A recent report by the media regulator Ofcom revealed that children aged eight to 14 spend approximately 20% of their time on platforms like YouTube, Snapchat, TikTok, and WhatsApp between 9pm and 5am. The report emphasized that a considerable portion of children’s online activity occurs during nighttime hours. Specifically, between 4-10% of their time on these social media apps falls within the 11pm-5am timeframe, while 15-24% is concentrated between 9pm and 5am, varying depending on the platform. These four platforms are the primary services utilized by children.
Concerns were raised by some children to Ofcom regarding their excessive consumption of addictive and mind-numbing content on social media, often described as fast-paced, chaotic, and nonsensical. One 13-year-old girl mentioned that she struggles to watch movies as she tends to get bored quickly and ends up mindlessly scrolling through TikTok late into the night, realizing the time only when it’s too late.
Apart from the negative aspects, Ofcom’s in-depth analysis of online behavior among young individuals highlighted troubling statistics. For instance, 58% of 11-17-year-olds encountered bullying content online, while 49% were exposed to hate-related material, and 30% reported seeing content promoting risky stunts or challenges. On a positive note, many young people also utilize the internet for beneficial purposes, with 69% of 13-17-year-olds using it to enhance their well-being and 78% leveraging it for educational purposes.
In terms of adult online experiences, Facebook remains the platform where users are most likely to report encountering harmful content. Additionally, X, previously known as Twitter, stands out as the sole top ten social media service predominantly visited by men.
Furthermore, the report highlighted the impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on the UK’s search landscape, with ChatGPT witnessing a significant increase in UK visits, reaching 1.8 billion in the initial eight months of 2025 compared to 368 million in the same period of 2024. However, despite the digital advancements, Ofcom’s findings revealed that 5% of UK residents aged 16 and above lacked internet access at home, with this figure rising to 20% among individuals aged 75 and older.
In response to the digital divide, the Government launched 80 local initiatives aimed at providing free support to enhance online accessibility. These projects received funding from the £11.7 million Digital Inclusion Innovation Fund. Minister for Digital Inclusion Liz Lloyd expressed the government’s commitment to breaking down barriers to success and ensuring a future that benefits all individuals, not just a select few.
It’s worth noting that Ofcom conducted its research prior to implementing children’s codes in July, offering guidance to tech companies on minimizing harm to children online, as mandated by the UK’s Online Safety Act.