From morning news checks to evening texts with family, Australians are spending more time on their smartphones – and their thumbs are quietly clocking up some serious distance.
New research from iSelect suggests that while scrolling habits tend to decline with age, even seniors are travelling impressive digital ground each year.
To measure the nation’s scrolling mileage, iSelect surveyed 1,000 Australians and asked them to check their phone’s screen-time data for the past seven days, reporting the total hours spent on their devices. The company then calculated how far Australians scroll annually based on typical thumb movement.
Across all age groups, Australians spend an average of around 13 hours per week scrolling. That equates to roughly 380 metres per day – or close to four football fields – adding up to about 138 kilometres per year for the average adult.
While younger Australians lead the pack, those aged 65 and over still cover around 108 kilometres annually. That’s roughly the equivalent of climbing the Burj Khalifa in Dubai more than 130 times. Not bad for a demographic often stereotyped as technologically hesitant.
Scrolling distance gradually decreases with age, but it never quite disappears. The findings suggest smartphones have become a steady companion in daily life, whether for news, social media, puzzles or video calls with grandchildren.
Australians aged 25 to 34 scroll the most, averaging about 159 kilometres a year. At a faster scrolling speed, that jumps to 227 kilometres – roughly the distance between Sydney and Port Stephens, or the equivalent of crossing the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco 80 times.
Younger adults aged 18 to 24 aren’t far behind, averaging around 147 kilometres annually, or a distance comparable to walking the full length of the Inca Trail three times a year.
Women, on average, scroll further than men, logging approximately 145 kilometres per year compared with 130 kilometres for men. Among the most active scrollers are women aged 18–24, whose faster scrolling pace could see them cover up to 232 kilometres annually – close to the distance between Sydney and Canberra.
Geographically, Victorians top the leaderboard, averaging about 147 kilometres per year – the equivalent of scaling Melbourne’s Eureka Tower nearly 500 times.
While the comparisons may raise a smile, the health implications are more serious.
“Scrolling on your phone for long periods of time can potentially contribute to several health issues, including headaches, physical strain in the hands, wrists, and neck, as well as disrupted sleep,” says iSelect General Manager – Health, Andres Gutierrez.
“Being aware of these patterns is the first step to making more mindful choices about screen time habits. Remember to take regular breaks from your phone and balance online screen time with offline activities that can support your overall well-being.”
In other words, while Australians may not need hiking boots to rack up the kilometres, a stretch break now and then might not go astray.