Study: Tyler 18th most screen-addicted city in Texas
New research by iSelect reveals which cities in Texas are consuming the most online content, reveals the state’s doomscrolling habits in detail.
Katy leads the state, with residents watching an average of 119 videos per day, followed by Austin (79), Conroe (36), and Bryan (35).
Top Texas cities by daily videos watched per resident:
| Rank | City | AI & Tech | Finance | Politics | True Crime & Documentaries | TV and entertainment | health and fitness | music | sports | Videos Watched per resident a day |
| 1 | Katy | 3 | 8 | 75 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 2 | 9 | 119 |
| 2 | Austin | 5 | 6 | 45 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 79 |
| 3 | Conroe | 1 | 3 | 23 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 36 |
| 4 | Bryan | 1 | 2 | 13 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 35 |
| 5 | Texas City | 2 | 5 | 17 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 31 |
| 6 | Boerne | 0 | 1 | 15 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 10 | 31 |
| 7 | Houston | 1 | 3 | 12 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 30 |
| 8 | Plano | 1 | 2 | 8 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 24 |
| 9 | Freeport | 0 | 0 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 19 |
| 10 | Bastrop | 1 | 2 | 10 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 18 |
| 11 | Victoria | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 15 |
| 12 | San Antonio | 0 | 1 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 14 |
| 13 | Temple | 0 | 1 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 13 |
| 14 | Midland | 0 | 1 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 13 |
| 15 | Fredericksburg | 0 | 1 | 10 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 |
| 16 | Denton | 1 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 12 |
| 17 | Lubbock | 4 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 12 |
| 18 | Tyler | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 12 |
| 19 | Amarillo | 0 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 11 |
| 20 | San Marcos | 0 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 11 |
Andres Gutierrez, General Manager of Health at iSelect, commented:
“High levels of screen time, especially on political content, can increase stress, disturb sleep, and contribute to anxiety. Setting limits, using screen time tools, and maintaining offline activities like exercise and face-to-face socialising can help restore balance. For those struggling with wellbeing, having health insurance coverage ensures additional support is available.”
Politics tops the list as America’s biggest doomscrolling habit
Political content is the most watched videos in the U.S., with 474 videos watched by every 100 Americans per day.
The latest research by iSelect unveils the online topics that have captured the nation’s attention, providing a comprehensive understanding of the staggering number of videos Americans are watching every single day.
Utilizing social listening data from Brandwatch’s reach metric, we’ve delved into a diverse range of popular topics, from politics, true crime, food, fitness, and finance, to provide an overview of Americans’ online scrolling habits.
The data refers to the number of unique individuals who have seen the content, rather than impressions. It’s a way to measure audience size, awareness, and how widely a topic spreads online.
The topics distracting Americans the most.
| Topics | Reach per year | Videos Watched per 100 residents a day |
| Politics | 584,858,371,396 | 474.1 |
| TV and Entertainment | 141,826,982,244 | 115.0 |
| Sports | 135,485,352,740 | 109.8 |
| Finance | 114,223,313,580 | 92.6 |
| Ai & Tech | 84,152,567,203 | 68.2 |
| Health and Fitness | 48,631,289,327 | 39.4 |
| Music | 47,521,152,017 | 38.5 |
| True Crime and Documentaries | 30,885,260,694 | 25.0 |
| Travel | 28,019,385,619 | 22.7 |
| Gaming | 17,637,430,024 | 14.3 |
| Cooking Videos | 15,549,423,826 | 12.6 |
| Fashion | 15,023,777,280 | 12.2 |
| Pets and Animals | 13,059,776,162 | 10.6 |
| Beauty and Skincare | 8,251,440,845 | 6.7 |
| Shopping | 7,168,410,698 | 5.8 |
| DIY and Home | 6,086,277,640 | 4.9 |
Politics: The nation’s online obsession
Politics ranked first for the topic most viewed by Americans, with a staggering 474 videos watched per 100 residents every day. From debates to breaking news and viral clips, it seems Americans can’t look away from political content that shapes the country’s future.
Entertainment and Sports: Escapism in the digital age
TV shows and major sporting events such as those from the NFL and NBA, dominate phone screens nationwide, with 115 entertainment videos and 109.8 sports videos watched per 100 residents daily. These categories show that alongside current affairs, Americans crave a daily dose of sports and escapism.
Finance, health, and fitness: Doomscrolling meets self-improvement
Financial news, health and fitness content are keeping audiences engaged at 92.6 and 39.4 videos per 100 residents per day, respectively. The data suggests Americans are not just doomscrolling for distraction, it suggests they’re actively seeking ways to survive and thrive in an ever-changing world.
Andres Gutierrez General Manager of Health at iSelect has commented on screen exposure and said: “Constant screen time and exposure to negative news can heighten stress, disturb sleep and contribute to anxiety, while hours spent scrolling can often get in the way of healthier routines like exercising, socialising face-to-face or engaging in hobbies. Over time, these patterns may impact both mental and physical well-being.
“Taking small steps such as setting limits, using screen time tools and prioritising balance can help to reduce doomscrolling for long periods. For those struggling with their sleep, mental health or overall well-being, exploring options for health insurance can provide an added layer of protection, ensuring that support is available when you need it.”
Methodology
The research examined online reach using Brandwatch, analyzing a variety of keywords for each category.
For example, Cooking & Food included over 30, terms like “cooking,” “recipes,” “vegan recipes,” and “home cooking,”.
While Politics covered “US elections,” “Biden,” “Congress,” and “Supreme Court.”
The total yearly reach for each topic was compared against U.S. Census population, estimates to calculate the average number of videos watched per 100 residents daily, offering a clear picture of which topics dominate American’s screen time.