Organization Encourages People to Enjoy the Many Unplugged Delights of the Season
WASHINGTON, DC — December 17, 2015— In the midst of the holiday season, “unplugging” from laptops, tablets and smartphones is more important than ever, but Americans in some US states are not as good at it as others. The National Cable & Telecommunications Association (NCTA) today released the names of the top ten states that have trouble unplugging from the Internet and encouraged them to enjoy the countless other pleasures of this time of year.
The organization’s Onward, Internet online survey of more than 100,000 Americans about their use of, and relationship with, the Internet, found that people in New Jersey have the toughest time staying off their connected devices with 26.1% of them saying it is difficult. That state is followed closely by California (25.7%), Maryland (24%), Rhode Island (23.8%), Georgia (23.3%), Virginia (23.2%), New York (23%), Alabama (23%), Texas (22.8%) and Utah (22.4%).
Americans can take a cue from some of the more laid-back states in the country this holiday season. The state that seems to best understand the beauty of unplugged time is Wyoming where only 12.6% of the residents have trouble setting their devices aside. Wyoming is followed by other relaxed states Montana (13.4%), North Dakota (14.1%), South Dakota (14.8%) and Idaho where 15.5% have trouble unplugging. (The complete list of 50 states and their rankings is at the end of this news release.)
On average, 21.7% of Americans have trouble unplugging, which maps closely to the recent Pew Research Center survey that showed that 21% of Americans “go online almost constantly.” The good news is that 49% of the Onward, Internet respondents across the nation don’t think it is that hard to take a break from the Internet.
“The Internet has clearly enhanced our lives in countless ways yet the importance of taking a break, especially during the holiday season, can’t be overstated,” said Brian Dietz, Vice President, Communications & Digital Strategy at NCTA. “People can rest assured the Internet will always be there to provide information and entertainment, but unplugging for at least a few hours is possibly the best gift they can give themselves and others.”
What Percent of Residents in Each US State Say it is Difficult to Unplug from the Internet?
| Rank | US State | % of People |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Jersey | 26.10% |
| 2 | California | 25.70% |
| 3 | Maryland | 24% |
| 4 | Rhode Island | 23.80% |
| 5 | Georgia | 23.30% |
| 6 | Virginia | 23.20% |
| 7 | New York | 23.00% |
| 8 | Alabama | 23.00% |
| 9 | Texas | 22.80% |
| 10 | Utah | 22.40% |
| 11 | Washington | 22.40% |
| 12 | Kansas | 22.10% |
| 13 | Massachusetts | 22.00% |
| 14 | Illinois | 21.80% |
| 15 | Missouri | 21.60% |
| 16 | Florida | 21.60% |
| 17 | Pennsylvania | 21.60% |
| 18 | Kentucky | 21.30% |
| 19 | North Carolina | 21.20% |
| 20 | Michigan | 21.10% |
| 21 | Connecticut | 21.10% |
| 22 | Minnesota | 20.90% |
| 23 | Ohio | 20.90% |
| 24 | Louisiana | 20.50% |
| 25 | Delaware | 20.00% |
| 26 | Alaska | 19.80% |
| 27 | Colorado | 19.60% |
| 28 | Nevada | 19.50% |
| 29 | New Mexico | 19.40% |
| 30 | Maine | 19.40% |
| 31 | Arkansas | 19.30% |
| 32 | Oklahoma | 19.30% |
| 33 | Wisconsin | 19.10% |
| 34 | Oregon | 19.10% |
| 35 | Mississippi | 19.00% |
| 36 | New Hampshire | 19.00% |
| 37 | Hawaii | 18.90% |
| 38 | Arizona | 18.80% |
| 39 | Tennessee | 18.60% |
| 40 | Iowa | 18.50% |
| 41 | West Virginia | 18.40% |
| 42 | Indiana | 18.40% |
| 43 | Nebraska | 18.10% |
| 44 | South Carolina | 18.00% |
| 45 | Vermont | 16.40% |
| 46 | Idaho | 15.50% |
| 47 | South Dakota | 14.80% |
| 48 | North Dakota | 14.10% |
| 49 | Montana | 13.40% |
| 50 | Wyoming | 12.60% |
| National Average: 21.70% | ||
