A Best Therapies survey finds that overstimulation isn’t a niche complaint or personality quirk but a widespread part of modern life. In the February 2026 survey of 1,006 Americans, weighted equally across generations, 71% said they experience overstimulation, and nearly 1 in 4 said it happens daily. Younger adults reported it most often, with Gen Z leading at 85%, followed by Millennials at 82%, Gen X at 67%, and Boomers at 47%.
The study paints a picture of a country that feels constantly “on.” Best Therapies says the biggest triggers are sounds, social interactions, and demanding workloads. Specifically, 34% pointed to sounds, 26% to social interactions, and 20% to work pressure. The research found a striking emotional fallout: 78% said anxiety is a top symptom, 74% said overwhelm, and 67% said they feel an urge to escape. More than a third, 35%, said they do not feel they have adequate coping mechanisms.
Screens are part of the overload, echoing broader trends
Best Therapies also found that screens are a major part of the problem. Americans reported spending an average of 7.6 hours a day looking at screens, which works out to 2,774 hours a year, or 115.6 days. The study shows roughly a third spend more than 10 hours a day on screens, 30% have not disconnected at all in the last year, and 67% admit to doomscrolling for an average of 1.4 hours a day. On top of that, 40% described their relationship with their phone as unhealthy.
That screen-heavy lifestyle also helps explain why many people are rethinking their habits. Best Therapies found that 43% wish they had lived their entire lives before smartphones, 81% plan to be more intentional with their time in 2026, and 53% say reducing screen time is one of their goals this year.
The recent data from Best Therapies reinforces existing screen-time concerns. A previous study on screen-time addiction by Luri Children’s Hospital found that parents are already worried about how screens are shaping kids’ habits. In that survey, 54% of parents said they worry their child is addicted to screens, 60% said they feel guilty about screen use, and kids under 13 were averaging 21 hours of screen time per week.
The concern extends beyond families, as another analysis found states such as Vermont, Wyoming, Alaska, and South Dakota lead the nation in both screen time and subscription‑cancellation searches. Notably, Vermont topped the list with about five hours of daily screen time and more than 11,500 searches for how to cancel subscriptions. The relationship between the two shows that people are not just consuming more digital content, but they are also feeling tapped out by it.
Even the time lost waiting for content to load is adding up. The average user spends about 6.3 minutes a day waiting for pages to load, which adds up to more than 114 days over a lifetime, per a Tenscope study. The research found that children can lose an entire month of childhood to loading-screen delays, turning screen time into dead time.
Tech companies are reacting and capitalizing
With more subscribers looking to cancel and added pressure to rein in screen habits, some platforms are building features around it. Recently, it was reported that code in the YouTube app beta hints at a daily timer for Shorts, a move that would let users set a limit on the endlessly scrollable short-form feed. The feature appears to be aimed at curbing compulsive viewing and “doomscrolling” rather than blocking Shorts entirely.
Since fewer people want to be permanently glued to a screen, more companies are trying to profit by helping them step away from it. In the wireless sector, carriers are creating unique ways to reward users who use their devices less.
Noble Mobile, an upstart prepaid MVNO, rewards customers who use their phones less with cash-back-style perks tied to lower data use. Rewards include Noble Cash that grows at 5.5% annual rate, and new subscribers can get their first month of the No-Bull unlimited plan for $10. And that isn’t the only budget-friendly MVNO flipping the traditional wireless model for those who are tired of overpaying for data they don’t use. MobileX, which focuses on customization and flexibility, gives users future credit for unused data.
Rising streaming costs may be helping people unplug
There is also a financial side to the screen-time slowdown. As streaming prices rise, a Cord Cutters News survey found that many cord cutters are scaling back how many services they subscribe to. More than half of the 1,100+ polled said they are limiting themselves to three services or fewer. By cutting back, they are saving money and reducing the amount of time they spend jumping between apps, recommendations, autoplay queues, and endless content.
The timeliness of the Best Therapies survey reinforces that the overstimulation issue is not only about noisy rooms, bright lights, or stressful commutes. It is also about the digital environment people live in every day, with phones in hand, notifications buzzing, feeds auto-playing, and streaming services competing for attention. Best Therapies found that 72% of respondents say they have personal boundaries around overstimulation, suggesting that a lot of Americans are already trying to build their own off-ramps.
Beyond the numbers, the study also points to a broader mindset shift as more people are realizing they don’t need to be constantly connected. Experts behind the report suggest simple, real-world resets like going for a walk, spending time with loved ones, or even just putting the phone down for a while can go a long way in reducing overstimulation and improving focus.
Here are the most common and effective ways people are unplugging, according to the study:
- Use willpower to set limits (73%): The most common method is intentionally choosing to spend less time on screens. That means being more mindful about when and why you pick up your phone.
- Replace screen time with other activities (70%): Many people are swapping scrolling for real-world activities, whether that’s exercise, hobbies, or spending time with friends and family.
- Keep your phone in another room (37%): Creating physical distance from your device can reduce the urge to constantly check it, especially during downtime or before bed.
- Delete or limit social media apps (32%): Cutting back on the biggest time sinks, like social feeds, can dramatically reduce daily screen exposure and doomscrolling habits.
- Use screen time or focus apps (19%): Some users are turning to technology to fight technology, using apps that track usage or block distractions to create boundaries.
The most important takeaway from the Best Therapies study is that overstimulation now looks like a mainstream American experience, not an exception. As streaming, social media, and mobile devices continue to compete for attention, more viewers are starting to rethink not just what they watch but how much time they spend watching it.