Consumers & Screentime: Supporting Digital Lives
As people recalibrate from pandemic-era digital overload, they’re adopting new attitudes towards screentime – time spent engaging with phones, computers or TVs. Some are implementing tactics to curb their digital dependence, while others seek a mindful tech equilibrium. These habits offer lessons for brands looking to retain a positive, supportive presence in consumers’ digital lives.
The State of Screentime
Stringent Tech Minimalists
Nimbly Managed Digital Lives
Screen-Savvy Children
Experts estimate that people worldwide are spending about 60-80% more time online now than they did pre-pandemic (Deloitte, 2023). As consumers pass more time with screens, they increasingly understand screentime as a tool that assumes multiple roles and purposes – both good and bad – from connecting with friends and relaxing to numbing uncomfortable feelings.
Experts estimate that people worldwide are spending about 60-80% more time online now than they did pre-pandemic (Deloitte, 2023). As consumers pass more time with screens, they increasingly understand screentime as a tool that assumes multiple roles and purposes – both good and bad – from connecting with friends and relaxing to numbing uncomfortable feelings.
Summary
The State of Screentime | Experts estimate that people worldwide are spending about 60-80% more time online now than they did pre-pandemic (Deloitte, 2023). As consumers pass more time with screens, they increasingly understand screentime as a tool that assumes multiple roles and purposes – both good and bad – from connecting with friends and relaxing to numbing uncomfortable feelings. |
Stringent Tech Minimalists | Some consumers moderate their screentime by placing roadblocks around device use. From apps that block addictive platforms and the rise of dumb phones (sans internet) to the boom in digital detoxes, these techniques appeal to those embracing concepts like digital minimalism and monk mode. |
Nimbly Managed Digital Lives | Acknowledging tech’s potential benefits, many people are resetting their screen habits with a mindfulness-first approach. Supported by apps, these consumers embrace “agentic tech use”: they see themselves as having ultimate control over their digital interactions – a mindset that’s linked to better mental health, according to research. |
Screen-Savvy Children | As discussed in Futureproofing Gen Alpha’s Childhood, the debate about kid-appropriate screentime encompasses both education and entertainment. While some governments try to restrict children’s internet access, parents increasingly appreciate educational device use, whether that’s advancing their kids’ academic achievements or teaching them to develop a healthy relationship with technology. |
Consumers & Screentime: Supporting Digital Lives
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Offering access to over 350 consumer and cross-industry reports annually, Stylus Membership is your window to tomorrow’s most exciting opportunities.
We already arm more than 500 of the world’s most forward-thinking brands and agencies with the creative insights they need to make transformative business decisions.
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