WHAT THE DATA SAY: 'Digital detox' trend grows, as 55% delete apps and 43% take a break from social media

By: Ray Day

CONTACT:

Ray Day
ray.day@stagwellglobal.com 

We wanted to share our latest consumer and business insights, based on research from Stagwell and Allison Worldwide. Among the highlights of our weekly consumer sentiment tracking:

LOGGING OFF FOR A BETTER LIFE

Digital fatigue is fueling demand for more tactile, human-centered experiences, according to The Human Advantage report from Harris Poll and Quad.

• 75% of Americans say “digital detox” – a simpler relationship with technology – is a lifestyle upgrade.
• 53% intentionally turn off or leave behind their phones to be more present with others.
• 55% are deleting apps from their phones or devices, and 43% have taken a total break from social media.
• 49% of Gen Z say social scrolling leaves them feeling drained – especially texting (41%), emailing (33%) and using AI tools (33%).
• 82% of Gen Z report that taking breaks from social media improves their mental health – up 6 points from last year.
• Physical experiences are gaining appeal: 84% say owning physical items is more satisfying than owning digital ones.
• Collecting things is a growing hobby: 79% of Gen Z say collecting physical objects helps them feel more connected to the real world.
• 68% of Americans currently collect at least one type of physical item, including apparel/sneakers (28%), toys/figures (26%), movie media (24%) and trading cards (22%).
• 80% of Americans are drawn to real-world experiences that do not revolve around screens.
• 84% of Gen Z have gone out of their way for an in-person shopping experience, such as visiting a flagship store or attending a special event.

BUDGET-CONSCIOUS HOLIDAY SEASON

More Americans are putting off holiday travel, gift budgets are down, and saving money is a hot topic for shoppers, based on new Harris Poll research with NerdWallet.

• 31% say they won’t spend money on flights and hotels for holiday travel this year, compared with 22% last year.
• Americans planning to buy gifts expect to spend $879, on average. That’s down 21% from $1,107, on average, last year.
• Using coupons (42%) and shopping sales (41%) are among holiday spenders’ top strategies to save money.
• Gen Z is especially frugal: 33% who will purchase gifts plan to spend $100 or less, and homemade gifts are popular. Among Gen Z, 27% plan to make a gift for at least one person, compared with 21% of Millennials, 19% of Gen X and 11% of Boomers.

INVESTORS HAVE ELECTION ANXIETY

Investors are increasingly rattled by the U.S. midterm elections, even as advisors urge them to stay focused on the long term, according to new Harris Poll research with Nationwide.

• 40% of investors have changed their retirement savings or portfolio ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.
• 3 in 4 people believe the election outcome could meaningfully affect their long-term financial plan.
• 56% say the upcoming midterms are making them more anxious.
• Among those making changes, 15% moved money into more conservative or lower-risk investments, and 13% diversified into new asset classes or sectors.
• 72% of Gen Z have adjusted their retirement savings or portfolio in anticipation of the election, compared with 17% of Baby Boomers.
• See also: Nearly 61% believe country is in recession and 65% of independents say economy is worse, according to new Harris poll

WORKERS ARE ADAPTING, YET NOT THRIVING

Workers are regaining confidence by adapting to today’s nonstop change, yet most still lack a healthy relationship with work, according to the Work Relationship Index 2026 from National Research Group and HP.

• 29% of professionals report a healthy relationship with work, up from 21% in 2025.
• At the same time, 71% remain in the “critical” or “watch-out” zones.
• 49% of business leaders and 41% of IT decision makers report a healthy relationship with their work.
• Only 27% of Gen X report a positive relationship with work, the lowest of any generation, behind Boomers at 29% and seven points lower than Gen Z and Millennials.
• 67% of professionals say it feels too risky to leave their job right now.
• 36% have an income-generating side hustle or venture, rising to 48% among Gen Z.
• 47% of all workers use AI agents, and workers with a healthy work relationship are more likely to use AI agents.
• See also: 90% of U.S. technology leaders are using AI to produce more while maintaining or expanding engineering headcount

ICYMI: In case you missed it, check out the thought-leadership and happenings around Stagwell making news:

• Why Some Reputation Crises Stick and Others Fade (HarrisQuest) 
• 88% say taking a GLP-1 makes them more optimistic about their long-term health (Harris Poll)
• 79% say it is extremely or very important that their preferred doctors and hospitals remain in their health insurance plan’s network (HarrisX, SKDK)
• Americans are protesting data centers on Saturday and naming their chatbots on Sunday (Harris Poll podcast)
• Visa Study Finds Consumers Trust AI to Shop, But Not to Pay (Harris Poll)