotional dependence and habit loops that can be hard to break.

How Much Screen Time Is Too Much?

There isn’t one magic number that defines “digital addiction.” It’s less about hours logged and more about how it interferes with your life, your focus, relationships, or mental health.

Still, research has found that adults spending six or more hours a day on screens are more likely to experience moderate to severe depression. Mental health experts generally recommend keeping recreational screen time under two hours a day (work use doesn’t count).

As Ruth Hernandez, a mental health counselor at AddictionResource.net, explains, “It’s not just about the quantity of screen time, but the quality — how it makes you feel, and whether it’s crowding out other parts of your life.”

Finding Balance

Boomers aren’t alone in struggling to unplug; every generation is navigating what balance looks like in a digital world. If you’ve tried (and failed) to cut back, you’re not alone. Start small: leave your phone in another room during dinner, set app timers, or take one screen-free morning a week.

You might be surprised by how much calmer life feels when your phone’s not running the show.

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