The Great Digital Quieting: 55% of Americans Have Stopped Posting on Social Media

A new Incogni survey of 1,000 Americans finds most are pulling back from social media — posting less, locking down privacy, and deleting stress-inducing apps. Millennials and Gen Z are leading the retreat.

A new survey of 1,000 Americans paints a stark picture of a quiet exodus: 55% say they post less on social media today than they did five years ago. Another 53% have tightened their privacy settings, restricting who can see what they share. The study, conducted by data removal service Incogni in early June 2026, suggests the era of the public status update is winding down.

The pullback is most pronounced among younger users. 61% of Millennials and 56% of Gen Z report posting less, and nearly half of all respondents — 47% — have deleted at least one social media or messaging app because of stress or anxiety. The top reasons cited: algorithm-driven feeds burying content from actual friends, the mental toll of political polarization, and a growing awareness that personal data fuels an unregulated brokering industry.

The numbers reflect what many have felt for years — that maintaining an online presence has become closer to work than leisure. More than half of respondents agreed that social media feels like an obligation rather than a source of connection, according to PCMag's analysis of the study. Sponsored posts, suggested reels, and rage-bait engagement loops have steadily displaced the friend updates and life events that once defined the platforms.

What would it take to make people quit entirely? A majority said they would delete their accounts if a viable alternative existed — one that prioritized real relationships over algorithmic feeds and didn't monetize their personal data. For now, most are settling for a quieter presence: accounts kept but voices muted.

The platforms aren't empty. They've just gone quiet. The feed still scrolls, but fewer people are shouting into it.