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ZDNET's key takeaways
Americans say they post less than they did five years ago.
They've deleted a social or messaging app due to stress or anxiety.
Disconnecting brings relief, but also feelings of anxiety and FOMO.
New research from Incogni suggests Americans are quietly pulling back from social media, especially compared to just a few years ago. They're not necessarily deleting every account, but they are sharing less, posting to smaller audiences, removing stressful apps, and becoming more mindful about mental health and the effects of digital burnout.
Feels like work
Incogni surveyed a representative sample of 1,000 US adults between June 1 and June 9, 2026.
The big finding: 55% of respondents said they post less now than they did five years ago. Another 53% said they have become "stricter" about who can see their posts. The study also found that 47% of respondents have deleted a social or messaging app because of "stress or anxiety." That's higher among younger adults, with 61% of millennials and 56% of Gen Z respondents.
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