Have you always been “scrolling” on social networks while watching a film on the computer? This practice, far from being harmless, has a name: “connected cocooning”. As World Television Day approaches, the FLASHS survey explores this accumulation of screens among the French and the way in which these uses structure their evening routines.
Plural navigation and very superficial attention
Every year, autumn invites us to enjoy our sofa more. But behind this seasonal habit lies another phenomenon: “the rise of “connected cocooning”, where the sofa becomes less a resting space than a point of accumulation of screens”, reveals a survey carried out for Vente-unique among a panel of 2000 French people.
In fact, autumn evenings are now organized around very connected uses: we sit on the sofa to relax… but also to consult, watch, listen, respond and navigate, often simultaneously. “Multiple” use of screens which has become the norm in recent years:
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90% of French people use at least one other device while watching television;
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Among them, 32% even juggle two or more screens;
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However, 78% believe that television remains essential in their living room.
Result: in this digital living room-hub, the attention of the French is… more and more fragmented.
Constant overstimulation
The quality of recovery in the evening is reduced (since the brain is saturated with requests/notifications), just like the mental load of the French which cannot be lightened in the face of this overflow of information.
The study also shows that traditional evening activities (exchanging, reading, etc.) now occupy a very marginal place:
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Only 6% of French people read in the evening as their main activity;
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5% exchange or discuss;
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4% simply relax there, without a screen.
“The sofa, historically associated with relaxation, becomes a space of hyperstimulation, where moments of “unconnected” relaxation become residual”,
analyze the experts.
Rather, connected sofa or sofa to disconnect?
While 64% of French people enjoy cozy evenings on the sofa and 54% even broadcast ambient videos on their television to create a cozy atmosphere (a figure which rises to 75% among 18-24 year olds), a large proportion would now like… to benefit from a “connected” sofa.
“76% would like a sofa with options designed for connected uses (USB ports, docking station, technical integrations)”, the report reveals.
In other words, furniture is now thought of as a support for use – and no longer just as a relaxation space, but as the operational center of evening screens.
Revelations which should, more than ever, encourage us to disconnect. To do this, dare to turn off your devices for a few hours (no one should be reachable 24 hours a day)… and prevent yourself from viewing several screens at the same time.
Your brain will thank you!
1. How to reduce fatigue linked to “connected cocooning”?
Limit requests. Mute notifications. Create a calm routine. Take a break from screens every evening. A few minutes without stimulation soothes the nervous system. Prefer a single screen. Your concentration improves quickly. Your sleep too. Your relaxation becomes real again.
2. Why avoid the simultaneous use of several screens?
Your brain saturates quickly. Each screen requires specific attention. Multitasking tires you out. It increases mental load and cognitive overload disrupts rest. Use one screen at a time. Breathe between activities. Your evening gains in quality. Your mind recovers better.
3. How to recreate a cozy atmosphere without multiplying screens?
Focus on simple alternatives. Dim the lights. Light a warm lamp. Listen to a gentle playlist. A calm sensory environment reduces stress. Drink herbal tea. Store devices out of sight. The sofa once again becomes a true relaxation space. Your evening becomes more peaceful.