A global study from NordVPN paints a striking picture of modern digital life, and it should sound familiar to anyone deep into streaming and cord cutting.
NordVPN’s Lifetime Online Research found the average American is now on track to spend:
- 24 years, 9 months, and 15 days of their life online
- About 52 hours per week connected to the internet
- Roughly one-third of their entire lifespan digitally engaged
That is not just browsing. That includes streaming, scrolling, gaming, shopping, working, and increasingly interacting with AI tools.
Compared to a similar study in 2022, that is more than 3 additional years of online time added to the average lifespan projection. One of the biggest takeaways is that the “TV experience” is no longer isolated to TV anymore. It is blended into an all-day digital loop across devices.
“Spending a quarter of a century online is a fundamental shift in the human experience,” says Marijus Briedis, chief technology officer (CTO) at NordVPN. “We are witnessing the colonization of our time by digital platforms, where the line between ‘real life’ and ‘online life’ has effectively vanished, leaving us more exposed than ever before.”
Streaming Still Dominates Online Time
While social media often gets blamed for screen addiction, NordVPN’s data shows streaming remains the single biggest driver of online entertainment time.
Americans spend their leisure online roughly like this:
- 6 hours and 32 minutes per week watching TV shows and movies
- 5 hours and 36 minutes watching online video clips
- 5 hours and 8 minutes listening to music
- 5 hours and 3 minutes scrolling social media
That puts streaming video at the center of digital consumption, not just as entertainment, but as the default background activity in daily life. For many cord cutters and cord nevers, this trend reflects that streaming is more than just a cable replacement. It is the primary entertainment layer of the entire internet ecosystem.
“The way we use technology has gone far beyond simply consuming content, it is now deeply rooted into our daily lives,” says Briedis. “While many people are careful about sharing work-related information with AI tools, with only 4% saying they have shared confidential documents, they are often much more willing to share personal details.
The New Normal: From Morning Scroll to Late-Night Streaming
One of the most revealing parts of the study is how consistent daily internet use has become.
According to the research:
- Average Americans start browsing around 7:00 a.m.
- Most stay connected until about 10:00 p.m.
- 27% say they could not go a full day without internet access
- 35% admit they check social media while watching shows or movies
For streamers, the “second screen” behavior is now mainstream. Watching apps like STARZ, HBO Max, Apple TV, MGM+, Paramount+, Netflix, Peacock, Prime Video, Disney+, or live sports while scrolling on a phone has become the default experience, not the exception.
In practice, that means attention is fragmented even during peak viewing time, which is exactly why streaming platforms are doubling down on recommendations, autoplay, and integrated ad experiences.
AI Is Quietly Becoming a Daily Habit
Another major shift highlighted in the report is the rise of AI inside everyday internet use.
The study finds:
- Americans spend about 45 minutes per week using AI chatbots
- Only 12% call AI an “essential” daily tool
- 17% already say it has improved their online experience
While that may seem small compared to streaming, the trend line matters more than the raw number. AI is now embedded in search, smart TVs, streaming discovery, and even customer support inside apps. This is where streaming starts to evolve again for cord cutters. Content discovery is no longer just algorithmic. It is increasingly conversational.
“As the tools we use become more intelligent and our time spent online continues to grow, the best defense is a combination of advanced encryption and a healthy skepticism toward the digital interactions we once took for granted,” says Briedis.
The Hidden Tradeoff: Convenience vs. Personal Data
The study also highlights a growing tension between convenience and privacy. Despite rising awareness of digital risks, Americans are still sharing significant personal data online:
- 70% have shared their full name
- 66% have shared their date of birth
- 56% have shared their home address
At the same time, digital fatigue is rising, but disconnection is rare. The study notes that most users are now fully embedded in what researchers describe as a “constant connectivity” lifestyle. That creates a challenge for streaming users specifically, because smart TVs, streaming apps, and connected devices are all part of the same data ecosystem.
The Bigger Picture for Cord Cutters
NordVPN’s findings show a clear shift. Americans are no longer just “using the internet.” They are effectively living inside it for a third of their lives. A few of the key trends include the second screen becoming standard behavior during shows and sports, the growth of privacy risk as more devices stay connected longer, and AI is beginning to influence content discovery and viewing habits.
This all goes to show that streaming has become more than just a cable replacement. It has become part of a larger digital ecosystem that blends entertainment, AI, social media, and personal data into a single continuous experience. And as the study suggests, that experience is only getting longer.