The digital lifestyle trend is having a significant impact on the financial condition of people in the United States. A new report titled "The State of Subscription Services in 2026" released by CNET reveals that residents' spending on subscription services has skyrocketed, accompanied by an increase in financial losses due to unused services.
Data shows that the average loss per individual reaches $21 per month or around $252 (equivalent to nearly Rp4 million) a year. This figure represents a significant increase compared to 2025, which was recorded at $204 per year. Millennials and Gen Z rank at the top as the groups most affected by this wasteful phenomenon.
One of the main causes of this problem is the ease of signing up, which is not paired with the ease of unsubscribing. Although the majority of services no longer require long-term contracts, many consumers get trapped after free trial periods end because they forget to cancel. This situation is worsened by administrative hurdles that make the cancellation process difficult, leading many users to choose to keep paying rather than dealing with complicated procedures.
In addition to user oversight, periodic price increases from service providers—ranging from Netflix to premium features on other tech platforms—are further straining household budgets. The 'subscription for everything' phenomenon now extends across various sectors, from entertainment and social media to automotive features, collectively raising the average monthly expenditure of US residents to $111.
Facing this trend, experts advise consumers to be more disciplined in auditing their personal finances. Practical steps that can be taken include regularly checking credit card statements, utilizing subscription management features in banking apps, and adopting a 'subscription rotation' strategy. This strategy involves activating a service only when needed, then canceling it immediately after enjoying the desired content.
As an alternative, switching to ad-supported streaming platforms or returning to physical entertainment formats is starting to be reconsidered by some as a way to curb financial leakages amid an increasingly aggressive digital economy.
