New Study Reveals the Most Tech-Overwhelmed States: Where People Struggle Most with Technology
New research highlights which states struggle most with everyday tech tasks, frequently turning to Google for help.
A recent study by GrowthScribe identifies the states most confused by technology, often searching for help with questions like “how to screenshot,” “how to block a phone number,” and “how to write an email.”
- Kentucky ranks as the number one state where residents struggle the most with technology. Kentucky residents are currently Googling tech-related questions an average of 152,000 times per month, which equates to 337 searches per 10,000 residents.
- Georgia lands in the second position among the most tech-overwhelmed states, with Texas coming in third.
- The most tech-savvy state is South Dakota, with residents Googling tech-related questions an average of 16,000 times per month. That’s 185 searches per 10,000 residents, only half the rate of tech-related searches in Kentucky.
The research conducted by GrowthScribe analyzes all 50 US states based on the frequency of Google searches for tech-related questions.
The dataset consists of 286 keywords, such as “how to screenshot,” “how to block a phone number,” “how to recall an email,” “how to scan QR code,” “how to set up voicemail on iPhone,” “how to fax from iPhone,” and “how to write an email.”
The search volume for each keyword was aggregated to obtain a total number of searches for each state. This total was then standardized by comparing it to the population, calculating the number of searches per 10,000 people for each state.
Top 10 Most Tech-Overwhelmed States
Kentucky ranks as the number one state where residents struggle the most with technology, making it the most tech-overwhelmed state in the U.S.
Kentucky residents are currently Googling tech-related questions an average of 152,000 times per month, which equates to 337 searches per 10,000 residents.
Popular search terms in Kentucky include “how to delete Facebook account,” “how to screenshot on Windows,” and “how to screen record on iPhone.”
In second place is Georgia, with 284 searches per 10,000 residents and a total monthly search volume of 309,000 tech-related questions. Georgia’s most searched queries are “how to screenshot on Windows” and “how to delete Instagram account.”
Texas takes the third spot, with 281 searches per 10,000 residents and an impressive 843,000 monthly searches. Popular searches in Texas include “how to screenshot,” “how to screen record on iPhone,” and “how to block someone.”
Hawaii ranks fourth with 279 searches per 10,000 residents, totaling around 40,000 tech-related searches per month.
Following closely behind is Nevada in fifth place, with 274 searches per 10,000 residents and a monthly search volume of 87,000. In Nevada, the top searches are “how to screenshot,” “how to screen record,” and “how to factory reset iPhone.”
Rounding out the top ten are California, Colorado, Utah, New York, and Maryland, highlighting a consistent trend of tech-related search queries across the country.
Top 10 Most Tech-Savvy States
South Dakota ranks as the most tech-savvy state, with residents Googling tech-related questions an average of 16,000 times per month. This equates to 185 searches per 10,000 residents, almost half the rate of tech-related searches seen in Kentucky. South Dakota’s top tech search queries include “how to delete Facebook account” and “how to screenshot on Windows.”
Coming in at the second spot is Montana, with residents making 189 tech-related searches per 10,000 people, amounting to a total of 21,000 monthly searches. The most commonly searched tech questions in Montana are “how to screenshot on Windows” and “how to delete Instagram account.”
West Virginia claims the third position, with 193 searches per 10,000 residents and a monthly average of 34,000 tech-related queries. Top searches in West Virginia include “how to screenshot” and “how to screen record.”
Alaska and Wyoming are tied for fourth place, each with 194 tech-related searches per 10,000 residents.
Rounding out the top ten are Vermont, Idaho, Wisconsin, Maine, and North Dakota, securing positions six through ten, respectively.
A spokesperson for GrowthScribe has commented on the study findings,
“Our data reveals that Americans look up tech-related help over 8 million times a month on average.
Nationwide, the most frequently searched question is ‘how to screenshot on Windows,’ with 362,000 monthly searches. Other popular queries include ‘how to recall an email in Outlook,’ ‘how to delete Instagram account,’ ‘how to delete Facebook account,’ and ‘how to screen record on iPhone.’
We also found significant regional differences; for example, Kentucky residents made 337 tech help searches per 10,000 people, whereas South Dakota had just 185 searches per 10,000 residents, suggesting that South Dakotans face fewer tech challenges.”
