A new survey is turning assumptions upside down: it’s not just teens glued to their screens. Nearly half of baby boomers now spend more than three hours daily on their phones—and experts are sounding the alarm on what that might mean.
Older, Online—and Addicted?
For years, the stereotype has been clear: Gen Z scrolls, millennials swipe, and boomers barely know how to text. That script might need rewriting.
According to a recent report by AddictionResource.net, 50% of their primarily baby boomer respondents say they’re on their phones for over three hours each day. And about 20%? They’re clocking in five-plus hours.
That’s a lot—especially considering public health guidelines recommend less than two hours of recreational screen time per day for adults. Boomers, born between 1946 and 1964, didn’t grow up with screens in their pockets. But now, many don’t go a day—or even an hour—without them.
The New Normal for Boomers
The study surveyed 2,000 Americans aged 59 to 77, making it one of the more focused looks at digital behavior in older adults.
Here’s what else stood out:
40% of participants admitted they feel anxious or uneasy without their phones nearby.
Half said they check their phones within an hour of waking up—every single day.
There’s a shift happening. For many older adults, smartphones are no longer gadgets—they’re lifelines.
And it’s not just texting or scrolling through Facebook. Many boomers use their phones to:
Track medications
Monitor health via wearable devices
Stream shows or YouTube videos
Keep tabs on kids or grandkids through messaging apps
This blend of convenience and connection is making phones feel less like tools and more like necessities.
What the Experts Are Saying
The numbers aren’t surprising to people who work in this space. But the implications? Those are getting more attention.
Bryan Driscoll, a generational trends expert, didn’t mince words when he spoke to Newsweek. “Boomers spend hours glued to their phones, but it’s not connection—it’s isolation,” he said. “Many struggle to separate fact from fiction online… it’s about a generation grappling with loneliness and a shifting sense of what’s real.”
That hits hard. Because for a group often dealing with retirement, empty nests, or chronic health issues, the phone isn’t just entertainment. It’s a companion.
Mental health counselor Ruth Hernandez added some nuance: “Honestly, it’s not that surprising anymore to see baby boomers spending hours on their phones. They use them for everything—texting family, managing health, reading the news, social media, even watching Netflix.”
It’s part of daily life now, she said. Just like with younger generations.
It’s Not Just a Teen Problem Anymore
Historically, the spotlight on screen addiction has focused on kids and teens. And there’s reason for that—Pew Research found in 2024 that nearly half of American teens are online “almost constantly.”
But the boomer numbers complicate that narrative.
“This really pushes back on the old stereotype that older people aren’t tech-savvy or don’t care about digital life,” Hernandez told Newsweek. “Boomers have adapted—fast. And in some cases, they’re just as glued to their screens as the rest of us.”
So maybe the lines are blurring. It’s not about age. It’s about how tech has quietly woven itself into all of our daily routines, sometimes in ways we don’t even notice until someone points it out.
It’s not just a teen issue—it’s a human issue.
Loneliness, Echo Chambers, and the Risk Beneath the Surface
So what’s really at stake? According to the AddictionResource.net team, it’s more than eye strain and wasted time.
Boomers are more at risk of falling into digital echo chambers. They often rely on Facebook for news, where algorithms reward sensationalism. And without the same digital literacy training younger generations grew up with, many struggle to verify what they see online.
There’s also the emotional side of it—something that doesn’t show up in screen-time stats.
“Some older adults are just lonely,” Driscoll said bluntly. “They use their phones to escape that. But that can backfire if it replaces real connection.”
Here’s where the warning signs get blurry. Checking your phone 20 times a day? Normal. Feeling anxious without it? Less so. Skipping sleep or meals to scroll? Definitely not good.
A recent Kaiser Family Foundation report noted that 58% of Americans aged 65+ experience some form of social isolation. For many, smartphones offer a quick fix. But like any quick fix, it can come with side effects.
Looking Ahead: Where Does This Leave Us?
So what do we do with all this?
There’s no one-size-fits-all solution. But the growing phone dependence among baby boomers suggests one thing loud and clear: we can’t keep treating digital overuse like a “young person’s problem.”
Table: Baby Boomer Smartphone Habits (From AddictionResource.net Survey)
| Habit | Percentage of Respondents |
|---|---|
| Use phone more than 3 hours per day | 50% |
| Use phone more than 5 hours per day | 20% |
| Feel anxious without their phone nearby | 40% |
| Check phone within an hour of waking up | 50% |
Until then, we’re left with a simple truth: the smartphone, once a tech frontier for boomers, has quietly become their constant companion. And just like with any generation, balance is everything.
