StarHub survey finds 80% of Singaporeans feel drained despite time spent online to “relax”

These days, we all have multiple devices calling for our attention. According to Staista’s report on Internet usage in Singapore, with nearly 10 million 4G and 5G subscriptions, as a country, we spend 6 hours and 33 minutes a day using the internet. 

And that is a lot of time. 

In fact, an internal study of 1,018 respondents in Singapore by StarHub and YouGov showed that over 80% of people in Singapore feel worn out after long hours on their screens. 

It found that 9 in 10 people in Singapore admitted to scrolling mindlessly, often out of habit or distraction. Nearly 7 in 10 say it’s harder to focus, while three-quarters feel left behind when scrolling through friends’ posts. The survey also found that almost 9 in 10 people turn to their devices when they feel lonely. 

We are all living in this always-on world, constantly connected, yet sometimes feeling more disconnected than ever. At StarHub, we do not believe technology should drain us. It should support us, help us grow, and bring us closer to what really matters. That is why we’re helping people use tech with more intention, so it fits around their lives, not the other way around.

Tan Toi Chia, Chief People, Organisation and Communications at StarHub

Digital Balanced Media Index (BMI) and a 5G Wellness Festival 

To help users get a better picture of their possible digital or screen fatigue, Starhub has introduced a Digital Balanced Media Index (BMI) and is hosting a 5G Wellness Festival at Capitol Outdoor Plaza on 13 and 14 September 2025. 

The festival runs from 10AM to 9PM daily, is free for everyone, and will have live DJ music, free-flow coffee, and board games. A series of free workshops will also be on offer, with users able to attend Mindful Journaling with Steph T, Silent Disco Yoga with Mandi Cheung, and leather crafting workshops by Hides & Thread. Visitors are encouraged to register online to secure their workshop slots in advance.

The Digital BMI  is a quiz on the StaHub website that gives people a snapshot of their screen-time habits and how these may be affecting their mind, body, and emotions. The quiz takes just a few minutes. Each result connects to one of StarHub’s 5G Wellness Pillars of Gather, Glide, Glow, Ground, and Grow. These stand for:

• Gather (Social Connection): Encourages meaningful offline interactions and shared experiences with others
• Glide (Overall Relaxation): Offers opportunities to unwind and enjoy simple, screen-free entertainment
• Glow (Self-Care): Inspires intentional moments of rest and reflection to nurture personal wellbeing
• Ground (Physical Presence): Promotes real-world engagement by reconnecting with your physical environment
• Grow (Mental Enrichment): Supports personal development through offline learning and discovery

We reached out to Starhub to find out if this would be made an annual event or if the Digital BMI would be added to the StarHub app, but received no response yet. We will update this article if we receive more information.