A viral social media trend has left iPhone users across the UK and beyond reeling after revealing the staggering total amount of time spent glued to their devices over an entire year.
The Viral Revelation That Sparked a Digital Awakening
The conversation was ignited by a TikTok video from a 27-year-old woman named Lejla, based in New Jersey. In the clip, which has amassed over 5.4 million views, Lejla expressed her shock after seeing another user's calculated screen time for 2025, which totalled a jaw-dropping 130 days.
"Checked mine and I’m SICK. Phone free fall starts tomorrow," she wrote in the caption, capturing the horrified reaction of millions. Her post prompted a flood of users to manually work out their own yearly totals, leading to widespread dismay and introspection about modern smartphone dependence.
How to Check Your Own Screen Time – And Why Apple Doesn't Make It Easy
While iPhone users can easily find their daily and weekly screen time averages in the Settings app under 'Screen Time', Apple does not store long-term data. This means you cannot see a ready-made annual report.
To calculate a yearly total, users must either manually export their data or rely on third-party applications. Popular tools for this include apps like OffScreen or RealizD, or custom iOS Shortcuts that can generate personalised recaps by accessing your Screen Time logs.
Lejla, who spoke to Newsweek, confirmed she now uses tracking apps as she actively works to reduce her usage. "Right now, my screen time averages about six hours a day... One of my personal goals for the new year is to cut it in half and be more present offline," she stated.
A Chorus of Dread and Denial in the Comments
The reaction in the comments section of the viral video highlighted a mix of fear, humour, and outright denial. Many users admitted they were too afraid to confront their own data.
- "I won’t be doing this for personal reasons," one person quipped.
- Another claimed, "81 days I’m good (let’s just ignore my screen time on my iPad)."
- A third commented, "I choose my good night sleep over this info thanks."
Others who braved the calculation shared shocking figures, with one user admitting to a total of 228 days for the year, prompting them to question, "I think I’ve done something wrong."
Taking Control: iPhone's Built-in Tools for a Digital Diet
For those motivated to change their habits after this alarming insight, the iPhone's Screen Time settings offer built-in tools to help. Users can schedule 'Downtime' to block non-essential apps during set periods, or set specific App Limits to curb time spent on particular categories like social media or games.
The feature also provides a detailed breakdown of app and website activity, showing exactly where those hours are disappearing each day and week. This data is the first crucial step for anyone aiming to launch their own "phone free fall" and reclaim time from the digital void.
