Valued at $3.4 billion in 2017 and growing at an annual rate of 8%, the streaming market for animation is booming off the back of adult-oriented cartoons, which have proven especially popular among Gen Yers. Many members of this cohort already indulge in binge-watching sessions in order to relieve stress and anxiety, and animation can dial up the comfort with an added nostalgia factor. Yet while Saturday morning toons may once have used the medium as a vessel for comedy alone, the creative freedom afforded by streaming platforms has enabled creators to tackle emotional and tricky subjects in ways that live-action shows cannot.

From socialising on Snapchat to getting gourmet dishes delivered to your door to binge-watching the latest Netflix series, digital leisure is having a profound effect on the way Gen Yers spend their downtime. Is staying in really the new going out? And what will prise people from their sofas?

To combat everyday pressures and the always-connected nature of modern life – four out of five UK adults feel stressed during a typical week – people are seeking out solo pastimes that help to restore some sense of peace. Indeed, nine in ten Britons say they’re happy to be in their own company, and 65% of 18- to 24-year-olds have been to a gig alone. The desire to switch off means people are also feeling less self-conscious about going solo in public – 78% believe that dining alone is more socially acceptable than it was five years ago.

With long hours spent in the office, endless chores waiting at home, and caring for young kids throughout the day, American parents devote almost all of their time to other people and tasks. And it's leaving them with little to no time for themselves, even on the weekend.