Examining smartphone usage behaviour in the COVID-19 era: Implications for post-pandemic usage and dependence patterns

The COVID-19 pandemic prompted a significant surge in smartphone usage, turning it into an essential tool for maintaining social connections, working remotely, and accessing information and entertainment. As a global situational and contextual disruption, this shift in smartphone usage during the pandemic has far-reaching implications, shaping post-pandemic usage patterns and potential dependencies on digital technology. Guided primarily by the Uses and Gratifications Theory and informed by a situational–contextual perspective, this study examines pandemic-induced changes in smartphone behaviour across different socio-demographic groups. A cross-sectional online survey involving 515 adult participants in Australia was employed. This study's bivariate analysis highlights the relationship between the gratifications sought and significant variations in smartphone use by age and gender. Multinomial logistic regression models reveal that individuals aged 18–40 had a higher risk of increased smartphone use during the pandemic than those aged 41 and above. Simultaneously, young adults and males were more inclined to transition their smartphone usage to other devices, with reduced work-related smartphone use. These findings suggest ongoing concerns about increased smartphone use and the potential for reliance on smartphones, particularly as situational pressures, usage frequency, and user perceptions persist beyond the pandemic. This study highlights the evolving relationship between pandemic-driven contexts and smartphone behaviour and underscores the need for further research into the long-term implications of situationally driven technology use. The findings provide a foundation for future work examining how contextual disruptions shape patterns of smartphone dependence and regulation in post-pandemic settings. • Pandemic conditions reshaped smartphone use across adult populations. • Younger adults and females showed higher vulnerability to increased use. • Device substitution suggests adaptive responses to digital constraints. • Findings inform targeted digital wellbeing and prevention strategies. • Context-sensitive policies are needed for post-pandemic technology use.