In celebration of National Phone Day, celebrated on April 25th, a recent study by OntarioCasinos.com revealed that Canadians are increasingly immersed in their mobile devices, with an average of 70,46 days per year dedicated to using mobile applications. This represents about 14,46 years over an assumed 75-year lifespan using such devices.
Mobile phone usage in Canada has grown significantly, demonstrating a drastic change from the landline era. According to data from 2024, around 96,22% of Canadians are connected to the internet through mobile devices. Additionally, daily internet use on devices has increased, with Canadians spending an average of 6 hours and 18 minutes per day online by 2023, of which approximately 2 hours and 59 minutes are spent via mobile phones.
The study also showed that, despite a constant reduction in the use of landline phones — which fell by almost 16% between 2017 and 2021 — the number of smartphone owners has grown. In 2022, 84% of Canadians owned a smartphone, and another 4% owned non-smartphones.
In terms of online activity, 75% of Canadians are active on social media, with Facebook leading the way as the most popular platform, followed by Pinterest, Twitter/X and Instagram. The data also indicates that 55% of the population, who are gamers, prefer to play on mobile devices, highlighting the importance of these devices in daily entertainment.
However, some personal actions are still preferably carried out in person, such as ending relationships and quitting your job, with 77% and 68% of Canadians, respectively, opting for these approaches.
This study, conducted through secondary data collection, reflects not only an increase in the use of mobile technologies, but also a change in Canadians' social and behavioral interactions. It highlights how mobile devices have become central to daily routines, significantly transforming the way Canadians communicate, work and play.
