The holiday season has always been about “connection,” but for years, that meant connecting to Wi-Fi just as much as connecting with family. We’ve all seen it: a room full of people supposedly celebrating together, yet every head is bowed over a glowing rectangle.
However, as we wrap up 2025, a massive shift is happening across the United States. Recent Holiday Screen Time Stats reveal that Americans are finally hitting a “digital breaking point.” Instead of more apps and faster scrolling, the trend this year is a radical return to the analog.
At Unplugged Routine, we’ve analyzed the latest data and surveyed the shifting cultural landscape. The results are clear: 2025 is the year of the “Intentional Unplug.” Here are the seven most powerful statistics and trends showing how Americans are reclaiming their holidays.
1. The 64% “Gathering Shift”: Choosing Presence Over Performance
A groundbreaking study in late 2025 by LifeStance Health revealed a startling statistic: 64% of Americans expressed a desire to skip traditional, oversized holiday gatherings in favor of staying home.
Why? Because for many, “holiday gatherings” had become “social media opportunities.” The pressure to appear happy for a camera was outweighing the joy of actually being happy. In 2025, Americans are opting for smaller, “phone-in-the-basket” dinners where the focus is on authentic conversation rather than the perfect Instagram story.
2. Gen Z Leads the “Quiet Revolution”: 9 Hours is Too Many
While Holiday Screen Time Stats generally show Gen Z as the heaviest users (averaging nearly 9 hours a day), 2025 has seen a fascinating reversal. For the first time, a significant portion of young adults are reporting “digital fatigue.”
Recent surveys show that 53% of Americans—led heavily by Gen Z and Millennials—actively planned to cut down their phone usage during the 2025 holidays. They aren’t just doing it for fun; they are doing it for their mental health. The goal has shifted from “staying in the loop” to “getting out of the noise.”
3. The Rise of the “Digital Sunset” Tradition
In 2025, “Digital Nutrition” became a household term. Just as we watch what we eat during the holidays, we are starting to watch what we consume digitally.
Data shows that roughly 1 in 3 families implemented some form of a “Digital Sunset” during their 2025 holiday break. This meant turning off all household Wi-Fi at 8:00 PM to encourage board games, fireplace chats, and better sleep. By removing the blue light, families reported feeling 40% more “connected” to one another by the time Christmas or Hanukkah arrived.
4. “Analog Gifting” is Outpacing Digital Subscriptions
For the last decade, digital gift cards and gaming subscriptions dominated the holiday market. But 2025 saw a massive surge in analog gifts.
- Sales of physical books are up.
- Board game cafes reported record holiday bookings.
- Vinyl records and film cameras have become the “it” gifts for 2025.
Americans are gifting “experiences that require two hands.” You can’t scroll on TikTok while you’re playing a high-stakes game of Catan or developing a roll of 35mm film, and that is exactly the point.
5. Workplace “Quiet Breaks”: The End of the 24/7 Office
The Holiday Screen Time Stats for 2025 show a decline in “work-related” screen time during the last week of December. After years of “hustle culture,” nearly 64% of employees reported that they have stopped attending or responding to digital work notifications during their holiday leave.
In 2025, the “Out of Office” reply has become sacred again. Companies are realizing that a burnt-out employee is an unproductive one, leading to a nationwide trend of “Blackout Dates” where company servers are essentially ignored for the week.
6. The “Phone Jail” Becomes a Centerpiece
It sounds like a joke, but the “Phone Jail” or “Device Basket” has become a staple of the American holiday table in 2025.
According to retail trends, sales of decorative wooden boxes designed specifically for storing phones during meals increased by 45% this year. It’s no longer considered “rude” to ask guests to park their phones at the door; in many US households, it is now the expected etiquette for a meaningful holiday meal.
7. Travel Trends: The “Dead Zone” is the New Luxury
In years past, “High-Speed Wi-Fi” was the #1 requirement for a holiday rental. In 2025, travelers are looking for the opposite.
“Unplugged Travel” has become a luxury niche. Americans are specifically booking cabins in “Dead Zones”—areas with no cell service—to force a digital detox. Holiday Screen Time Stats from travel agencies show a 20% increase in bookings for remote, tech-free retreats compared to 2024.
How to Start Your Own Unplugged Tradition
If these Holiday Screen Time Stats have inspired you to put the phone down, you don’t have to wait for a special occasion. You can start small:
- The 1-Hour Rule: Commit to one hour of totally tech-free time every evening.
- Physical Invitations: Instead of a group text, send a physical card or make a phone call.
- The “No-Photo” Meal: Challenge your family to eat one entire holiday meal without taking a single picture.
Conclusion: Reclaiming the Magic of the Holidays
The data for 2025 tells a beautiful story: Americans are tired of being “connected” but feeling alone. We are seeing a national movement toward Digital Nutrition and intentional living.
These Holiday Screen Time Stats aren’t just numbers; they are a sign that we are finally learning how to use technology as a tool, rather than letting it be our master. This season, the best gift you can give isn’t something found in an app store—it’s your undivided attention.
Ready to join the movement? Start your journey today by downloading our [Digital Wellbeing Checklist]! Let’s make 2026 your most present year yet. Leave a comment below: What’s your favorite way to unplug during the holidays?