Americans lose 36 days a year to content consumption

The average American feels like they lose three days per month to content consumption, our research reveals.

Our study of 2,000 nationally representative Americans revealed that 36 days of our year are lost to scrolling, streaming, and bingeing.

And it’s worse for younger people — Gen Z Americans feel like they lose closer to five days per month.

We conducted a comprehensive study on media consumption trends and found that excessive content consumption can result in feelings of guilt, with the average respondent having three pangs of guilt per month, as well.

On average, Americans consume about six hours of content per day, with Gen Z Americans consuming closer to seven.

With World Mental Health Day on October 10, the data split respondents by self-reported mental health and found that poor mental health and media consumption are directly linked.

A woman lays on the sofa looking at her phone

Read our Media Consumption Trend Report here

Those with “very poor” mental health lose nearly six days per month to content consumption,
While 19% of people who self-report their mental health as “very poor” feel they lose 15 or more days per month.
In comparison, those with excellent and good mental health lose the least days (2.7).

This correlated to feelings of guilt, as well. Those with “very poor” mental health feel guilty the most often, with seven times per month.

Nearly half of those polled (42%) admit they feel like they consume “too much” media
36% say their mood is “often” negatively affected by something they see on social media
Gen Z Americans were far away the most likely to feel like they consumed too much media, with 66% agreeing with that sentiment.

Interestingly, those with “very poor” mental health were also found to be the most likely to use TikTok regularly (38%), and the most likely to report being “very likely” to be on their phone while watching something (46%).

Dr. Sham Singh, an MD, Ph.D. Psychology and a Harbor UCLA-trained psychiatrist at WINIT Clinic, offered insight into managing screen time to alleviate feelings of guilt.

Implement a “Tech-Free” Zone

“Creating designated areas where technology is off-limits in your home can significantly impact your daily habits,” Singh offers.

“For instance, by making your bedroom a tech-free zone, you promote better sleep hygiene and relaxation, free from the distractions of notifications and screens. Similarly, establishing a tech-free dining room encourages meaningful conversations and family bonding during meals. These intentional spaces reduce screen time, foster healthier interactions, or enjoy quiet moments.”

Set Phone-Free Intentions

“Before you reach for your phone, I advise you to take a moment to set a clear intention for its use,” says Singh.

“Ask yourself what you need to accomplish—whether it’s checking messages, researching a topic, or responding to an email. This practice encourages a more mindful approach to technology, helping you avoid the trap of mindless scrolling. Having a defined purpose lets you stay focused on your task and minimize the likelihood of getting sidetracked by social media or other distractions.”

Reflect on Content Consumption

“Keeping a journal of your experiences with various types of content can be an enlightening practice,” suggests Singh.

“After consuming media—be it social media, news articles, or videos—take a moment to jot down your feelings and thoughts. Did you feel inspired, informed, or drained? This reflection helps you discern which content enriches your life and which might feel like a time-waster. Over time, you’ll develop a clearer picture of your media consumption patterns, enabling you to make more informed choices about what to engage with in the future.”

Talker Research Media Consumption Trend Report

You can access our full 36-page Media Consumption Trend Report here

Survey methodology

This random double-opt-in survey of 2,000 representative Americans was conducted by Talker Research between July 24 and August 1, 2024.

We are sourcing from a non-probability frame and the two main sources we use are:

Traditional online access panels — where respondents opt-in to take part in online market research for an incentive
Programmatic — where respondents are online and are given the option to take part in a survey to receive a virtual incentive usually related to the online activity they are engaging in

Those who did not fit the specified sample were terminated from the survey. As the survey is fielded, dynamic online sampling is used, adjusting targeting to achieve the quotas specified as part of the sampling plan.

Regardless of which sources a respondent came from, they were directed to an Online Survey, where the survey was conducted in English; a link to the questionnaire can be shared upon request. Respondents were awarded points for completing the survey. These points have a small cash-equivalent monetary value.

Cells are only reported on for analysis if they have a minimum of 80 respondents, and statistical significance is calculated at the 95% level. Data is not weighted, but quotas and other parameters are put in place to reach the desired sample.

Interviews are excluded from the final analysis if they failed quality-checking measures. This includes:

Speeders: Respondents who complete the survey in a time that is quicker than one-third of the median length of interview are disqualified as speeders
Open ends: All verbatim responses (full open-ended questions as well as other please specify options) are checked for inappropriate or irrelevant text
Bots: Captcha is enabled on surveys, which allows the research team to identify and disqualify bots
Duplicates: Survey software has “deduping” based on digital fingerprinting, which ensures nobody is allowed to take the survey more than once

It is worth noting that this survey was only available to individuals with internet access, and the results may not be generalizable to those without internet access.