A survey of about 2,000 people in the United States by Talker Research found that adults lose close to 36 days a year to content consumption on screens. The time loss is sharper among Generation Z, and respondents who rate their mental health poorly report the heaviest use and the most regret.
How much time the survey found people spend
On average, respondents said they lose about three days a month to consuming content, and they estimated roughly six hours of content a day. For Generation Z, the figures are higher: almost five days a month and nearly seven hours a day. The survey measured how people perceive their own use, so these numbers reflect self-reported time rather than device logs.
The link between mental health and heavy use
The survey also asked about effects, not just duration. Respondents who described their mental health as "very poor" reported spending almost six days a month on content, and 19% of them felt they lost 15 days or more monthly. Those who rated their mental health as excellent or good reported the lowest losses, about 2.7 days a month. The findings show an association; the survey does not establish whether heavy use causes poor mental health, or the reverse.
Feelings of guilt and dissatisfaction were common. Overall, 42% of respondents said they consume too much content, and 36% said what they see on social media hurts their mood. Among Generation Z, 66% said they consume too much, the highest share of any group. The survey also found that 46% of respondents with very poor mental health use their phones while watching something else, such as scrolling during a television series.
Practical steps suggested by a psychiatrist
Sham Singh, a psychiatrist at the WINIT Clinic in Miami, recommends several changes. Households can designate screen-free zones, such as the bedroom and dining room, where phones and other devices stay out of reach, which can make room for rest, sleep and conversation. He also suggests deciding on a purpose before opening an app, whether that is answering a message, finding information or simply passing time, which can interrupt unplanned scrolling.
- Create screen-free spaces at home, starting with the bedroom and dining room.
- Name a specific reason before opening an app.
- After using social media or watching videos, note whether you feel informed, inspired or drained.
- Keep a short record of those observations to see which content is worth your time.
Singh's suggestions are general guidance from one clinician, and the survey's figures come from self-reporting. Still, the practices are simple to test within a household and may help people notice how their screen habits affect their daily routines.