We appreciate the fact that so many people already know one universal truth: Cellphones are among the coolest technologies ever invented. A mobile phone is constantly at the ready in your hip pocket, prepared to phone a friend, text a parent or scour the web for the best restaurant in town.
But exactly how many of your fellow Americans feel similarly about these devices? A surprisingly large number, it turns out. And that makes us beam with pride.
Based on data compiled by the Pew Internet Project, here are 10 facts about American adults that put cellphone culture into perspective:
- 90% have a cellphone.
- Within that figure, 98% of adults ages 18 to 29 have a cellphone — and so do 74% of adults age 65 or older
Among cellphone owners:
- 67% have checked their device for messages, alerts or calls even when they didn’t notice it ringing or vibrating
- 44% of slept with the device next to their bed to avoid missing out on updates such as a phone call
- 29% say they can’t imagine living without the device
As for smartphones:
- 58% of adults have such a device. The figure includes:
- Within that category, are 83% of adults ages 18 to 29 and 19% of adults age 65 or older
- People with smartphones live in various community types, including urban (64%), suburban (60%) and rural (43%)