Full Ranking the Most Tech-Overwhelmed States
1. Kentucky (152,060 monthly searches, 337 searches per 10,000 residents)
2. Georgia (309,680 monthly searches, 284 searches per 10,000 residents)
3. Texas (843,710 monthly searches, 281 searches per 10,000 residents)
4. Hawaii (40,150 monthly searches, 279 searches per 10,000 residents)
5. Nevada (87,060 monthly searches, 274 searches per 10,000 residents)
6. California (1,059,950 monthly searches, 272 searches per 10,000 residents)
7. Colorado (156,570 monthly searches, 268 searches per 10,000 residents)
8. Utah (89,850 monthly searches, 266 searches per 10,000 residents)
9. New York (522,610 monthly searches, 266 searches per 10,000 residents)
10. Maryland (161,910 monthly searches, 263 searches per 10,000 residents)
11. Illinois (328,120 monthly searches, 261 searches per 10,000 residents)
12. Virginia (224,400 monthly searches, 258 searches per 10,000 residents)
13. North Carolina (276,450 monthly searches, 258 searches per 10,000 residents)
14. Arizona (188,720 monthly searches, 256 searches per 10,000 residents)
15. Florida (565,240 monthly searches, 254 searches per 10,000 residents)
16. Massachusetts (174,430 monthly searches, 250 searches per 10,000 residents)
17. Tennessee (175,520 monthly searches, 249 searches per 10,000 residents)
18. Washington (191,590 monthly searches, 246 searches per 10,000 residents)
19. New Jersey (220,580 monthly searches, 238 searches per 10,000 residents)
20. Connecticut (85,570 monthly searches, 236 searches per 10,000 residents)
21. Alabama (119,270 monthly searches, 235 searches per 10,000 residents)
22. South Carolina (124,090 monthly searches, 235 searches per 10,000 residents)
23. Louisiana (107,380 monthly searches, 234 searches per 10,000 residents)
24. Oregon (99,100 monthly searches, 234 searches per 10,000 residents)
25. Delaware (23,640 monthly searches, 232 searches per 10,000 residents)
26. Ohio (266,250 monthly searches, 226 searches per 10,000 residents)
27. Pennsylvania (289,970 monthly searches, 224 searches per 10,000 residents)
28. Missouri (138,100 monthly searches, 224 searches per 10,000 residents)
29. Indiana (152,460 monthly searches, 223 searches per 10,000 residents)
30. Minnesota (127,450 monthly searches, 223 searches per 10,000 residents)
31. Oklahoma (89,450 monthly searches, 223 searches per 10,000 residents)
32. Michigan (222,830 monthly searches, 222 searches per 10,000 residents)
33. Rhode Island (24,240 monthly searches, 222 searches per 10,000 residents)
34. Arkansas (66,680 monthly searches, 219 searches per 10,000 residents)
35. Nebraska (43,030 monthly searches, 219 searches per 10,000 residents)
36. New Mexico (45,440 monthly searches, 215 searches per 10,000 residents)
37. Kansas (63,910 monthly searches, 210 searches per 10,000 residents)
38. Mississippi (61,090 monthly searches, 208 searches per 10,000 residents)
39. New Hampshire (28,930 monthly searches, 207 searches per 10,000 residents)
40. Iowa (65,770 monthly searches, 205 searches per 10,000 residents)
41. North Dakota (15,980 monthly searches, 205 searches per 10,000 residents)
42. Maine (28,030 monthly searches, 202 searches per 10,000 residents)
43. Wisconsin (117,900 monthly searches, 200 searches per 10,000 residents)
44. Idaho (38,460 monthly searches, 198 searches per 10,000 residents)
45. Vermont (12,720 monthly searches, 197 searches per 10,000 residents)
46. Wyoming (11,260 monthly searches, 194 searches per 10,000 residents)
47. Alaska (14,200 monthly searches, 194 searches per 10,000 residents)
48. West Virginia (34,170 monthly searches, 193 searches per 10,000 residents)
49. Montana (21,270 monthly searches, 189 searches per 10,000 residents)
50. South Dakota (16,870 monthly searches, 185 searches per 10,000 residents)
The research conducted by GrowthScribe analyzes all 50 US states based on the frequency of Google searches for tech-related questions.
Data was gathered from Google Keyword Planner, which provides monthly and annual Google search volume for key phrases and terms across the US and for each state.
Source: Google Keyword Planner
Story credit: GrowthScribe https://growthscribe.com/
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Author: David Keech
David Keech is a retired teacher and works as a sportswriter, sports official and as an educational consultant. He has reported on amateur sports since 2011, known as 'KeechDaVoice.' David can be reached at [email protected]
