From apps to AI search: how the UK goes online in 2025

OFCOM’s latest Online Nation report explores how adults and children in the UK experience life online. From the sites and apps we use every day, to how people feel about what they do and what they encounter online.

We’re spending even more time online as a nation

Adults now spend an average of four and a half hours online a day – up by 10 minutes on last year. Women spend 26 minutes a day longer online than men, with a daily average of 4hrs 43 mins.

Most of time online is spent on a smartphone, where adults use an average of 41 apps a month. WhatsApp, Facebook and Google Maps are the three most commonly used apps among adults.

Half of all time online is now spent on Alphabet and Meta-owned services

Two major tech firms now account for more than half of the time people in the UK spend online.

YouTube is the most used Alphabet-owned service, used by 94% of adults. Time on YouTube is increasing, reaching an average of 51 minutes a day, not including the TV set. The combination of Facebook and Messenger (93% adults) is the most widely used Meta service, followed by WhatsApp (90% adults).

AI is shaking up search

Google Search is used by four in five (82%) adults. It is by far the most used search service in the UK, with 3 billion searches a month.

AI is changing the UK’s search experience. About 30% of searches now show AI overviews, and more than half (53%) of adults say they see these summaries often. In most cases, they aren’t seeking these but finding them now included by their search services.

Generative AI services are gaining traction, with more people actively seeking them out. ChatGPT had 1.8 billion UK visits in the first eight months of 2025, up from 368 million in same period of 2024.

Adults are less positive about the impact of the internet

This year, only a third of adults (33%) said they feel the internet is good for society – down from 40% last year. And while nearly two-thirds (65%) of adults believe the personal benefits of being online outweigh the risks, this figure has declined steadily from 71% two years ago.

Fewer adults feel freer to be themselves online than offline this year (25%, down from 30% last year), and only 35% feel they can share opinions more easily online than offline.

What the UK’s children are doing online: social media, schoolwork and spending regrets

Younger Gen Z and the eldest Gen Alphas are mobile-first, video-native internet users. Children aged 8–14 spend almost 3 hours online daily, rising to 4 hours for 13–14-year-olds and about two hours for 8–9-year-olds. This only counts time on smartphones, tablets, laptops and computers – not games consoles.

YouTube and Snapchat lead the way when it comes to screen time. Across 8–14s, children spend about 48 minutes a day on YouTube and 45 minutes on Snapchat – together making up around half of their total online time. Almost all 8-14-year-olds use YouTube (96%) and Google Search (95%). WhatsApp (63%) and TikTok (58%) also rank highly.

Late-night scrolling is common. Across four of the main services used by children – YouTube, Snapchat, TikTok and WhatsApp – 15-24% of the time spent for the whole 8-14 age range happens between 9pm and 5am. 4–10% of usage happens after 11pm, depending on the platform.

Most children are happy with their online lives

Overall, nine in ten (91%) children aged 8-17 say they are happy with the things that they do online.

Teenagers use social media and messaging apps to stay connected. Almost three-quarters (72%) of 13-17s who use these platforms say they help them feel closer to friends. Girls aged 13-17 are more likely than boys of the same age to see being online as good for helping to build and maintain friendships (71% vs 60%).

Overall, seven in ten (69%) 13–17-year-olds go online to support their wellbeing, mainly to relax (45%) or lift their mood (32%). Nearly eight in ten (78%) say the internet helps with schoolwork, and more than half (55%) use it to learn new skills.

But they’re mindful of doomscrolling – and ‘brain-rot’

Some of the children we spoke to reflected on the negative impacts of spending too long scrolling on their smartphone. They used the term “brain rot” to describe both the type of content and the feeling it leaves behind. This content is fast-paced, chaotic, and often nonsensical and can leave viewers overstimulated and disoriented.

Reclaiming their online space – Gen Z are more likely to act on harmful content

While we found that seven in ten 11-17 year olds had seen or heard harmful content online in the last four weeks, we also found that nearly two-thirds (64%) of them had taken action after encountering such content.

Actions included using platform tools like the ‘dislike’ button (15%), reporting content (11%), blocking the person who posted the content (10%), or telling an adult (10%).

Importantly, we spoke to children about this before our Protection of Children Codes of Practice came into force in July 2025. Under our new rules, sites and apps must take steps to prevent children from encountering the most harmful content relating to suicide, self-harm, eating disorders and pornography. These steps include age checks and ensuring this content doesn’t appear in children’s ‘for you’ feeds, and they must also have improved reporting tools for children to use. They must also act to protect children from misogynistic, violent, hateful or abusive material, online bullying and dangerous challenges.

