Americans lose almost 36 days a year consuming content on screens, according to a survey by Talker Research of around 2,000 people in the United States, reported by Politis Journal. The figure is markedly higher for Generation Z, who spend close to five days a month in front of a screen.
Hours of content every day
Endless scrolling on popular digital platforms, watching videos and content consumption more broadly take up a significant part of respondents’ daily lives. According to the findings:
- Respondents lose an average of three days a month consuming content
- For Generation Z, this rises to almost five days a month
- Americans say they consume around six hours of content a day
- For Generation Z, this reaches almost seven hours a day
Link between screen time and mental health
The survey looked not only at how much time people spend in front of screens but also at the effects of that use. According to the findings, poor mental health and excessive content consumption are closely linked. Most respondents reported feelings of guilt and dissatisfaction because other activities were being pushed aside.
- People who rated their mental health as “very poor” spend almost six days a month consuming content
- 19% of this group feel they lose 15 days or more a month
- Those reporting excellent or good mental health lose the fewest days, about 2.7 a month
Guilt over content consumption
42% of respondents admit they believe they consume too much content, while 36% say what they see on social media has a negative effect on their mood.
Generation Z respondents were by far the most likely to feel they consume too much content, at 66%. Those who rated their mental health as very poor were more likely to use TikTok regularly (38%). In addition, 46% of this group said they use their phone while watching something else, such as scrolling while watching a television series.
Practical steps to cut screen time
Psychiatrist Sham Singh of the WINIT Clinic in Miami suggests several practical changes to help manage screen time.
The first is to create screen-free spaces at home. For example, the bedroom and dining room can serve as zones where phones and other electronic devices are not allowed. This limits distractions and leaves more room for rest, sleep and meaningful conversation.
He also recommends using the phone with a specific purpose. Before opening an app, users should ask themselves whether it is worth it and what exactly they want to achieve: replying to a message, looking up information, or simply passing the time. Being clear about the real intention can help avoid unconscious, endless scrolling.
Finally, he suggests noticing how content affects us. After browsing social media or watching videos, users can ask whether they feel informed or inspired, or instead drained. Keeping a record of these observations helps identify which content is beneficial and which is simply a waste of time.
