Americans are tired of their screens. After years of Zoom calls, social scrolling and streaming marathons, a growing share of consumers are turning to audio—not just for entertainment, but for relief.
That shift is helping fuel the rapid growth of platforms like Pocket FM, one of the world’s fastest-growing audio entertainment platforms and the largest dedicated audio series platform globally. Built around episodic storytelling, this tool has helped bring a new format, audio series, into the mainstream.
An audio series functions much like a television series, but in audio form: episodic narratives, often scripted dramas or thrillers, designed for binge listening through headphones rather than binge watching on screens.
Now, new consumer research from the audio giant offers a window into why the format is resonating.
In a nationwide survey of U.S. listeners, 24.1% said they prefer audio over video specifically because of screen fatigue. Nearly half (49.1%) cited the ease of consuming audio “on the go,” while 64.8% said audio allows them to multitask more easily.
In a media environment saturated with screens, audio is becoming the rare format that fits seamlessly into everyday life.
In other words: the rise of audio isn’t just about convenience. It’s about cognitive relief.
The Multitasking Economy
The modern American day is compressed. Commuting, working, caregiving, exercising and household management often overlap. Audio fits into the margins of life in ways video simply cannot.
According to the survey, 64.8% of respondents choose audio because it enables multitasking. Whether folding laundry, driving to work or walking the dog, listeners can stay immersed in stories without being tethered to a screen.
That flexibility is fueling heavy consumption habits. The survey found that 45.5% of respondents listen to more than 10 episodes of audio series per day, while another 27.9% consume more than five episodes daily. Only 7.8% report listening to just one to three episodes.
The behavior mirrors the streaming boom of the 2010s: except now, the binge happens in earbuds.
“Audio series are designed for that kind of consumption,” said Lalit Gangwar, SVP and Head of US Market, Pocket FM. “Each episode ends with a narrative hook, encouraging listeners to keep going, just like a streaming drama.”
Screen Fatigue Is Real and Growing
The World Health Organization estimates the average adult spends more than seven hours per day in front of screens. Between work emails, virtual meetings, social feeds and streaming platforms, consumers are experiencing what researchers call digital overload.
A 2025 Edison Research/Magnite study found that 43% of U.S. adults actively seek audio formats because they are less tiring than video, with respondents saying audio gives their eyes a break while still delivering engaging content.
The implications are significant: screen fatigue is not a niche complaint. It’s reshaping how audiences consume media.
And increasingly, audio is filling the gap.
The Return Of Storytelling
Beyond convenience, storytelling itself is pulling audiences toward audio.
Pocket FM’s survey found that 36.9% of listeners choose audio over video because they believe it offers better storytelling.
The shift reflects a broader evolution in digital media. Podcasts opened the door to spoken-word storytelling over the past decade. Now, serialized audio fiction, structured like television seasons but delivered through headphones, is emerging as the next wave of entertainment.
Audio platforms sit at the center of that trend, blending elements of classic radio drama with the binge mechanics of streaming platforms and the mobility of mobile listening.
The result: stories that feel as addictive as Netflix, without the blue light.
A New Entertainment Habit
Audio’s rise also reflects something deeper: a recalibration of how consumers want to engage with media.
Video demands attention. Audio invites imagination.
And for a generation navigating nonstop notifications, digital fatigue and constant multitasking, that difference may explain why audio entertainment is entering a new growth phase.
As Lalit puts it: “People don’t always have time to watch—but they always have time to listen.”
