New global data shows people spend 40 days a year online, raising concerns on World Social Media Day
Global data published June 30 shows people spend an average of 40 days a year online, prompting World Social Media Day concerns about health, work and policy.
A new analysis published on June 30 shows that the average person now spends roughly 40 days a year online, a figure highlighted on World Social Media Day and reported by Al Jazeera’s Naya Hejazi. The finding — equivalent to about 2.6 hours of internet use per day — has renewed debate over the social, economic and health impacts of sustained screen time. Media organisations and experts cited the data as evidence that digital habits deserve renewed scrutiny from policymakers and employers.
Global study finds average of 40 days online annually
The report behind the figure aggregates time spent across browsing, streaming, social networking and app use to reach the annual average of 40 days online. Analysts said the metric provides a single, accessible way to convey the cumulative scale of digital engagement over a calendar year. The study’s release on World Social Media Day gave the statistic broader visibility, prompting commentators to compare pre-pandemic and current usage patterns.
Daily patterns translate to roughly 2.6 hours per person
Breaking the annual total into daily use yields an average of about 2.6 hours connected to the internet each day. Researchers caution that this average masks wide variation by age, occupation and region, with younger cohorts and urban residents typically logging far higher hours. The figure includes passive consumption such as video streaming and active interactions like messaging and posting.
Social platforms account for the largest share of online time
Experts said social media remains the single largest category within overall online time, driven by short-form video, messaging apps and algorithmically curated feeds. Platforms have increasingly incorporated entertainment, commerce and news, blurring traditional distinctions and extending time spent within single apps. Advertisers and platform operators have pointed to engagement metrics as economic indicators, while public health and education groups warn that design choices can encourage prolonged use.
UAE context: high connectivity and mobile-first behaviour
In the UAE and across the Gulf, high smartphone penetration and widespread broadband access mean residents often exceed global averages for online time. Mobile-first behaviour, driven by apps for finance, shopping and delivery, integrates internet use into everyday life and work. Policymakers in the region have focused in recent years on digital skills and e-safety, and the new data is likely to inform national conversations about balancing digital innovation with societal well-being.
Mental health and productivity concerns cited by specialists
Clinicians and workplace specialists responding to the data highlighted risks linked to excessive screen time, including sleep disruption, attention fragmentation and diminished workplace productivity. They noted that intensity of use — such as frequent context-switching between apps — can be as consequential as total hours logged. Mental health services and employee assistance programmes are increasingly incorporating digital wellbeing guidance into their offerings.
Calls for digital literacy, platform responsibility and policy action
Following the publication and the visibility afforded by World Social Media Day, educators and civil society groups urged renewed investment in digital literacy for all age groups. Recommendations ranged from clearer app design disclosures to school curricula that teach time-management skills for online environments. Some public health experts also called on platforms to test and deploy features that gently discourage compulsive use, while regulators were urged to consider measures that protect minors and vulnerable users.
Policymakers, employers and families are weighing how to respond to the new benchmarks for online time as digital services continue to expand into commerce, entertainment and public services. The 40-day-a-year figure provides a focal point for those discussions, serving both as a summary statistic and as a prompt for more granular study of where and how people spend time online.