Summary
This annual report by Ofcom, the UK communications regulator, presents nationally representative survey findings on how children aged 3–17 and their parents engage with media, online platforms, and digital advertising. It provides a detailed evidence base on trends in device use, social media engagement, and children's ability to recognise and critically evaluate online content, including commercial communications. The report is widely cited in policy and public health contexts as a benchmark for understanding children's digital media environments in the UK.
UK applicability
This report is entirely UK-based, drawing on Ofcom's national survey data, and is directly applicable to UK policy discussions around children's digital advertising exposure, online safety regulation, and food marketing restrictions in digital environments.
Key measures
Screen time (hours/day); device ownership rates (%); social media use by age group (%); awareness of online advertising (%); parental oversight measures (%)
Outcomes reported
The report measured children's and parents' media consumption habits, device ownership, online activities, and attitudes towards digital content, including exposure to advertising and social media across age groups.
Topic tags
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