Flourish eMAG Apr 25 - Flipbook - Page 45
The demand for digital-free experiences isn’t new, but in 2025, it’s hitting critical mass.
1. Screen Time is at an All-Time High
Despite the push for in-person experiences postpandemic, screen time has
only increased.
•
•
•
•
Globally, the average
screen time has reached
6 hours and 40 minutes
per day.
In Australia, research
shows that only 15% of
children aged 5–12 meet
the recommended screen
time guidelines.
3. Digital Manipulation is More Pervasive
Than Ever
HERE’S
WHY:
In the US, time spent on
smartphones (excluding calls) jumped by over
an hour since 2019, averaging 4 hours and 50
minutes per day.
•
From hyper-targeted ads to
news algorithms designed
for outrage, the digital world
is increasingly shaping our
thoughts, emotions, and
spending habits.
A 2024 Pew Research report
found that:
•
41% of Americans report
being online “almost
constantly”, with that
number soaring to 62% for
those aged 18–24.
85% of people globally worry about
disinformation, and 87% believe it’s already
harming their country’s political stability.
Countries with the highest daily online usage
include South Africa (9 hours, 21 minutes) and
4. Mental Health and Attention Spans Are
Brazil (9 hours, 12 minutes).
Declining
2. Social Media Use is Shifting
Australians are reassessing their social media
habits, with an increasing number of people
reducing their usage.
•
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Time spent on platforms like Snapchat
and TikTok has declined by 11% and 9%,
respectively.
In contrast, LinkedIn usage has risen, with
Australians spending an average of 1 hour
and 38 minutes per month on the platform—
suggesting a shift towards more intentional
online engagement.
Recent neuroscience studies reveal that excessive
digital consumption is rewiring our brains.
•
A 2024 University of Pennsylvania study
found that reducing social media use to 30
minutes a day signi昀椀cantly reduced loneliness
and depression.
•
Research shows that over six hours of screen
time per day correlates with a higher risk of
depression and anxiety.
No wonder Oxford University Press named “brain rot” its 2024 word of
the year, describing it as “the deterioration of a person’s mental state due
to overconsumption of online content.”
