How Are Americans Using Their Cell Phones at Work?

How Much Do Americans Use Their Phones During Work?

For many of us, cell phones are never out of reach—even during the workday. Whether it’s checking social media, sending a quick message, or sneaking in a few minutes of streaming, personal phone use has become a fixture of modern work life.

To find out just how much time Americans spend on their phones while on the clock, we surveyed people from all over the country and asked how many minutes they dedicate to activities like scrolling, texting, and streaming during work hours.

From the states that juggle the most screen time to how these habits might impact productivity, our survey sheds light on the role phones play in today’s workplace. Let’s dive into the data to see what we found out.

How Are Americans Using Their Cell Phones at Work?

Phone use during the workday has become increasingly common as smartphones continue to evolve into essential tools for both productivity—and entertainment. Whether it’s staying connected with friends, taking quick mental breaks, or indulging in a favorite app, personal phone use is now a staple of the modern workplace. But how much time are people actually spending on their phones during work, and what are they doing?

Our survey uncovered fascinating insights into how Americans use their phones for non-work activities while on the clock. Here’s what we found:

The average American spends over 3 hours per day on their phone during work. That’s 186 minutes broken down into:

• 46 minutes on social media
• 33 minutes texting or messaging
• 30 minutes listening to podcasts
• 27 minutes streaming video content
• 15 minutes playing mobile games
• 13 minutes shopping online
• 22 minutes on other non-work-related activities

Generational Differences in Workday Phone Use

Generational habits add an interesting, albeit not ultra-surprising, layer to the data. Gen Z leads the way with an average of 234 minutes per day, which is:

• 20 minutes more than millennials,
• 88 minutes more than Gen X, and
• 157 minutes more than baby boomers.

While clearly spending the largest portion of the workday on their phones, the youngest members of the workforce have some self-awareness. Nearly 1 in 5 Gen Zers (18%) believe banning personal phone use would boost their productivity.

The Role of Workplace Policies

Company phone policies seem to influence how much time employees spend on their devices. Workers in environments with:

• Lenient policies average 202 minutes per day.
• Moderate policies average 163 minutes.
• Strict policies average just 183 minutes.

An interesting trend, as workplaces with strict policies actually see more employee personal phone use than those with a more moderate approach to policing screen time.

Top Apps People Use During Work

When it comes to specific apps, the top 10 for personal phone use during work are:

1. Messages
2. Facebook
3. YouTube
4. Instagram
5. TikTok
6. Spotify
7. Reddit
8. Email
9. Twitter
10. Twitch

From social media and streaming to communication and entertainment, these rankings highlight the diverse ways employees use their phones during work hours. One important note is that TikTok is among the apps people are using at work most often. With the app recently losing its battle in the Supreme Court to stop its U.S. ban it’ll be interesting to see how Americans alter that portion of their screen time. Maybe managers can expect a slight uptick in productivity… or they’ll just find a similar app to scroll on.

Personal phone use will likely continue to shape workplace habits, for better or worse when it comes to productivity. Next, we’ll dive into our state-by-state findings to see where phone use is highest – and lowest – during the workday.

Which States Are Using Their Phones at Work the Most?

While phone use during the workday is widespread, the way people use their devices—and how much time they spend on them—varies from state to state. With the average American devoting just over 3 hours of their workday to personal phone use, some states stand out for their especially high (or low) screen time.

Here’s a look at the states where residents spend the most time on their phones during work, and the activity that eats up the largest chunk of that time.

1. Texas: 4 hours, 40 minutes
   • Listening to podcasts: 59 minutes
2. Virginia: 4 hours, 26 minutes
   • Social media: 67 minutes
3. Arkansas: 4 hours, 6 minutes
   • Streaming video: 54 minutes 
4. Alabama: 4 hours, 4 minutes
   • Social media: 59 minutes
5. Georgia: 4 hours, 2 minutes
   • Streaming video: 48 minutes

These states showcase a heavy reliance on phones for both entertainment and connection during work. While social media is the outlet that eats up the largest amount of collective time at work across the country, some states stand out for spending additional time on other mobile activities. 

In Texas, for example, residents spend the highest portion of their phone time listening to podcasts. Something we here at RSS.com support no matter where you’re doing it. Meanwhile, residents from Arkansas and Georgia spend a larger amount of their time streaming video during work hours than other states.

On the other end of the spectrum, here are the states where people spend the least amount of time on their phones:

1. Wisconsin: 2 hours, 6 minutes
   • Social media: 35 minutes
2. Maine: 2 hours, 11 minutes
   • Social media: 29 minutes (lowest in the study)
3. Washington: 2 hours, 24 minutes
   • Social media: 34 minutes
4. Louisiana: 2 hours, 25 minutes
   • Social media: 45 minutes
5. South Carolina: 2 hours, 25 minutes
   • Social media: 46 minutes
6. States like Wisconsin and Maine appear to prioritize non-personal activities during work hours, with the lowest average time spent in the country. This could be influenced by regional values or prominent industries that are less conducive to phone use. With several Southern states appearing in our top five, it’s a bit surprising to see others like Louisiana and South Carolina buck that trend.

How Every States Spends Time On Their Phones During Work

Curious how your state compares when it comes to workday phone use? We’ve compiled our full survey into an interactive table, letting you explore how residents in every state spend their time on their phones during work hours. You can sort the table by each activity–like social media, streaming, or podcast listening– or search for your state to see how it stacks up. 

Whether your state leads in social media usage or stands out for its content consumption, this table highlights the trends shaping phone habits in the workplace. Dive in to uncover the trends that define workspace phone use across the U.S.

Closing Thoughts

Phone use during the workday is a fact of life for many Americans, with people spending hours on their devices for everything from social media and streaming to messages and, yes, podcast listening. Our survey shows just how varied these habits are–not just from state to state but from person to person–highlighting the unique ways people use their phones to stay entertained or connected during the day. 

For those who like a little background noise while they work, podcasts remain a popular choice. Whether it’s a true crime story, an inspiring interview, or an educational deep dive, podcasts are perfectly suited for multitasking. At RSS, we’re proud to support creators and listeners alike, ensuring that great content is just a tap away whenever–and wherever–it’s needed. 

So whether you’re scrolling, screaming, or catching up on your favorite podcast, one thing’s clear: the phone has become a constant companion, even on the clock. 

Methodology

To find out more about how Americans are spending time on their phones during the work day, we surveyed over 3,400 people over two weeks in December 2024. We asked them to estimate how much time they spend on their phones doing different common activities and determined an average value for each activity.