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CDC - Radiation: FAQs about Cell Phones and Your Health

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There is growing concern among health officials regarding the health hazards posed by EMF radiation from cell phones and its effect on the human body. EMF radiation is known to pose a high risk to human health, and has been linked to various health issues, including cancer, infertility, sleep disorders, and developmental problems, to name a few. With modern society not only using cell phones on a daily basis, but very often for a large part of the average day, one has to ask: Do cell phones emit radiation, and if so, is this kind of radiation dangerous to our health?
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Do Cell Phones Emit Radiation?

Most cell phones today are so-called "Smart" phones. Smartphones are great as they are extremely versatile, and due to their portability, allow the user to basically have a pocket-sized computer on their person wherever they are. Smartphones can be used to access the internet, send emails, access social networks, and chat with friends via text, mms, or to talk person to person over the phone line. They can also be used to take photos on the go, or to download books, music, videos, games and an unlimited range of applications to make life simpler or less dreary. This versatility not only makes them extremely popular in recent years, they also get used far more than a phone that is, well, not so smart.

All cell phones, as well as smart phones to a greater degree, give off forms of non-ionizing Electromagnetic Radiation (EMR) called Radio Frequency (RF) radiation and Extremely Low Frequency (ELF) radiation. Radio Frequency (RF) radiation consists of the cell signal, Bluetooth and WiFi while Extremely Low Frequency (ELF) radiation is generated by phone's hardware. This radiation is absorbed into the body, usually through body tissue situated at or near where the cell phone is held. The degree of exposure will depend on several factors, including: the type of cell phone being used, how far the user is from the cell phone's antenna, how much time is spent on the cell phone and how far the user is from cell towers.

Because smartphone users are likely to use their smartphones more extensively, and also carry these devices with them at all times, it stands to reason that cell phone radiation may pose potential health issues.

Is Non-Ionizing Cell Phone Radiation Harmful?

Although not as harmful as ionizing radiation (X-rays etc.), studies have shown that non-ionizing EMF radiation, such as that emitted by cell phones, can cause insomnia, decreased bone density in the pelvis, infertility in men, and can affect brain activity. On top of that, based on evidence of the association between RF radiation and cancer , the World Health Organization's International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) recently classified RF radiation as "possibly carcinogenic to humans." Finally, because children have thinner skulls and their brains are still developing, they are even more vulnerable to EMF radiation than adults, yet these days many kids use a cell phone on a regular basis.

How to Reduce Your Exposure to Radiation From Cell Phones

So, to answer the question: 'Do cell phones emit radiation that is harmful?' The short answer is: Yes they do. If you are concerned about radiation from your cell phone there are three steps you can take to reduce your exposure and therefore your risk:

1. Create some distance between you and your phone when possible. Set your phone to airplane mode when not in use, as this cuts off wireless transmissions and radiation.

2. Limit the time you use your phone and when you do, use a hands-free kit or use speakerphone when you make calls.

3. Invest in a cell phone radiation shield to protect yourself from EMF radiation when you are actively using your device.

Using these simple steps can help protect from potentially harmful radiation while using your cell phone on a daily basis.
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Do Cell Phones Emit Radiation that is Actually Harmful? - DefenderShield

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There is growing concern among health officials regarding the health hazards posed by EMF radiation from cell phones and its effect on the human body. EMF radiation is known to pose a high risk to human health, and has been linked to various health issues, including cancer, infertility, sleep disorders, and developmental problems, to name a few.

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What is the average screentime of a person in the U.S?

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What is the average screentime of a person in the U.S?

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The statistics in our industry reports (like this one) are carefully vetted and verified by the writer and editor. We use only original sources while citing statistics. Also, we try to find the latest research available on a subject.
If you're like most people, your smartphone is the first thing you check in the morning and the last thing you check before you sleep.

You also pick it up several times during the day either in a bid to find out what your friends are up to, to get your mind off a stressful project, to feel better about your overflowing inbox, or to rid yourself of boredom in the toilet.

But, not all the time you spend on your phone is hurting you, of course. Phones can help you stay connected with family far away, can help you track your productivity each day, and can also help you stay informed about everything, from the upcoming elections to the Kardashians.

But it's no secret that sometimes (or, most of the time) your smartphone can affect your productivity. Notification beeps can hinder your focus, social comparison on social media can make you feel shoddy about your own life, and did you see how Khloe celebrated her daughter's birthday during the quarantine? Ugh.

Knowing how much and how often you use your devices can help you gain valuable insights into your digital well-being and practice self-care.

