Media Use Report.pdf

Nearly all children (99%) went online in 2021, mostly using mobile phones (72%) or tablets (69%).
Most children (95%) used video-sharing platforms, with 89% using YouTube and 31% posting their own content.
A majority of children under 13 had their own social media profile, with 62% of 8-17s having multiple profiles.
Four in ten parents didn't know the minimum age for social media use, and 38% of parents of 8-11s allowed their child to use social media.
Children preferred paid streaming services (78%) over live TV (47%), and trusted family (68%) and TV (65%) for news over social media.
Seven in ten parents were concerned about their child's online content, citing age-inappropriate and sexual content.
Six in ten children played online games, with 36% playing with strangers and 16% chatting with them.
Most children (11%) couldn't identify genuine online content, and 22% couldn't detect fake profiles.
Nine in ten children thought they could recognize online ads, but only 37% correctly identified sponsored links.
Children mostly felt positive about their online use, with 53% saying it was good for their mental health, and used online services for support.
More than a third (36%) saw something worrying online, with 59% telling someone about it, and 84% experienced bullying via technology.
Nearly all children (94%) knew of online safety features, with 84% using them, mostly blocking people on social media.