During the pandemic of 2020, the average person spent roughly four hours a day online.
In 2025, the average time spent scrolling on phones globally increased by thirty minutes, but the core question remains: what exactly are people doing?
The internet has undoubtedly changed the way that many people live, but at a glance, internet habits highlight some interesting trends in behaviour and what people like to spend their spare time doing. Continue reading to learn more.
Gaming
From Age of Empires to retro Tetris and even linking to gambling and casinos, many people spend more than half their time online engaging in some form of gaming.
However, it has been highlighted that the average person does not spend hours on a gaming site. They prefer to dip in and dip out, which is why the average online casino allows people to play slot machines or a quick game of poker, rather than hook them into tournaments.
Why is this happening? Many people are looking for simple gaming to help turn off their brains temporarily from the stresses of daily life and to enjoy an activity that they can do without much thought.
Social Media
You knew social media was going to be on this list!
Far from being a tool to keep in touch with friends, nowadays the average teenager and even adult uses social media to stay in touch with world events and to see what other people are doing.
Of course, social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram have been critiqued for creating “addictive content” aimed at younger people. More parents are showing concerns about how long their teenagers and children are spending on social media, with the majority now imposing screen time bans.
So, why are people spending more time on social media, and what does it say about society? It is an easier way to connect with friends and family and, simply put, many people like engaging with it. The groups and influencers that are on these platforms help young people, in particular, to feel that they are part of a group and community, which can appease feelings of loneliness and isolation.
Videos
YouTube remains one of the most popular websites globally, with over 122 million active users each day.
Why watch YouTube? Entertainment! Research has found that even older adults prefer watching YouTube over the standard Netflix series or even TV shows, partially because the influencers allow them to feel involved in the process and create content that allows viewers to choose what they watch.
Of course, short-form content and YouTube shorts are one of the most consumed pieces of content on the platform, but in a content versus content contest, music is the most-watched video type on YouTube. It’s universal, replayable, and allows people to listen to their favourite music and bands at the touch of a button, no doubt also ticking the nostalgia button.
So, how people spend their time online hasn’t changed excessively over the last six years, but the amount of time spent engaging with online media has increased, with shorter bursts on each platform somehow adding up to more time per day scrolling.
