--- title: Smartphones Can Change the Game in Catching Up Gen Z - skillsgapp description: Read how the increased usage of smartphones can serve as a positive when cashing up Gen Z in learning loss and skills development. image: https://skillionairehq.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/smartphone-1024x613-1.jpeg --- [![web\_skillionaire\_logo](https://skillionairehq.com/hs-fs/hubfs/2026%20Homepage/web_skillionaire_logo.png?width=420&height=108&name=web_skillionaire_logo.png)](https://skillionairehq.com) - [Partner With Us](https://skillionairehq.com/partner) - [About](https://skillionairehq.com/about) - [Blog](https://skillionairehq.com/blog) - [Press](https://skillionairehq.com/blog/tag/news) - [Contact Us](https://skillionairehq.com/contact) - [Visit Skillionaire Games](https://www.skillionairegames.com/) gaming # Smartphones Can Change the Game in Catching Up Gen Z Read how the increased usage of smartphones can serve as a positive when cashing up Gen Z in learning loss and skills development. [skillsgapp](https://skillionairehq.com/blog/author/skillsgapp) Mar 30, 2021 [mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20https://skillionairehq.com/blog/smartphones-can-change-the-game-in-catching-up-genz&utm_medium=social&utm_source=email%20&body=Check%20out%20https://skillionairehq.com/blog/smartphones-can-change-the-game-in-catching-up-genz&utm_medium=social&utm_source=email](mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20https://skillionairehq.com/blog/smartphones-can-change-the-game-in-catching-up-genz&utm_medium=social&utm_source=email%20&body=Check%20out%20https://skillionairehq.com/blog/smartphones-can-change-the-game-in-catching-up-genz&utm_medium=social&utm_source=email) [gaming](https://skillionairehq.com/blog/tag/gaming) [Gen Z](https://skillionairehq.com/blog/tag/gen-z) [edutainment](https://skillionairehq.com/blog/tag/edutainment) [genz](https://skillionairehq.com/blog/tag/genz) ![](https://skillionairehq.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/smartphone-1024x613-1.jpeg) [Statistically speaking](https://techjury.net/blog/smartphone-usage-statistics/), one out of two of you is holding a phone right now. And if you’re not, you’re likely about to, as most mobile users check their phones 63 times a day. **Smartphone Usage: Going (and Growing) Strong** From texting to social media to streaming Netflix, the functionality of phones make it nearly impossible to put one down. Over this past year, the prowess of digital technology served as our tether to maintaining an education, connecting with loved ones, and even receiving healthcare. And if they say 21 days make a habit, try 365 of them. It’s safe to say, smartphones will remain snug in the palms of our hands. According to [techjury](https://techjury.net/blog/how-much-time-does-the-average-american-spend-on-their-phone/#:~:text=The%20average%20mobile%20phone%20user%20checks%20their%20phone,as%20much%20as%2086%20times%20in%20a%20day): • There are 3.5 billion smartphone users in the world today • Americans spend and average of 5.4 hours on their phone a day • American teens spend an average of 9 hours a day in front of screens, and more than 7 of those are spent on mobile phones. Another [study](https://www.emarketer.com/content/electronic-device-usage-nearly-doubled-among-us-kids-during-pandemic) reported that electronic device usage nearly doubled among U.S. kids during the pandemic. ![chart on phone usage during COVID](https://skillionairehq.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/stat-digitalusageduringCOVID-1024x536-1.png?width=1024&height=536&name=stat-digitalusageduringCOVID-1024x536-1.png) **Gaming is a Good Thing** *So just what are our kids doing on their phones all day?* According [financesonline](https://financesonline.com/generation-z-statistics/), 75% of Gen Zers selected smartphones as their device of choice for everyday use, with 58% reporting playing games as their favorite pastime. That’s a lot of game time. [The COVID-19 lockdown](https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2020-05-28-mobile-gaming-sees-record-weekly-downloads-amid-covid-19-lockdown) played a big part in this, of course, as mobile gaming helped serve as the universal antidote to the just-as-contagious side effect of the virus, boredom. Games just may be the unsung hero over this past year, as they influenced our kids positively in different ways. Gaming makes us more competitive, for example, which means better problem-solvers. They can also enhance critical thinking, and expand our community beyond our four walls with those with similar interests.   Take Pokémon GO, where users navigate the real world using an in-game map that allows them to visit “PokéStops”. While the app may appear to play to the wanderlust, one[recent study’s findings](https://games.jmir.org/2020/2/e15967/) reported respondents feeling more social, and expressed more positive emotions with increased motivation to explore their surroundings.” This reflects the opposite of the stigma associated with video games, in part, because these are *mobile*. Mobile games can go where parents and educators can’t: Everywhere our kids go. So with learning loss at an all-time high due to the pandemic, maybe it’s ok that our kids are looking down at their phones, if they’re playing games that can teach them something meaningful … especially the ones that encourage them to [play with a hire purpose](https://skillsgapp.com). #### Related Posts gaming ### [WORK ETHIC. Can it be taught?](https://skillionairehq.com/blog/work-ethic) Read what industry professionals have to say when answering this question - and why it matters in preparing today's workforce. skillsgapp Aug 3, 2021 News ### [WorkingNation: An avatar-guided career path](https://skillionairehq.com/blog/mobile-gaming-career-paths) Read the latest coverage on skillsgapp's gamified workforce solution by the leading publication in workforce development. skillsgapp Jul 8, 2022 gaming ### [Career Gaming: Not Your Parents’ Workforce Development Tactics](https://skillionairehq.com/blog/innovating-workforce-development-2) Read how to shake things up to attract the next generation of workforce using innovative and engaging technology known as career gaming. skillsgapp Sep 20, 2023 ### Read our blogs before everybody else does. Be the first to hear from us and special guests about the latest trends and tools for building your workforce pipelines. 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