Key takeaways:
- The 2026 State of Browsing report is now available. Download the full report here for deeper insights into how people work, browse, and burn out online.
- Digital burnout is the norm, not the exception. 62% of users experience recurring digital burnout, driven by notifications, tab overload, and constant app switching.
- People are ready to move on from traditional browsers. 81% of users are open to switching, and 92% want more personalization and control from their browser.
Digital burnout isn’t a glitch in how we browse, it’s the default.
In our 2026 State of Browsing report, 62% of people said they experience recurring digital burnout, even though the browser is supposed to make everything easier. Browsers have become the center of our lives. It’s where we work, unwind, connect, and—let’s be honest—get overwhelmed.
That’s why we ran this research. To get a real picture of how people actually browse, the habits and stress points that make the internet feel heavier than it should, and what they wish their browser could finally do better. We surveyed 1,000 internet users to understand how browsers and the rise of AI shape their focus, productivity, and daily routines. Spoiler: burnout is real, and people are ready for a serious change.
Get the full 2026 State of Browsing report here.
Burnout is now the default state of browsing
What's driving this fatigue? It turns out the very tools meant to help us are often the source of our stress. The report identifies the top culprits:
- Endless notifications (24%)
- Social media overload (23%)
- News rabbit holes (18%)
- Switching between apps and tabs (13%)
One in five people juggle 11 or more tabs at once. Younger users, especially Millennials and Gen Z, are the most likely to operate at “tab capacity,” while Boomers prefer five or fewer tabs. But tab hoarding is only part of the problem.
The biggest productivity culprits are app switching (20%), slow performance (20%), too many notifications (16%), and lost logins (15%). The takeaway is clear: traditional browsers weren’t built for the complexity of modern work.
81% of users are ready to switch their browser.
It’s clear the one-size-fits-all browser isn’t cutting it anymore. 92% of people want more personalization from their browser, and 81% are ready to switch to get it. The features users crave most? More organization and control:
- Multiple account logins: 39%
- Task organization tools: 34%
- Notification blockers: 31%
- App integration: 18%
People don’t want more tools, ”just one more app” isn’t the answer here, and we know it. We want a way to browse the internet that’s faster, more personalized, and less intrusive.
The AI paradox: high expectations, lingering distrust
AI is changing how we approach research, automation, and daily tasks. But even as AI tools advance, traditional browsers remain our primary gateway to information.
Today, 68% of people still prefer search engines, while only 21% favor AI search engine tools like ChatGPT or Gemini. Even daily AI users—who tend to be tech workers, high earners, and Millennials—still rely on traditional search.
People want AI to help with:
- Research assistance (49%)
- Task automation (37%)
- Drafting content (34%)
So what’s holding back wider adoption? The report points to two major hurdles: privacy concerns (45%) and a lack of trust (35%) in how AI uses data and the accuracy of its results.
Users are also increasingly aware of AI’s environmental impact. 36% are somewhat concerned, and 21% are very concerned about its energy usage.
Despite these concerns, the future looks hybrid. 44% expect to stick with traditional search, 32% plan to use AI tools more, and 22% think they will balance both. Browser AI is reshaping our expectations, but it hasn't replaced our internet habits just yet.
Taking back digital control
From the tabs we juggle to the AI tools we test, what people want isn’t more capability, but better control. The demand for a more intentional, personalized browsing experience is getting louder. Users want to move from passive scrolling to actively shaping their digital space.
Read the full 2026 State of Browsing Report to get even more insight into what’s fuelling our focus and our fatigue for the year ahead.
