Here's what Americans feel is the biggest downside of smartphones
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Smartphones have become a constant presence in many Americans’ daily lives, helping people stay informed, communicate with others and manage everyday tasks. But according to a new Pew Research Center survey, Americans also see a clear downside.
The research from Pew Research Center’s American Trends Panel (ATP) was conducted from May 26 to June 1, 2026, with 9,750 panelists surveyed.
Adults say smartphones hurt their sleep: Survey
Big picture view:
The survey found that 41% of U.S. adults said using their smartphone hurt the amount of sleep they received, compared with just 5% who said their phone helped them sleep. Nearly half, 46%, said their smartphone had neither a positive nor negative effect on their sleep.
Age differences were especially pronounced when Americans were asked whether smartphones hurt their sleep.
Among adults ages 18 to 29, 62% said smartphone use hurt how much sleep they received. The figure fell to 52% among adults ages 30 to 49, 36% among those 50 to 64 and 14% among adults 65 and older.
The same pattern appeared when it came to productivity. Nearly half of adults under 30, 49%, said their smartphone hurt how productive they were. That compared with 43% of those ages 30 to 49, 28% of adults 50 to 64 and 15% of those 65 and older.
Smartphones also received a more mixed assessment when Americans considered their mood. Overall, 22% said their phones hurt their mood, while 18% said they help. About half, 51%, said smartphones neither helped nor hurt their mood.
Americans say they spend more time on their phone than desired
Dig deeper:
The findings come as many Americans acknowledge that they may be spending more time on their phones than they would like.
Overall, 53% of U.S. adults said they spend too much time on their smartphones, while 36% said the amount of time they spend is about right. Only 3% said they spend too little time on their devices.
In the survey, 41% of U.S. adults said their phones hurt the amount of sleep they get. (Credit: Matt Cardy/Getty Images)
Younger adults were particularly likely to feel they were overusing their phones. Seven in ten adults ages 18 to 29 said they spend too much time on their smartphones. That compares with 64% of adults ages 30 to 49, 49% of those ages 50 to 64 and 25% of adults 65 and older.
Smartphones can still provide major benefits
The other side:
Despite concerns about excessive use, Americans recognized the benefits of having a smartphone.
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About three-quarters of U.S. adults, 73%, said their smartphone helps them stay informed. Another 51% said it helps them feel connected to other people. By comparison, only 3% said their phone hurts how informed they are, while 12% said it hurts how connected they feel.
The Source: The information came from Wave 194 of the American Trends Panel (ATP), Pew Research Center’s nationally representative panel of randomly selected U.S. adults. The survey was conducted from May 26 to June 1, 2026. A total of 9,750 panelists responded out of 11,184 who were sampled, for a survey-level response rate of 87%. This story was reported from Los Angeles.