Now & Then: How the Average American Spends Their Time vs. 100 Years Ago

Change often happens faster than we expect, sometimes in the blink of an eye. This is especially true when it comes to how Americans spend their time. As technology has advanced and work hours have shifted, the people we spend time with and the places where we spend it have changed as well. A century ago, most Americans devoted large portions of their day to friends, regularly interacted with neighbors, and attended church services often. That pattern has gradually faded and has been gone for decades.

These shifts began well before the rise of the internet and smartphones. Across different decades, Americans moved their focus between friends and coworkers, while time spent with neighbors and church communities steadily declined. The pace and direction of these changes varied, but the overall trend was clear.

Curious about how daily life in the United States has evolved? This slideshow draws on data from 1934 to 2024 to track how and where Americans spend their time.

Note: While the data shows a significant increase in time spent online, these figures do not tell the whole story. Much of that time is spent communicating with friends, family, coworkers, and community groups, including religious services that are now often streamed online.

• Family: 22.40%
• School: 21.67%
• Friends: 19.48%
• Neighbors: 11.12%
• Church: 9.66%
• Bar/Restaurant: 8.27%
• College: 3.95%
• Coworkers: 3.45%
• Online: 0%

• Family: 21.40%
• School: 19.33%
• Friends: 21.84%
• Neighbors: 10.11%
• Church: 7.92%
• Bar/Restaurant: 9.19%
• College: 4.92%
• Coworkers: 5.29%
• Online: 0%

• Family: 20.11%
• School: 17.17%
• Friends: 23.56%
• Neighbors: 8.86%
• Church: 6.52%
• Bar/Restaurant: 10.73%
• College: 5.62%
• Coworkers: 7.43%
• Online: 0%

• Family: 18.16%
• School: 14..64%
• Friends: 24.97%
• Neighbors: 7.41%
• Church: 5.67%
• Bar/Restaurant: 12.84%
• College: 5.82%
• Coworkers: 10.48%
• Online: 0%

• Family: 16.03%
• School: 11.94%
• Friends: 26.20%
• Neighbors: 6.76%
• Church: 5.50%
• Bar/Restaurant: 14.17%
• College: 5.98%
• Coworkers: 13.42%
• Online: 0%

• Family: 14.52%
• School: 10.17%
• Friends: 26.71%
• Neighbors: 6.57%
• Church: 5.49%
• Bar/Restaurant: 14.69%
• College: 6.74%
• Coworkers: 15.06%
• Online: 0.04%

• Family: 12.81%
• School: 8.98%
• Friends: 27.17%
• Neighbors: 6.57%
• Church: 5.40%
• Bar/Restaurant: 14.04%
• College: 7.75%
• Coworkers: 15.90%
• Online: 1.38%

• Family: 10.53%
• School: 7.79%
• Friends: 26.94%
• Neighbors: 6.16%
• Church: 5.06%
• Bar/Restaurant: 12.20%
• College: 8.02%
• Coworkers: 14.24%
• Online: 9.06%

• Family: 7.84%
• School: 5.91%
• Friends: 22.01%
• Neighbors: 3.48%
• Church: 4.24%
• Bar/Restaurant: 9.41%
• College: 5.31%
• Coworkers: 11.03%
• Online: 30.78%

• Family: 4.52%
• School: 3.33%
• Friends: 13.86%
• Neighbors: 1.28%
• Church: 2.12%
• Bar/Restaurant: 4.91%
• College: 0.74%
• Coworkers: 8.48%
• Online: 60.76%

Going through these slides, you may have noticed an alarming pattern. Every decade, Americans are spending more time online instead of living in the moment with family, friends, coworkers, and community members. This is greatly affecting us. Being online too much can affect your physical and mental health. Research has shown that excessive screen time can lead to an increase in anxiety, stress, weight gain, and poor sleeping habits. To decrease your chances of gaining these problems, reduce your screen time.