Report Finds 7 Hrs Increase In Average Smartphone Usage In India, 70% Users Fear Its Impact On Mental Health

A study conducted by Vivo and CyberMedia Research revealed that the average screen time of smartphones in India has increased drastically. Due to the lockdowns, people have been spending more time on their smartphones for various reasons. The average smartphone usage in 2019 was reportedly, 4.5 hours in sharp contrast with an increase to about 7 hours in 2020, the study found.

The increased screen time is also having a negative impact on people like internet fatigue. It has raised concerns among people about several health concerns including a threat to mental health caused due to addiction.

The study, titled ‘Smartphones and Their Impact on Human Relationships Study of 2020’ underlines the Coronavirus Pandemic and how it has shaped everyday life. Specifically highlighting the unprecedented dependence on smart phones for daily activities.

According to the results of the study, office work has increased by 75 percent, 59 percent more time on OTT platforms , calling has increased by 63 percent, 54 percent more time on social media and 45 percent more time in gaming. Additionally, 66 percent of Indians in the study had the view that the smartphone improves their quality of life, while a little more than that, 70 percent said that their smartphone usage is likely to impact their mental and physical health.

Despite spending more time at home with their family, 89 percent people agree that an increased usage of smartphones negatively affects their relationships. The study also picks up on a compulsive need to check one’s phone with about 46 percent check their phone at least 5 times in an hour. 88 percent people also confessed that they have been called out for checking their phones many times.

The study goes in more detail and pans out the statistics relating to the age group which gets the most screen time.

73 percent people believe that they would be much happier if their phones were turned off for some time in a day. Vivo’s study surveyed 2,000 people in the top eight cities of India including Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Kolkata, Chennai, and Hyderabad. The male to female ratio for the study was 70 percent to 30 percent respectively.