Tech industry competing with sleep for consumer attention

Tech companies are facing a new challenge: sleep. As they create more online content, they are running into the limits of our daily time. Generative AI is making it easier to produce online material. This has led to an explosion of content for people to consume. However, there are only so many hours in the day. Sleep is the last major period mostly free from digital interference. Experts at Bernstein noted that while people have been reducing their sleep to spend more time on screens, there is a limit to digital consumption. Over the past 15 years, Americans have increased their daily digital media usage by about six hours. Next year, estimates suggest that Americans will spend over eight hours engaged with digital media. The recommended sleep duration is also eight hours. This totals to more than 16 hours needed for both sleep and screen time, leaving just eight hours for other activities like eating and exercising. With the rising pressure to consume more content, sleep may become the next target for tech companies. As Netflix co-founder Reed Hastings pointed out, "We're competing with sleep." New methods of nighttime digital media are likely to emerge. Currently, there are apps focused on sleep tracking and relaxation techniques. However, it is important to note that many people multitask. Watching videos while working, for example, may lead to inflated counts of media consumption hours. As digital media options grow, the amount of free time available is shrinking. This will require consumers to make choices about what content they prioritize, potentially leading to a decline in subscriptions for paid services as free options become more popular.