Retired teacher Nancy Ries loves the pursuit of knowledge.
"The other day I was thinking about my cats, and they sleep all the time and I was wondering, what do they dream about? So I said I know, I can look it up on my phone," she said.
How much is Ries on her phone?
"I hate to say it, but five to six hours a day," Ries said.
She's part of a growing number of older Americans who spend about four hours a day on digital devices. AddictionResource.net surveyed 2,000 people between the ages of 59 to 77. Half admitted they check their phones within an hour of waking up and 40% felt discomfort when separated from their device.
"One of the cornerstones of digital addiction is the idea that we start to feel anxiety when we do not have our devices with us," said Chatham University's Monica Riordan, Ph.D., who specializes in computer-mediated communication. She said phones have become a central part of our lives not just for communication and social media, but for things like plane tickets, reservations and shopping.
"How do I scan and buy things without being able to use my Apple Wallet?" Riordan said, giving an example.
Phones offer so much freedom, but they can also keep you captive.
"Older people, I think, struggle with isolation and loneliness quite a bit more than people who regularly see others their age. They're going to work. They're going to school," she said.
Excessive screen time is associated with negative mental health outcomes, like depression and anxiety.
"If it is interfering with your ability to lead a healthy lifestyle, then you may have a problem," said Riordan.
In the survey, 50% had not tried to decrease their screen time and about 30% tried but failed, which experts say highlights the challenges in modifying digital habits.
Experts recommend limiting recreational scrolling to two hours a day. Ries said her screen opens up the world to her.
"I'm happy with what I'm doing. Even if somebody tells me, 'Do you realize that you're addicted to the phone?' I'll say, I'm OK with that," Ries said.