Media consumption trend report
The current media landscape is more fragmented and personalized now than it has ever been before. Our report reveals how different generations consume media and how our behaviors can have a significant impact on, among other things, our mental health.
America's media habits
Media is no longer the homogenous monolith it once was. With technology progressing at breakneck speed as we soar through the digital age, society has been forced to adapt as a result. Streaming platforms have skyrocketed in popularity over the more traditional cable TV models and the exponential rise of short-form social media content looks to unseat it as younger generations dominate the trajectory of the shape that media will take in the near future.
We polled 2,000 nationally representative Americans to better understand people’s behaviors and attitudes when it comes to consuming media — from how much time and money we spend, to our preferred mediums, and how the modern world may be affecting our attention spans and mental health.
Key takeaways
Time
The average respondent spends 6 hours consuming some type of media every day.
Gen Z consumes 6.6 hours per day and are most likely to consume 15+ hours per day (11%).
The average respondent feels like they “lose” 3 days per month to content consumption.
Money
Only 14% of Gen Z Americans and 20% of millennials have paid for cable in the past year.
Netflix (49%) and Amazon Prime (43%) are the most popular streaming services Americans have paid for in the past year.
The average respondent spends about $67 per month on various media services.
Impact
Older respondents were more likely to report their mental health as Excellent and Good than younger generations.
Gen Z was most likely to agree that they consume too much media (66%).
52% of Gen Z respondents agree their mood is often negatively affected by social media.
Executive summary
Media is no longer the homogenous monolith it once was. With technology progressing at breakneck speed as we soar through the digital age, society has been forced to adapt as a result. Streaming platforms have skyrocketed in popularity over the more traditional cable TV models and the exponential rise of short-form social media content looks to unseat it as younger generations dominate the trajectory of the shape that media will take in the near future.
We polled 2,000 nationally representative Americans to better understand people’s behaviors and attitudes when it comes to consuming media — from how much time and money we spend, to our preferred media types, and how the modern world may be affecting our attention spans and mental health.
These are the key takeaways:
- The average respondent spends 6 hours consuming some type of media every day
- Gen Z consumes 6.6 hours per day and are most likely to consume 15+ hours per day (11%)
- The average respondent spends about $67 per month on various media services
- Only 14% of Gen Z Americans and 20% of millennials have paid for cable in the past year
- Netflix (49%) and Amazon Prime (43%) are the most popular streaming services for Americans to have paid for in the past year
- The average respondent feels like they “lose” 3 days per month to content consumption
- Gen Z was most likely to agree with that they consume too much media (66%)
- 52% of Gen Z respondents agree their mood is often negatively affected by social media
Executive summary
Media is no longer the homogenous monolith it once was. With technology progressing at breakneck speed as we soar through the digital age, society has been forced to adapt as a result. Streaming platforms have skyrocketed in popularity over the more traditional cable TV models and the exponential rise of short-form social media content looks to unseat it as younger generations dominate the trajectory of the shape that media will take in the near future.
We polled 2,000 nationally representative Americans to better understand people’s behaviors and attitudes when it comes to consuming modern and traditional media.
These are the key takeaways:
- The average respondent spends 6 hours consuming some type of media every day
- Gen Z consumes 6.6 hours per day and are most likely to consume 15+ hours per day (11%)
- The average respondent spends about $67 per month on various media services
- Only 14% of Gen Z Americans and 20% of millennials have paid for cable in the past year
- Netflix (49%) and Amazon Prime (43%) are the most popular streaming services for Americans to have paid for in the past year
- The average respondent feels like they “lose” 3 days per month to content consumption
- Gen Z was most likely to agree with that they consume too much media (66%)
- 52% of Gen Z respondents agree their mood is often negatively affected by social media
Five focus areas in the report
Media consumption by the numbers
How much time and money do we spend?
The different ways we consume media
Which mediums and platforms do we prefer?
Staying up-to-date
How do we get our news and entertainment?
Our attention spans
Is the modern world making us lose interest?
Our mental health
Who is getting "lost" in the content mines?
Would you like to know more about Talker Research, or discuss our report findings?
Get in touch with our team and we can provide you with more information, or set up a call. We’d love to talk.
Why Talker Research?
Accredited
Researchers are members of the Market Research Society & ESOMAR. We are also part of AAPOR's Transparency Initiative.
Accurate
Our trusted research data has informed strategy, news stories and thought leadership content for over a decade.
Affordable
We provide flexible and cost-effective online research solutions to organizations of all sizes.
Awesome
Our friendly team provide expert advice and end-to-end support and project management.