Mobile consumption is outpacing TV.
For older generations, it is hard to believe that another device would replace the beloved TV. However, here we are! Glued to our mobile devices at every second of everyday. In this day in age, consumers can’t leave their houses without their mobile device, or else it just feels like something is missing. Right?
Well, if you are one of the many that feels like their hand is cold when their mobile device isn’t in it, you’re not alone. Don’t worry, we’re guilty as charged too!
According to eMarketer, the average U.S. adult will spend 3 hours and 43 minutes per day on a mobile device this year. In a rounding world, this is about 4 hours each day that we spend scrolling, listening to audio, or just googling a question we have. Meanwhile, our TV’s are the ones to suffer! As mobile consumption continues to grow, TV consumption does the opposite. This year, TV consumption is expected to amount to 3 hours and 35 minutes per day.
With that being said, of the almost four hours we spend on our mobile devices, how are we spending these mobile minutes?
Not surprisingly, consumers spend most of their time using apps over web browsers according to eMarketer. Within the apps, people are spending the most time listening to digital audio followed by social media consumption.
In the long run, smartphones will be the dominant device for consumer media. However, eMarketer believes that mobile consumption will plateau by 2020. This is due to consumers becoming uneasy with their overuse of mobile devices. With the backlash of screen time becoming more apparent mobile device makers are trying to curb our usage. For example, Google and Apple have introduced screen time controls. While they are very useful tools, will they change the behaviors of consumers in the future?
