Average daily media use in the U.S. 2024, by medium
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During the third quarter of 2024, internet users in the United States spent over six hours daily using the internet, with over 4.5 hours spent viewing video content on TV (both broadcast and streamed) as well as more than two hours devoted to using social media platforms. This substantial amount of time spent with online media reflects a significant trend in consumption habits, which have been influenced by the need for inexpensive, faster, and more accessible entertainment.
Media Consumption Trends and Future Plans
The average daily time spent with digital media in the United States is expected to increase from 439 minutes (seven hours and 19 minutes) in 2022 to close to eight hours by the end of 2025. This pivot is dictated by the ease of access of online entertainment and variety of content available on numerous platforms.
According to a survey conducted in April 2023, the majority of consumers in the United States were not planning to make any major changes to most of their media habits in the following year. However, a notable 21 percent planned to increase their time spent listening to podcasts. In general, there was an evident shift towards reducing or ending paid subscriptions to numerous media services.
Free entertainment is on social
A survey conducted in June 2023 highlighted that adults in the United States spent more time per day on TikTok than on any other leading social media platform, with an average of 53.8 minutes per day. The video sharing network gained more popularity with users than YouTube and Twitter. This underlines the growing interest in short form video and fast entertainment options. Today consumers step away from traditional media and dive into online offers.
