U.S. states ranked for screen time, subscription use, and digital burnout

State‑by‑State Breakdown of Digital Burnout

Recent research by Sparrow ranks U.S. states most affected by digital overload. The company measured five indicators: unsubscribe‑search volume, daily screen time, subscription‑reach, internet usage, and telecom spending. Each metric was normalised with Min‑Max scaling and weighted equally, producing a Digital Overload Index (DOI) for every state.

Top Ten Digital Overload States

• Vermont – DOI 60. Residents spend 4 h 58 m daily and 11.5 K searches for “cancel platform.” High burnout.
• Wyoming – DOI 58. 12.7 K unsubscribe searches; 4 h 58 m screen time.
• Alaska – DOI 51. 83 % internet use; 4 h 14 m screen time.
• South Dakota – DOI 47. 85.3 % internet use; 4 h 46 m screen time; 8.1 K cancel searches.
• Delaware – DOI 45. 6 h 11 m daily; 122 K subscription households.
• New Hampshire – DOI 40. 5 h 57 m daily; 170 K subscription households.
• Maine – DOI 39. 5 h 28 m daily; 182 K subscription households – nearly identical to NH.
• North Dakota – DOI 39. 4 h 40 m daily; 100 K unsubscribe searches.
• Idaho – DOI 38. 6 h 19 m daily; 85.8 % internet use.
• Montana – DOI 36. 4 h 37 m daily; 140 K subscription households.

States Just Outside the Top Ten

• California – DOI 35. 6 h 35 m screen time; 4.2 M subscription households.
• New Mexico – DOI 35. 7 h 20 m screen time (highest nationwide); 255 K subscription households.
• West Virginia – DOI 34. 6 h 43 m screen time; 223 K subscription households.

Interpretation of the Numbers

Heavy Screen Time – States with >5 h daily usage (e.g., VP, WA, NC) show clear signs of fatigue.

High Unsubscribe Searches – Wyoming’s 12.7 K searches indicate a strong desire to break digital habits.

Broad Internet Penetration – States like Idaho (85.8 %) and South Dakota (85.3 %) rely heavily on the web, amplifying digital saturation.

Takeaway

The DOI demonstrates that digital burnout is not confined to urban centers. Rural states with modest populations (e.g., Alaska, Montana) also face significant overload due to extensive online activity. Policymakers and health professionals should consider targeted interventions—such as digital literacy workshops and “screen‑free” initiatives—to help residents reclaim their time.