Online retail remorse – younger users regretting their online purchases

Almost six in ten (58%) children aged 8-17 said they had spent money online in the past month, whether on social media sites, video-sharing platforms, or while they were gaming.

Children tell us that they were encouraged to spend money in various ways online, including character customisation (30%), adverts (27%), recommendations from friends or family (23%) and influencer content (22%).

But a third of children (32%) regretted the purchases they’d made in-game, and 43% regretted purchases made on social media. While 42% were unclear on what they even were buying in games.

Flu cases on the rise: Pop-Up Vaccination Clinics across the city

With flu cases continuing to rise, NHS Lothian has organised a number of pop-up vaccinations in community facilities across the city:

TODAY (THURSDAY 12 DECEMBER)

HAYS COMMUNITY HUB, (PLACES FOR PEOPLE) HAY AVENUE

Tron Kirk Moredun-1-Vaccination 1 (1)Download

TOMORROW – FRIDAY 12 DECEMBER

TRON KIRK MOREDUN CHURCH, CRAIGOUR GARDENS

Royston Wardieburn-1-Vaccination 1 (1)Download

MONDAY 15 DECEMBER

ROYSTON WARDIEBURN COMMUNITY CENTRE, PILTON DRIVE NORTH

Craigentinny (1)-1-Vaccination 1 (2)Download

THURSDAY 18 DECEMBER

CRAIGENTINNY COMMUNITY CENTRE, LOANING ROAD

Gorgie Church-1-Vaccination 1 (1)Download

FRIDAY 19 DECEMBER

GORGIE CHURCH, GORGIE ROAD

Richmond Craigmillar Church (1)Download

TUESDAY 23 DECEMBER

RICHMOND CRAIGMILLAR CHURCH, NIDDRIE MAINS ROAD

Increased support for carers

People who care for more than one disabled person may be eligible for a new Scotland-only payment.

Carer Additional Person Payment, worth up to £520 a year, will be available from March 2026.

Carers may be eligible for more than one Carer Additional Person Payment if they are caring for more than one additional person. 

This is the latest in a series of improvements being made to support for carers from Social Security Scotland, which will come into effect in March.

The time Carer Support Payment is paid following the death of the cared-for person will also be extended from 8 to 12 weeks, while Carer’s Allowance Supplement will be replaced by Scottish Carer Supplement which will be paid weekly alongside Carer Support Payment rather than in two annual payments as it is currently – meaning carers receive extra support more consistently and regularly.

Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said: “We’re making changes to benefits for carers to recognise the important contribution they make and to help ease some of the pressures that can come with a caring role.

“Scotland’s carers are better off than anywhere else in the UK, and the upcoming improvements will make sure that this remains the case.”

The Cabinet Secretary met with a group of carers from Lanarkshire Carers in Hamilton to mark the December payment of Carer’s Allowance Supplement and upcoming changes to social security support.

Barbara McAuley, Chief Executive Officer at Lanarkshire Carers said: “We were delighted to welcome the Cabinet Secretary to Lanarkshire Carers Centre for an engaging visit with carers and staff.

“During the session, the Cabinet Secretary listened to carers’ experiences and participated in meaningful discussions on key issues, including social security benefits, working carers, older carers and carers’ rights.

“We are grateful for this chance to ensure carers’ voices are heard at the highest level.”

From March 2026, in addition to Carer Support Payment, eligible carers will be able to receive:   

  • Scottish Carer Supplement – replaces Carer’s Allowance Supplement for carers in receipt of Carer Support Payment, an extra, more regular payment for carers which replaces Carer’s Allowance supplement for carers in receipt of Carer Support Payment (£11.29 per week).
  • Carer Additional Person Payment – an extra payment of £520 per year, paid weekly, available to people caring for more than one person. Carers may be eligible for more than one Carer Additional Person Payment if they are caring for more than one additional person.   

The switch from Carer’s Allowance Supplement to Scottish Carer Supplement will happen automatically for current recipients. Information on accessing the Carer Additional Person Payment will be provided in the new year.

In November, Young Carer Grant was extended to include 19-year-olds – potentially benefiting an additional 1,200 carers next year and allowing young carers to get up to four payments from the age of 16.

Over 95,000 carers received Carer’s Allowance Supplement in December with a payment of £293.50.

Young people demand more action to reduce the impact of poverty at school

School Shouldn’t Cost: Young People’s Poverty and Education Manifesto 2025-31 was published on Tusday and over the coming weeks will be presented to MSPs and candidates ahead of the Scottish Parliament Election in May 2026.

This manifesto sets out what thousands of young people across Scotland say should happen to reduce the impact of poverty in their schools.

