The internet is projected to surpass TV in 2019 as people’s favourite source of media
New social media platforms, newer technology and the availability of shows on mobile are factors cited by a digital media firm’s research
By Prachi Bhardwaj and Jenny Cheng
The gap has long been narrowing between the number of minutes consumers spend watching TV every day and the amount of time they spend on mobile and desktop internet consumption. By 2020, Zenith’s forecast shows that daily internet consumption will surpass daily television consumption for the first time.
The invention of various social media platforms, the availability of shows on mobile, faster internet, more advanced smartphones, and more digestible content tailored to those smartphones have all played a big role in that reversal. These advancements have also marginally increased the total amount of minutes each consumer spends watching TV and on the internet: Nine years ago, internet and TV minutes totalled around four hours — by 2020 it’ll be almost six hours.
