Screen time in Australia
Australians average around 6–7 hours of screen time per day — one of the highest rates globally. That includes around 2 hours on social media, 3+ hours on streaming and video, and the rest spread across browsing, messaging, and gaming.
Over a year, 6 hours of daily screen time adds up to over 2,100 hours — equivalent to nearly 90 full days. For many people, screens are the single largest discretionary time use after sleep.
Average total: 6.3 hours/day
Social media: ~2 hours/day
Streaming / video: ~2.5 hours/day
Under 30s: ~8–9 hours/day
Over 50s: ~4–5 hours/day
The hidden cost of passive screen time
Not all screen time is equal. The distinction researchers consistently draw is between active use (creating, communicating, problem-solving) and passive consumption (scrolling, watching, browsing with no specific goal).
Passive consumption is most strongly linked to reduced wellbeing, social comparison effects, and sleep disruption. It also tends to expand to fill available time without delivering satisfaction — the "I just spent 2 hours on my phone and feel worse" experience is well-documented.