"Eye-Opening", says survey on what Americans do when online

A new survey reveals that Americans with home Internet subscriptions spend nearly half their day—over 10 hours—online, dividing their time almost equally between streaming videos or TV shows and activities like working, browsing, and shopping. The survey, conducted by telecommunications company Optimum, polled 2,000 U.S. residents aged 18 and older between May 6-14. “This new survey was eye-opening,” said Eric Bruno, Optimum’s senior vice president of product management, in an interview with the New York Post. “We were amazed to see how many hours folks are watching, shopping, and browsing online on a daily basis. It underscores how important a strong, affordable, and reliable Internet has become in today’s world.”

According to the findings, Americans dedicate 5.4 hours daily to browsing, working, gaming, social media, email, or paying bills, while another five hours are spent streaming video or TV content. Streaming is most popular on televisions (55%), followed by mobile phones (20%) and laptops, desktops, or tablets (25%). For general Internet use, most rely on mobile phones or computers, with 44% accessing services via their TVs.

Beyond streaming, 80% of respondents use the Internet for browsing or bill payments, 73% engage with social media, 72% shop online, 37% handle work tasks, and 20% complete school assignments. The survey highlights the critical role of reliable Internet access in modern life as Americans increasingly blend entertainment, work, and daily tasks online.