Exclusive | Cancel culture is back! Why cash-strapped Americans are purging costly streaming subscriptions

You’re canceled!That’s what cash-strapped consumers suffering from subscription overload are increasingly telling the overwhelming number of streamers, services and apps they no longer feel they can afford.As prices for the essentials — groceries, gas, rent, utilities — continue to skyrocket, Americans are cutting wherever they can.A report from Deloitte showed that more than half of consumers — 52% — canceled at least one subscription in the last six months.And, the younger the demographic, the more subscriptions getting the boot. The Post spoke with Recurly — a subscription management platform where CEO Joe Rohrlich broke down its latest report revealing Millennials and Gen Zers canceled at a higher rate than any other age group.“The number one reason, in 2025, why consumers told us they canceled was they weren’t using the product or the service enough to justify the ongoing subscriptions,” Rohrlich told The Post.And in today’s trying times, shelling out up to $111 a month — or $1,332 annually for services barely used is frivolous.

Those numbers are up 23% from last year’s monthly average of $90, or $1,080 annually, according to CNET’s Annual Subscription Report.The report also showed that typical users waste an average of $21 a month — or $252 annually — on unused subscriptions, up from $204 in 2025.“I think you could make the leap that as folks are more concerned about their wallet, they’re going to go back in and look at ‘What am I really subscribing to today?’ and to do a better job of managing,” Rohrlich added.And if they’re not canceling, they’re likely pausing, according to Recurly.Recurly’s research found big brands that offer flexibility are more likely to keep their customers, especially if they have options like “pause before cancel.” In fact, those with this feature saw 337% more pauses and 75% returning within months.The move tends to happen from October through January — around the holiday per...