The bar chart compares the amount of time spent on various leisure activities by the youngest and oldest age groups in the United States in 2015.
Overall, watching television was the most time-consuming activity for both groups, although older Americans devoted significantly more time to it. Younger individuals tended to favor socializing, playing computer games, and participating in sports, while older people spent more time reading and relaxing.
The older age group consistently spent more time on passive activities such as watching television, reading, and relaxing or thinking. On average, individuals over 75 spent approximately 4.5 hours per day watching TV, compared to just under 2.5 hours among those aged 15 to 19. Similarly, older people dedicated around one hour to reading, whereas the youngest group allocated only about 10 minutes. A comparable trend appeared in the time spent relaxing or thinking, with older adults engaging in this activity for more than 30 minutes, while younger people spent merely 5 minutes.
In contrast, the younger age group spent more time on interactive and physically active pursuits. Socializing was slightly more popular among young people, who spent about 45 minutes daily, while the figure for the elderly was slightly lower. A more pronounced difference emerged in computer use and video games, with younger Americans devoting around 65 minutes, nearly double the 30 minutes recorded for their older counterparts. Finally, in terms of physical activity, individuals aged 15–19 spent just over 30 minutes on sports, whereas those aged over 75 participated for less than 15 minutes.