So, how much phone time are you exposing yourself to during a workday (especially, considering you might be working from home right now)?

Let's look at a few screen time statistics to find out.

Table of Contents

1. How Much Time Does The Average Person Spend On Their Phone?

2. Phone Addiction: How Often Do We Check Our Phones?

3. COVID-19 And ScreenTime

4. How To Reduce Your Average Screen Time?

5. Final Thoughts

How Much Time Does The Average Person Spend On Their Phone?

Whether you're looking for iPhone screen time or android screen time, here are a few statistics on screen time to answer your questions.

1. A study of 11k RescueTime users found that people spend around 3 hours and 15 minutes a day on phones.

Let's spread out geographically and look at the amount of time spent by people from different countries.

2. As per eMarketer, the average US adult spends 3 hours and 43 minutes on their mobile devices.

That's roughly 50 days a year.

3. And the average screen time in the UK stands at 3 hours 23 minutes per day as per CodeComputerLove.

But averages can be tricky, so let's read more into these numbers.

Phone Addiction: How Often Do We Check Our Phones?

4. The data of 11,000 RescueTime users shows that the top 20% of smartphone users spend more than 4.5 hours on their phones during weekdays.

While we are at it, the average person spends more time on their phone during their weekday than they do during weekends.

But, how does it matter how much time we're spending on our phones? Maybe it's because we're catching up on a new season of a Netflix show. It's not during work hours when someone compulsively uses their smartphone, you know.

Well, I'm glad you asked.

5. Most people check their phones 58 times a day. Thirty of those times are during work hours.

So, no, your total screen time is not impacting your efficiency, it's how often you are picking up your phone and getting distracted.

If you think it doesn't matter how many times you pick up your phone, think again.

6. Most people spend roughly 1 minute 15 seconds on their phone once they pick it up. And we pick our phones up roughly every 1 hour and 43 minutes.

From a lower-end estimate, this equates to losing 37.5 minutes a day during working hours to your smartphone.

7. 70% of the phone-pick-up sessions are less than 2 minutes in length. But they can start a chain reaction. 50% of screen time sessions start within 3 minutes of the previous one.

But, why does it even matter?

The act of compulsive checking can be hazardous to our productivity.

8. According to a study by the University of California Irvine, it takes an average of 23 minutes and 15 seconds to get back to the deep focus you had on a task once you have been distracted.

9. AMA found that even brief mental blocks can cause you to lose as much as 40% of your productive time.

If you think most of the time you spend on your phone is done doing "productive" activities, the in-depth study by CodeComputerLove will prove otherwise.

Don't start blaming the Millenials just yet. It's not just them who are addicted to their phones.

10. In its US users' screen time statistics, Apple found, Gen X spends 169 minutes on their phone per day and Baby Boomers spend 136 minutes.

11. While it might seem like a significant difference when taken per day, each generation spends over a month on their phone per year.

So, no one is immune to the harmful effects our smartphones have on our mental health and productivity. And the coronavirus has only made things worse.

COVID-19 And ScreenTime

12. Study by eMarketer has found that owing to the pandemic, electronic device usage nearly doubled among kids in the US.

13. According to another study by OLX India, screen time was up by 100% for children during the lockdown.

14. A study conducted in China found that about 70% of the 1033 participants spent more time looking at screens after the COVID-19 outbreak.

15. Another study, examining the effects of COVID-19 on adolescents and young adults, found that the average screentime has increased from 3.5 hours to 5.1 hours.

16. A study published in Cambridge Open Engage collected data from more than 3,000 Iowa State University faculty, staff, students, and alumni located all over the country from April 3 to 7 and found that screentime had increased by 20-30% on average during the crisis.

Since the crisis and our screens aren't going anywhere anytime soon, it is by taking control of our digital well-being that we can use screens to our advantage.

How To Reduce Your Average Screen Time?

Here are some quick steps to reduce your average screen time and get more work and productivity out of every day.

Track your screen time: You can't improve what you don't measure. Thankfully, there are many tools like RescueTime and Time Doctor that can help you monitor you screen time and even block distracting websites.

Do a smartphone cleanse: Delete apps you don't truly use or get benefit from. You do not need social media apps on your phone. While we are at a smartphone cleanse, maintain a minimalist home screen. Only let the frequently needed apps remain. By retaining the minimum, you will not get sucked into the scrolling rabbit hole.

Set your screen to appear monochrome during work hours: It is shocking how much the colors keep us glued in. Instagram wouldn't seem so pretty if all was in black and white. Facebook would lose its appeal with the loss of color. Turn on your phone's grayscale mode when you work.

