Our phones are cluttered with countless apps, so let’s unpack the truth of how bad our phone addictions are
There are too many apps, we can all agree on that, right? As you mindlessly scroll through your screens, with pages full of them, we’re sure you can’t help but wonder why half of them even exist. How did they come about? We know the feeling.
A new app has just been announced, all of your friends jump on downloading it immediately, but is it really essential? Let’s look at some current social media apps and see the daily average screen time, the storage, the demographics, their enjoyment rating and how much of a potential time suck they are. Then, it’s down to you to decide— does that app really bring you joy?
App Stats
TIKTOK
Daily average (18-25) – Women = 1 hour 17 minutes, Men = 42 minutes
Amount of storage – 300MB of storage space. We aren’t tech experts at DITCH so we have no idea what this means, but with all those embarrassing drafts…we are thinking it’s A LOT.
Demographics – 76% of 15-24 years in the United Kingdom engage with TikTok. 63.25% of 25-34 year olds, 56% of 35-44 year olds, while only 26.4% of 75+ year olds engage with the app.
Time suck rating:
If you’re spending this much time scrolling, it’s clear TikTok is a major time-sucker. Try limiting your time on the app with a timer, or go for something productive like a creative app or learning a new skill. Seriously, your drafts aren’t going anywhere.
Enjoyment rating:
9/10 – There’s no denying TikTok’s addictive nature, especially with endless entertainment at your fingertips. But, be honest, are you scrolling for hours because it’s that fun… or because the algorithm’s too good at keeping you hooked?
Daily average – UK adults spend an average of one hour and 30 minutes on Instagram. That is an insane amount of time. That is one minute more than the entire Shrek movie, yikes.
Amount of storage – 200MB to 700MB
Demographics – 24.5% of 18-24 year olds are Instagram users, 29.7% of 25-34 year olds, and only 4.6% of 65+ year olds use the app.
Time suck rating:
1 hour and 30 minutes on Instagram adds up fast. Could this time be better spent somewhere else? Use the time limit features or take a break to declutter your feed. If Instagram isn’t sparking joy anymore, maybe it’s time to rethink your scrolling habits.
Enjoyment rating:
8/10 – Instagram is great for quick hits of dopamine, but let’s be real, a lot of it is just repetitive content or “perfect life” vibes. Can you honestly say it makes you feel better or just more disconnected?
Daily average – The average user spends 23 minutes on Facebook a day. None of us actively use Facebook, so why do we all have it downloaded?
Amount of storage – 200MB to 500MB
Demographics – 18.4% of 18-24 year olds are Facebook users, 24.7% of 25-34 year olds, and 10.9% of 65+ year olds use the app.
Time suck rating:
Twenty-three minutes a day? Probably less than what you’d spend on a TikTok binge, but still—why keep it if you’re not using it? Take a hard look at your phone and delete what’s not adding value. If Facebook isn’t part of your life anymore, maybe it’s time to let it go.
Enjoyment rating:
4/10 – Facebook’s a bit like the ‘old friend’ you don’t really talk to anymore, but still feel obligated to keep around. Maybe it’s time to cut the cord—if it’s not keeping you engaged, what’s the point?
SNAPCHAT
Daily average – The average user spends 30 minutes per day on Snapchat.
Amount of storage – 250 MB, that’s all your Snapchat memories from 2016.
Demographics – 48% of Snapchat users are age 15-25, 30% are age 26-35, and 56+ only make up 5% of the app.
Time suck rating:
30 minutes on Snapchat can be fun, but maybe it’s time to ask yourself: Are you really adding something meaningful to your day?
Enjoyment rating:
7/10 – The appeal is real, especially if you love sharing unfiltered moments. But, how much of that time is spent mindlessly tapping through random stories?
X
Daily average – 20 minutes
Amount of storage – 193MB. An oddly specific amount of storage.
Demographics – 58% of users are between 18 and 34 years old, 18% of users are aged 35-44, with only 5% of users being 65+
Time suck rating:
20 minutes isn’t too bad, but let’s be real—how much time are you spending on scrolling aimlessly? Try limiting your sessions and focus on quality over quantity, or better yet, use that time to check out something productive, like time management or personal growth apps.
Enjoyment rating:
6/10 – The need for “constant updates” is real, but the app’s often a black hole for negativity and endless news cycles. Use it for inspiration or stay updated, but don’t get sucked into the endless scroll.
And there you have it. It’s a lot to take in, right? The apps discussed don’t even represent a fraction of what is available for us to mindlessly download, proving that there are honestly TOO MANY apps. We’re not saying social media is bad, we all love connecting with friends and seeing the latest trends, but there are times when we need to sit and think about how these apps are impacting us and the amount of time they are taking out of our day (we all have the same 24 hours, right?).
So when you’re next thinking of downloading another pointless app, think to yourself, is it going to benefit you positively? Or is it just another app that will take up storage on your phone, draining your battery and your social life?
Instead, follow us on an app you already have.