“The fact that it is a hypothesis specially uncongenial to the emotions of this investigator or that, is neither here nor there.”
― From “That Hideous Strength”, by C.S. Lewis, 1945
THE DATA
In 2022, the 30% rate of mental illness among 18 to 25-year-olds in New York state was 42.9% greater than the 21% rate among the general populace there.
This infers that smartphones drive mental illness.
In 2022, the 8.6% rate of serious mental illness among New York state residents aged 18 to 25 was 72% greater, or nearly two times greater than the 5% rate among adults aged 18 or older there.
This infers that smartphones drive mental illness.
From 2023 to 2025, the average time that Americans spent per day on their smartphones increased by an annual average of 10.2%, from 3 hours and 50 minutes to 5 hours and 16 minutes.
From 2023 to 2025, the average time that Americans spent per day on their smartphones increased by 20.4%, from 3 hours and 50 minutes to 5 hours and 16 minutes.
From 2023 to 2025, Gen Z aged twelve to twenty seven who openly admitting to being addicted to their phones increased by 23.2%, from 56% to 69%.
From 2023 to 2025, Americans who were trying to cut down on smartphone usage increased by 33%, from 40% to 53%.
That’s because they have recognized that smartphones drive mental illness.
From 2023 to 2024, every 1% increase in the average time that among U.S. adults aged 18 or older spent per day on their smartphones was associated with a .5% increase in mental illness.
This documents that smartphones drive mental illness.
From 2023 to 2024, every 1% increase in the average time that among U.S. adults aged 18 or older spent per day on their smartphones was associated with an .8% increase in anxiety.
From 2023 to 2024, the rate of mental illness among U.S. adults aged 18 or older increased by 9.6%, from 22.8% to 25%.
From 2023 to 2024, the average time that Americans spent per day on their smartphones increased by 10.2% (average).
From 2023 to 2024, the 9.6% increase in the rate of mental illness among U.S. adults aged 18 or older and the 10.2% (average) increase in the average time that Americans spent per day on their smartphones were statistically very similar.
This documents that smartphones drive mental illness.
From 2023 to 2024, U.S. adults said they felt more anxious than they did the previous year increased by 16.2%, from 37% to 43%.
From 2023 to 2024, the average time that Americans spent per day on their smartphones increased by 20.4%, from 3 hours and 50 minutes to 4 hours and 37 minutes.
From 2023 to 2024, the 20.4% increase in the average time that U.S. adults aged 18 or older spent per day on their smartphones was was associated with a 9.6% increase in mental illness.
This documents that smartphones drive mental illness.
From 2023 to 2024, the 20.4% increase in the average time that among U.S. adults aged 18 or older spent per day on their smartphones was associated with a 16.2% increase in anxiety.
In 2023, the average time that Americans spent per day on their smartphones was approximately 3 hours and 50 minutes.
In 2023, 40% of of Americans were trying to cut down on smartphone usage.
That’s because they have recognized that smartphones drive mental illness.
From 2024 to 2025, the average time that Americans spent per day on their smartphones increased by 14%, to 5 hours and 16 minutes.
In 2024, (1946-1964, aged 60 to 78) Baby Boomers spent 4 hours and 19 minutes on their phone every day.
In 2024, Gen X (1965 – 1980, aged 44 to 59) spent 4 hours and 48 minutes on their phone every day.
In 2024, Millennials (1981 and 1996, aged 28 to 43) spent 5 hours and 28 minutes on their phone every day.
In 2024, Gen Z (1997 and 2012, aged twelve to twenty seven) spent 6 hours and 27 minutes on their phone every day.
In 2024, every 1% increase in the amount of time spent on their smartphones every day by Gen Z vs. Millennials was associated with a 3.4% increase in serious mental illness.
This documents that smartphones drive mental illness.
In 2024, every 1% increase in the amount of time spent on their smartphones every day by Gen Z vs. Baby Boomers was associated with a 7.2% increase in serious mental illness.
This documents that smartphones drive mental illness.
In 2024, the 6 hours and 27 minutes that Gen Z aged twelve to twenty seven spent on their phone every day was 18% greater than the 5 hours and 28 minutes spent by Millennials aged 28 to 43.
In 2024, the 6 hours and 27 minutes Gen Z aged twelve to twenty seven spent on their smartphones every day was 49.4% greater than the 4 hours and 19 minutes spent by Baby Boomers aged 60 to 78.
In 2024, the 11.4% rate of serious mental illness among U.S. adults aged 18-25 years was 356% greater, more than four and a half times greater than its 2.5% rate among those aged 50 and older.
This infers that smartphones drive mental illness.
In 2024, the 49.4% greater time spent on their smartphones every day by Gen Z aged twelve to twenty seven vs. Baby Boomers aged 60 to 78 was associated with a 356% greater, more than four and a half times greater rate of serious mental illness among U.S. adults aged 18-25 years vs. those aged 50 and older.
This documents that smartphones drive mental illness.
In 2024, the 11.4% rate of serious mental illness among U.S. adults aged 18-25 years was 60.6% greater than the 7.1% rate among adults aged 26-49 years.
This infers that smartphones drive mental illness.
In 2024, the 18% greater amount of time spent on their smartphones every day by Gen Z vs. Millennials was associated with a 60.6% greater rate of serious mental illness.
This documents that smartphones drive mental illness.
In 2024, the 11.4% rate of serious mental illness among U.S. adults aged 18-25 years was 356% greater, more than four and a half times greater than its 2.5% rate among those aged 50 and older.
This infers that smartphones drive mental illness.
In 2025, Americans spent an average of 5 hours and 16 minutes per day on their smartphones.
In 2025, 53%, or over half of Americans were trying to cut down on smartphone usage.
That’s because they have recognized that smartphones drive mental illness.
You’ve been conditioned to think that this is what mental illness looks like:
(Joan Crawford as Lucy Harpin in “Strait-Jacket”, 1964)
While this is, in fact, what mental illness actually looks like:
(Resting Bitch Face girl with smartphone)
THE ARTICLES
On December 25, 2024, Yahooist Teil der Yahoo Markenfamilie Nicholas Sutrich said “The North American smartphone market could be headed for a depressing 2025”.
On January 6, 2025, Raemona Magazine’s Sarah Lawton said “2025: The Year I Break Up With My Phone”.
The article goes on to say “Excessive phone use can lead to thinning of the brains cortex; that’s the area in charge of critical thinking and reasoning”.
On January 29, 2025, the Washington Post’s Amanda Morris said “Try ‘Phone Free February’ to reduce screen time, improve your health”.
On January 6, 2025, Harmony Healthcare IT questioned “Are You Addicted to Your Phone ? American Phone Usage & Screen Time Statistics ”.
Jeff Miller, Pittsburgh, PA, March 10, 2025
If you’d like to be added to this free mailing list, please send me a note at [email protected].
