A new study has ranked the United Arab Emirates as the world’s most tech-dependent country, with every resident having internet access and individuals spending nearly eight hours each day on digital devices.
The research conducted by TRG Datacenters assessed global reliance on digital platforms, considering indicators such as daily screen time, social media usage, adoption rates for Instagram, TikTok and Netflix, and overall internet penetration. A Tech Dependency Index was developed to rank countries according to time spent on devices and uptake of popular platforms.
Screen time trends
Findings showed that since 2020, worldwide screen time has increased by 42%. Over the same period, face-to-face social interactions have fallen by almost a third, reflecting a marked shift in how people choose to communicate and spend their leisure time.
Residents of the UAE spend an average of 7 hours and 59 minutes daily on screens, with nearly three hours devoted specifically to social media platforms. Among these, TikTok is particularly popular in the country, registering more than 94,300 users per 100,000 inhabitants, outpacing Instagram in terms of adoption.
“Screen time continues to climb, with social platforms now taking up more hours than television ever did,” says the TRG Datacenters spokesperson. “Unlike TV, which had fixed schedules, social feeds never run out. That creates a cycle where people consume more than they planned and find it harder to disconnect. At the same time, this constant engagement has fueled entire industries that wouldn’t exist otherwise. The real challenge ahead is finding balance: using these platforms for opportunities without letting them replace rest, focus, and time offline.”
Country comparisons
Brazil ranks second on the Tech Dependency Index, with citizens logging the longest daily screen time in the world at an average of 9 hours and 9 minutes. Brazilians dedicate 3 hours and 32 minutes per day to social media, the highest global figure, and Instagram is particularly prevalent, with around two-thirds of the country’s population active on the platform.
Saudi Arabia is third, where people record just over 7 hours a day of screen time, dedicating about three hours to social media. TikTok is the leading platform in Saudi Arabia, with adoption rates more than twice that of Instagram among the local population.
Turkey places fourth in the ranking, with residents averaging 7 hours and 13 minutes daily on digital devices. Instagram is used by a similar proportion of the population to Brazil, and overall social media usage occupies almost three hours of average daily screen time.
Other key findings
Singapore is fifth, with individuals spending 6 hours and 33 minutes a day on their devices. Adoption of streaming platforms is notable, with around one in six Singaporeans holding a Netflix subscription. Internet access is universal in Singapore, echoing the situation in the UAE.
Portugal follows, as locals spend an average of 7 hours and 33 minutes daily across digital devices. Close to two-thirds of the Portuguese population favour Instagram, and typically spend about 2.3 hours daily on social media platforms.
In the United States, which ranks seventh, average screen time stands at 6 hours and 40 minutes a day. Both Instagram and TikTok are similarly popular, while social media use accounts for more than two hours of daily activity for Americans.
Australia is eighth, with the population spending approximately 6 hours a day on digital devices. Almost a quarter of Australians subscribe to Netflix (24.3%), and more than half use Instagram on a regular basis.
Ninth-ranked Norway’s residents spend around 5 hours and 37 minutes per day on devices. There is broad access to the internet, as well as a notable interest in both Netflix and Instagram.
Sweden completes the top ten, with an average of 6 hours of daily screen time among its population. Instagram is the leading social platform in Sweden, and residents devote roughly two hours to social media every day.
Digital landscape shifts
The report demonstrates clear contrasts and similarities across different regions. Universal internet access in the UAE and Singapore contrasts with lower device and connectivity metrics in other countries, while social media and streaming platforms are found to play a substantial role in daily routines worldwide. Scandinavian countries such as Norway and Sweden also rank among the most tech-dependent, with significant usage of Instagram and streaming services.
According to TRG Datacenters, the increasing penetration and influence of digital technologies are reshaping work, leisure, and communication patterns across the globe. The study highlights a growing dependency on digital platforms and a decline in traditional forms of offline interaction, raising important questions about how societies will adapt to these changes in the years ahead.
