You may have heard of doomscrolling and doomspending, but what about doomstreaming? It’s the growing habit of binge-watching TV as a way to escape stress, and with rising tensions in everyday life, more Americans are using TV as their go-to coping mechanism.
With 59% of people saying they’re more stressed now than they were six months ago due to the increased onslaught of political tensions, economic pressures, and breaking news, it’s no wonder more people are turning to TV to escape.
According to our recent survey, the average American spends 3.5 hours a day streaming TV, and 73% admit they binge-watch specifically to cope with stress.
In fact, 40% of Americans say having access to Netflix is essential to their mental health. But are we streaming ourselves into oblivion instead? Let’s go over the stats around TV time and the mental health effects behind America’s latest habit: doomstreaming.
How much TV does the average American watch per day?
While most Americans average 3.5 hours of watch time per day, nearly 1 in 5 Americans confessed to watching TV up to 6 hours per day. That’s nearly the equivalent of a full workday spent in front of the screen.
Here’s how the daily watch times break down:
- Less than 1 hour: 7%
- 1–3 hours: 47%
- 4–6 hours: 27%
- 6+ hours: 19%
Based on this data, 93% of Americans watch an hour or more of TV every day.
Why Are Americans Watching So Much TV?
In short, people are stressed out. Among the 58% of Americans who say they’re more stressed now than six months ago, nearly a quarter (23.7%) report feeling significantly more stressed.
To help cope, they turn to TV. In fact, nearly half (48%) of respondents report binge-watching as one of their primary coping mechanisms in the past six months.
While many Americans are turning to TV to cope with stress, they’re not gravitating toward heavy or dark content. Instead, 33% of respondents prefer light-hearted, feel-good shows like Friends, Seinfeld, and The Office—timeless comfort shows people revisit again and again.
``When TV is at its best, it provides a consistent sense of comfort, acting like a psychological weighted blanket.``
How many people binge-watch TV?
As many as 73% of Americans binge-watch TV, which we define as watching TV for more than 90 minutes in one sitting, at least occasionally as a way to cope with stress or escape reality. While 17% said they didn’t do it often, 16% said they did so regularly.
(And we won’t judge: If you’re looking for more binge-worthy options, check out our list of the best shows to binge in a weekend or our breakdown of the most binge-worthy shows overall.)
Is Netflix the new therapy?
Despite the recent price hikes, password crackdowns, and canceled content, Americans are hanging onto their subscriptions, largely for peace of mind.
50% of Americans say they are willing to keep their streaming services despite rising costs because streaming is important to their mental health.
Netflix, in particular, is the platform Americans binge-watch most often, with 40% of respondents saying access to Netflix is essential to their well-being.
Matt Grammer, LPCC-S, CEO of Therapy Trainings™ says, “When TV is at its best, it provides a consistent sense of comfort,” acting like a “psychological weighted blanket.”
He continues, “For those controlling tension or anxiety, it can be a low-effort decompression tool akin to guided meditation except with a sitcom laugh track.”
It seems streaming platforms like Netflix have become all but essential to many Americans’ mental health routines.
When does binge-watching become doomstreaming?
Doomstreaming is when binge-watching shifts from harmless entertainment to long, reflexive numbing sessions used to avoid stress rather than process it.
According to Matt Grammer, “When binge-watching turns into a coping mechanism, it numbs rather than helps you process feelings.”
Grammer explains that while turning to TV for comfort isn’t inherently bad, it becomes tricky when it edges into escapism. He says the long-term use of TV as a coping mechanism may disrupt sleep, encourage social withdrawal, and establish negative habits.
``When binge-watching turns into a coping mechanism, it numbs rather than helps you process feelings.``
How much TV is too much TV?
There’s no hard-and-fast rule for how much TV is too much, but when your TV marathons start affecting your mood, sleep, or social life, it’s time to reassess.
To help you avoid falling into doomscrolling territory, Matt Grammer says, “Make TV an event, not a reflex: Instead of mindlessly turning on Netflix, choose a show, set a time, and stick to it.”
By looking forward to a specific event rather than endlessly browsing, TV time becomes a genuine reward without spilling over into the rest of your schedule.
Another way to balance your TV time, he suggests, is to “match screen time with real-world time. Spend the same time engaged in another activity—reading, chatting with a friend, or walking—as you would if you were viewing an hour-long drama.”
Grammer adds that by making TV an “adventure” rather than an “escape,” you can enjoy TV time without exhausting yourself.
Methodology
This survey of 1,000 Americans was conducted via Pollfish on 3/4/25. The results were post-stratified to accurately reflect the demographics of the U.S. population.
