Children in the UK are spending more time online, with those aged 5-15 spending around 15 hours per week online, surpassing time spent watching TV. Even preschoolers aged 3-4 are spending over 8 hours online per week. YouTube is very popular with children, with 73% of those aged 5-15 using the site. A third of preschoolers now own their own media device like a tablet. The number of children with social media profiles doubles between ages 10-11, with social media accounting for 1/5 of media time for 11-15 year olds. Most families feel children have a good balance of screen time and other activities.

1. Georgia Foster
Time spent well or
wasted? The influence
of social networking on
children

2. “Children’s lives are increasingly digital,
with tablets and smartphones
commanding more attention than ever.
Even so, families are finding time for
more traditional activities, such as
watching TV together or reading a
bedtime story.” –
Jane Rumble, Ofcom Director of Market
Intelligence

3. Ofcom reveals that children’s internet use has reached record
highs, with youngsters aged 5-15 spending around 15 hours
each week online – overtaking time spent watching a TV set for
the first time.
Even pre-schoolers, aged 3-4, are
spending eight hours and 18 minutes a
week online, up an hour and a half from
six hours 48 minutes in the last year.
https://www.ofcom.org.uk/about-ofcom/latest/features-and-
news/childrens-media-use

4. YouTube is one of the most popular
online destinations for children to
watch content.
73% of those aged 5-15 use the
video site. Four in ten 8-11s and
12-15s say they prefer watching
YouTube than the TV set.
37% of pre-schoolers regularly watch
YouTube videos. Typically picked is
‘TV content’ such as cartoons and
mini-movies.

5. Digital devices are more widespread among children than ever. Today’s
research finds that a third (34%) of pre-schoolers (aged 3-4) own their own
media device – such as a tablet or games console.

6. The number of children with a
social media profile doubles
between the ages of 10 and 11.
Our Digital Day
research found that
social media accounts
for a fifth of all media
and communications
time for 11-15s.
One in ten 11-15s are still
communicating via social
media at 10pm.

7. On the most part, families are in agreement that their child has a good
balance between screen time and doing other activities. Most children aged
12-15 (64%), and parents of children of the same age (65%), believe this
balance is about right.