Brits are spending almost double the time on internet than they did a decade ago owing to an increase in tablet and smartphone take-up, new research report has revealed.
According to a poll conducted by industry regulator Ofcom, web users, aged 16 years and above, spent 20 hours and 30 minutes online each week in 2014, up from 9 hours and 54 minutes of internet usage in 2005.
As per the report, the biggest increase was observed in the age bracket of 16 to 24 year olds whose internet usage almost tripled to 27 hours and 36 minutes last year, up from 10 hours and 24 minutes in 2005.
According to Ofcom’s tenth Media Use and Attitudes Report, the boost in internet usage can be attributed to the growth in popularity of mobile devices, such as smartphones and tablets. While, use of smartphone has doubled in five years, from 30 per cent of adults in 2010 to 66 per cent in 2014, tablet usage has also climbed from 5 per cent in 2010, up to 39 per cent in 2014.
The report revealed that more people are now watching TV and video on the internet. Nearly 27 per cent of the users watch TV or films online, compared to one in 10 in 2007.
Use of internet while on move has also jumped from 30 minutes of browsing in 2005 to over two hours.
The report documented that use of social media has almost tripled since 2007. The proportion of internet users aged 16 and above with a social media profile has risen from 22 per cent to 72 per cent. Social media witnessed the biggest growth among 35-44 year olds, with 80 per cent of internet users in this age group now on social media, up from just 12 per cent in 2007.
Meanwhile, use of instant messaging has leapt from 29 per cent of mobile phone users in 2013 to 42 per cent last year. The largest use has been among 25-34 year olds with 80 per cent regular instant messengers like WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger, compared with 38 per cent in 2005.
Also, 90 per cent of mobile phone users send and receive text messages compared to 70 per cent in 2005, while regular email use has risen from 5 per cent to 52 per cent.
The research polled 1,890 adults aged 16 and over.
