The Price of Entertainment: The Cost of North Americans Spending Too Much Time and Money on Entertainment

 Before coming to Canada, I was aware that North Americans had cultivated a deep relationship with entertainment, particularly Hollywood and professional sports. Since coming here, I noticed that while these activities provide joy, connection, and community in an individual driven culture, they also demand significant time and financial resources. Also, it is leading to a lot of societal problems. The current level of consumption is not sustainable it is time for North Americans to reevaluate the priorities.

The average North American spends over six hours daily on entertainment, much of it tied to streaming services, social media, and professional sports. On the financial side, data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics showed that the average American household spent over $2,900 annually on entertainment, including $660 on fees and admissions to events such as sports games and concerts. In Canada, this number was similarly high, with expenditures on sports tickets and media subscriptions continuing to grow.

Entertainment offers an escape from the pressures of daily life. Whether it’s immersing oneself in a captivating series or a thrilling video game, the promise of temporary relief from stress is irresistible. digital entertainment platforms continuously innovating to keep users engaged. Professional sports offer a sense of belonging in addition to emotional escape. For many, supporting a team fosters community, even if it comes at the cost of time and money. Even if the Toronto Mapleleafs keep losing in the playoffs, people in the Greater Toronto Area are united in their grief.

In my university days, as with all young people, entertainment consumption was equated with social status. Knowing the history and trivia on cricket players, singers or Bollywood performers was desirable. In North America, professional sports are deeply ingrained in cultural identity. From Super Bowl parties to the Stanley Cup Finals, sports are more than a pastime—they’re a societal ritual. This cultural emphasis normalizes high spending and time investment. Social media has been amplifying the fear of missing out, driving people to spend money on the latest shows, episodes, matches or events to stay culturally relevant in water cooler conversations.

Streaming platforms and digital services have made entertainment more accessible than ever. With the rise of streaming services and 24/7 sports networks, fans now have round-the-clock access to games, commentary, and behind-the-scenes content whether they are eating or waiting. While convenient, this accessibility often encourages overconsumption. With a few clicks, users access a vast library of movies, games, or music. People feel overwhelmed by choices and resort to binge-watching or overindulging.

Professional sports, in particular, represent a significant financial investment. Between ticket costs, merchandise, concessions, and cable subscriptions for sports channels, people spend thousands annually to support their favorite teams. While the financial toll is significant, the overconsumption of entertainment has also impacted mental health, relationships, and productivity. Studies have also linked overexposure to entertainment media with stress, anxiety, and disrupted sleep patterns, especially when coupled with the emotionally charged highs and lows that entertainment Is designed to bring. News channels ask us to be outraged at the next topic they choose or our outrage. Excessive screen time has been linked to increased levels of anxiety, depression, and poor sleep quality.

Another significant impact is on the loss of perspective. Social media and news channel bubbles are encouraging a very strong “Us vs Them” mentality. While this personalization keeps audiences hooked, it also isolates them from diverse viewpoints and fosters echo chambers where only like-minded opinions are reinforced. In the realm of professional sports, for instance, fans are often exposed solely to content that glorifies their favorite teams while vilifying opponents, amplifying tribalism and emotional highs. Similarly, broader entertainment narratives presented on social media or cable news channels often align with pre-existing biases, limiting exposure to alternative perspectives. Over time, this loss of perspective has narrowed critical thinking, deepened societal divisions, and encouraged overconsumption of homogeneous entertainment that fails to challenge or expand the viewer’s worldview. Constant exposure to curated lifestyles on social media also fosters feelings of inadequacy and low self-esteem. Families find themselves in the same room but emotionally disconnected, each engrossed in their own digital devices or brainworms of outraged planted by entertainers.

 

The doctor bears his burdens, grave and deep,

The fireman braves the flames, no time for sleep.

Yet a performer grieves, the world must see,

We're bid to weep and share their misery.

It is time for North Americans to reevaluate their priorities. Explore more recreation through hobbies rather than want to be entertained. Prioritize the events and experiences that matter most. Limit spending on entertainment. Limit entertainment to specific hours of the day. Dedicate more time to family, neighbours and friends, free from the distractions.