Turn off your phone's notifications: Most of the things which grab your attention can wait. If you answer a particular text a little late, no one will mind. The email can wait until later too. It's the red dot and buzz which kill your flow and focus. You can open them when you have the time - and respond at your own pace.

Allot times for no devices: Spend an hour or two each day or week where you don't check your phone or any other device. During the time you set aside, you could cook, read, write, walk, nap - do anything except checking your phone. You won't miss much in an hour, but your mind will feel brand new.

Fix a time for checking your media platforms and your email: Organize your schedule with some social media time. During the allotted time, all you will do is check your accounts and reply to emails. Log the time into your calendar and stick to it. Your brain will adapt to checking them concurrently every day. You can also rid yourself of all the guilt caused by the frequent scrolling when you're not supposed to.

Resist the temptation to check your phone during the first hour of morning and night: Screens disrupt your melatonin production, which in turn affects the quality of your sleep. Poor sleep quality will be evident in your mood, performance, and productivity. An hour before bedtime, put your phone away.

Read a book, spend time with your family, tick items from your bucket list, journal (here are some writing prompts and a few things you can write about), go on a walk, or do some light yoga instead. In the morning, let Instagram or Facebook not be the first things you see. Develop a morning routine focused only on you. Enjoy a quiet cup of coffee, cook yourself a wholesome and healthy breakfast, or do some light stretching.

Final Thoughts

Screens aren't completely awful. If used correctly, they can contribute more to our efficiency. The key is to not let them get the best of us.

Understanding screen time and its effect on our work can take us a step closer to digital well-being.

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Average Screen Time: Statistics (For Laptops & Smartphones)

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The statistics in our industry reports (like this one) are carefully vetted and verified by the writer and editor. We use only original sources while citing statistics. Also, we try to find the latest research available on a subject.

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How many devices does one household have?

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How many devices does one household have?

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U.S. Households Have Average of 11 Devices. 5G Will Push That Higher - Variety

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What diseases/illnesses can you get from excessive screentime?

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What diseases/illnesses can you get from excessive screentime?

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Professor Gill, one of the lead authors of the study, said: "Our study shows that the risks associated with sedentary behaviour may not be the same for everyone, with the association between leisure time screen use and adverse health outcomes being strongest in those with low levels of physical activity, fitness or strength.

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High levels of screen time linked to cancer and heart disease

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Professor Gill, one of the lead authors of the study, said: "Our study shows that the risks associated with sedentary behaviour may not be the same for everyone, with the association between leisure time screen use and adverse health outcomes being strongest in those with low levels of physical activity, fitness or strength.

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The most-downloaded iPhone app of 2020 didn't even make the top 20 list last year.

WASHINGTON - All you have to do is look at the No. 1 iPhone app this year to see the widespread impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

Zoom, the video conferencing app, was the most downloaded free iPhone app of 2020 in the U.S., Apple announced on Tuesday.

It should really come as no surprise, given how COVID-19 has forced many to work from home or attend school virtually. The platform grew from 10 million daily meeting participants in December to more than 300 million in April, according to CNET.

Landing in the No. 1 spot was a huge jump for Zoom, which didn't even crack the top 20 most downloaded free apps last year. With many Americans not able to travel for Thanksgiving this year, Zoom dropped its typical 40-minute limit on that day so families could celebrate virtually instead.

After Zoom, streaming and social media apps make up a big chunk of the top 10 for 2020. TikTok, which President Donald Trump threatened to ban in the U.S., was the second most-downloaded iPhone app, followed by Disney Plus in the number three spot.

YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat and Facebook Messenger rounded out the top eight for 2020.

The top downloads for paid iPhone apps went to photo editing app TouchRetouch, drawing app Procreate Pocket and the weather app Dark Sky.

1. Zoom Cloud Meetings
2. TikTok
3. Disney Plus
4. YouTube
5. Instagram
6. Facebook
7. Snapchat
8. Messenger
9. Gmail
10. Cash App
11. Amazon Shopping
12. Netflix
13. Google Maps
14. DoorDash
15. Spotify
16. Widgetsmith
17. WhatsApp Messenger
18. Venmo
19. Google
20. Google Meet

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These were the most downloaded iPhone apps of 2020

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The most-downloaded iPhone app of 2020 didn't even make the top 20 list last year. WASHINGTON - All you have to do is look at the No. 1 iPhone app this year to see the widespread impact of the coronavirus pandemic.