The Journey of the Thumb: How Far Does Your Scrolling Really Take You?

Wake up. Scroll.

Lunch break. Scroll.

Commute home. Scroll.

It’s second nature. Flicking through feeds. Tapping likes. Swiping videos.

But here’s something you probably haven’t thought about: how far does your thumb actually travel in a year?

At Pixelworx, we spend our days creating content built for thumbs in motion. So we did the maths and the results are eye-opening.

Assuming average screen use of 2 hours per day, scrolling at around 25 swipes per minute (1.5 inches per swipe), your thumb covers:

That’s right. Your thumb alone runs a marathon every single year.

26 miles might not sound like much… until you start comparing it.

Here’s where your thumb could take you in just one year of scrolling:

Take those miles and stretch them over the years, and the distances get wild:

Not all thumbs travel the same distance. Scrolling time (and behaviour) shifts by age, so your creative should too:

Gen Z (16–24): averaging 3–4 hours daily on social, thumbs can rack up ~39–52 miles/year. They scroll fast and expect instant hooks.
Millennials (25–40): ~2–3 hours/day = ~26–39 miles/year. Consistent but purposeful scrollers. They value quick clarity and then story.
Gen X (40–55): ~1–2 hours/day = ~13–26 miles/year. Fewer miles but deeper focus. Content needs to be relevant and structured.
Boomers (55+): lowest daily mileage, but attention sticks when content is clear and familiar.

For brands, understanding these patterns means creating campaigns that respect how each demographic scrolls, swipes, and engages.

Your audience is already working hard to keep up with their feeds.

The least your content can do is make the journey worth it.

That means:

Winning attention in the first 3 seconds.
Shaping content for each platform and audience, not just resizing.
Delivering high-quality content that respects brand identity while driving performance.

At Pixelworx, that’s what we specialise in: content designed to stop the scroll and give your thumbs a rest.

Because if your audience is putting in marathon effort with their thumbs, your content should go the distance too.

Looking to tailor your content to how different audiences actually scroll, swipe, and watch? Let’s chat.