You have probably thought about cleaning the outside of your digital device (at least periodically), but what about the inside? With the sheer amount of information stored on our phones, computers, and tablets, things can get pretty messy in there. In fact, according to a new study on digital clutter, around 1 in 3 Americans say their digital environment is more disorganized than their physical environment.
Here, we break down the survey results to reveal what kind of dirt is on our devices and which states have the messiest — and the cleanest — digital spaces.
What Is Digital Clutter?
Digital clutter means having a disorganized virtual life, whether on your desktop, laptop, phone or even the cloud. You may have years of undeleted emails, songs on your playlist you never listen to, or a trash bin that never gets emptied. In the U.S., the top three forms of digital dirt were mentioned by over three-quarters of users: unused apps on phones (80%), old computer files that need to be deleted (76%), and multiple open browser windows (75%).
Just like physical clutter, digital clutter can sap productivity, increase distraction, and simply overwhelm us. In fact, 73% of Americans say that digital disorganization is as frustrating as physical disorganization in their home. Other common types of digital clutter that Americans struggle with include screenshots they don’t need (73%) and unwanted notifications (64%).
These States Have the Dirtiest Devices
When it comes to digital dirt, which states are the messiest? As it turns out, the answer depends on what metric you are using. For example, Texas has the most pending phone software updates but doesn’t make the top 5 for any other type of digital clutter. Here are some of the other biggest offenders in the computer category:
A cluttered desktop: Alabama
Software that’s not updated: Nevada
A recycle bin that needs to be emptied: Minnesota
Old files that need to be deleted: Oregon and Maine
Multiple windows open: Maine. While Maine residents are the most likely to have multiple windows open, over half of Americans typically have five or more browser tabs open during a typical web surfing session.
When all categories are tallied, the state with the dirtiest digital devices overall is Michigan (95/100). It makes the top 5 most-cluttered lists for pending software updates, unneeded screenshots, unused apps, and redundant apps. The second and third most-cluttered states were Utah (93) and Connecticut (91).
These States Have the Cleanest Devices
On the flip side, there were some clear winners in the cleanliness category. Arizona took the top spot with only 10/100 on the digital clutter scale. North Carolina was a close second (12), and West Virginia came in third (14). Rounding out the top 5 least-cluttered states were Colorado (17) and Tennessee (19).
Digital cleanliness (or lack thereof) may have an association with physical cleanliness as well. None of the top 5 digitally cleanest states made the top 5 for physical dirt. Perhaps they’re naturally more tidy, or perhaps they dedicate more time to the practice. The average American spends less than half the time (25 minutes per week) cleaning their digital devices than their physical spaces (57 minutes per week).
Several of the top 5 digitally cluttered states also made the top 5 lists for lack of physical cleanliness. For example, Utah (93) led the pack in having dust on devices and came in third for crumbs in computer keyboards. Maine (86) was in the top 5 for residents with a crack in their screen or screen protector, as well as other physical imperfections (like missing keys or dents).
Cleaning Isn’t Just for Spring
While fall may just be getting underway, there is no wrong time to clean your devices. Whether we’re talking about digital clutter or physical dirt, your devices will function better when they’re clean. For example:
Battery life lasts longer when your phone is updated.
You have more storage for important things when you delete old files and photos.
Charging is more efficient when the port is free of debris.
Since you spend many of your waking hours in your digital space, it makes good sense to dedicate time to making sure it stays as clean as your physical space.
Methodology
Secure Data Recovery surveyed 1,966 people across the United States about their digital devices in July 2023. Respondents’ ages ranged from 18 to 77 years old.
Read the full report: https://www.securedatarecovery.com/blog/states-with-the-most-digital-clutter
Discussion about this post