The calls

Young people say the next Scottish government must:

  1. “End child poverty. Make sure our families have what they need so we can come to school ready to learn”
  2. “Fund every school to fully remove cost pressures from our families and help us overcome poverty-related barriers to learning”
  3. “Help us with the basics we need to learn, take part and feel included at school – free school meal expansion, uniform support, devices for all and continued funding for curriculum costs”
  4. Create opportunities for all. “Help us all benefit from life changing school trips and from activities in our communities”
  5. “Involve us! We can help make our schools and Scotland better”

Young people’s message to politicians

In a letter to Scottish party leaders the young people, members of the Cost of the School Day Voice network shared why this work needs to happen:

“There are great things happening in lots of our schools to help with costs and support us. But poverty is still affecting our education in so many ways. Poverty can affect how ready we feel to learn, what equipment we have for classes, basics like uniform and food and access to school trips that spark passion for subjects. Poverty can have a detrimental effect on our learning and can hold us back.”

Network members stressed the urgency of taking action on poverty in schools:

“The cost of the school day is such an important matter that we think it needs to be fixed everywhere for everyone as soon as possible. It’s important that you listen to the calls we are making because your decisions affect our lives. This can help us have equal opportunities and equal chances and a better future.”

More needs to happen

Sara Spencer, Cost of the School Day Project Manager at Child Poverty Action Group in Scotland reflects on what’s happening in Scotland’s schools and local authorities: “There has been so much progress when it comes to reducing costs and poverty-related barriers at school, but there’s more we can do.

“Politicians across the political spectrum need to pay attention to the calls young people are making loud and clear because these are the things young people say will help support them to thrive and achieve at school, no matter how much money they have at home.

“Investment in equity has been making a difference to young people’s experiences at school but while young people are still experiencing poverty and while financial barriers to education remain, we can’t afford to lose focus.”

Throughout “School Shouldn’t Cost” young people are clear that further change is needed in schools, and that it needs to be happening in all parts of the country.

Speaking ahead of the launch, Sierra (S6) from Levenmouth Academy in Fife describes why this manifesto is important: “When we talk about child poverty, we’re not talking about numbers on a page. We’re talking about the child who pretends they’re not hungry because there’s no food left at home.

“We’re talking about the young person who avoids school trips because their family can’t afford it and they’re too embarrassed to say why. We’re talking about parents who go without meals so their children can eat and about the silent worry that sits in so many homes every single day. The cost of the school day should never cost a child their confidence, dignity or dreams.”

CPAG_Cost_of_the_School_Day_Manifesto_v3_Screen (1)Download

Scotland’s first helpline for women experiencing economic abuse

Purple Phone helpline launched

Scotland’s first confidential helpline for victims and survivors of economic abuse has been launched by Financially Included, an organisation that supports women to recover from a controlling and often hidden form of gender-based violence.

As the 16 days of activism against gender-based violence campaign draws to a close, Housing Secretary Màiri McAllan visited East Renfrewshire to find out more about Financially Included’s Purple Phone Helpline, part of a new economic abuse pilot project supported by Scottish Government funding.

The helpline provides advice, emotional support and financial guidance to women experiencing economic abuse. She heard about the help they gave to one woman, Caroline*. After leaving an abusive relationship, the mother of four was supported by Financially Included to claim a range of benefits and payments she was entitled to, helping Caroline to work towards financial independence and a stable future for her family.

Housing Secretary Màiri McAllan said: “Financially Included’s pioneering Purple Phone Helpline will be an invaluable source of advice to women across Scotland who need help to escape or recover from economic abuse.

“Tackling violence against women and girls in all its forms is one of our key priorities, with investment of £21.6 million this year through the Delivering Equally Safe fund, to support specialist services like Financially Included, making a real difference to women’s lives.”

Councillor Katie Pragnell, Chair of East Renfrewshire Integration Joint Board said: “We’re proud to lead the way in collaboration with other local organisations as part of the East Renfrewshire Violence against Women and Girls Partnership and we are committed to making sure no one faces abuse alone.

“This helpline is more than a phone number – it’s a lifeline. It means women and children trapped by financial control now have somewhere to turn.”  

Amber Cully, Project Manager at Financially Included, said: “We are delighted to be entering into this partnership in East Renfrewshire to build on the vital work in tackling economic abuse and to strengthen specialist support for women affected across the area.

“Through this partnership, we will deliver training on recognising and responding to economic abuse, provide a second-tier advice service for frontline workers supporting victim-survivors.

“Using additional funding from the Scottish Government this year, we are expanding our work nationally, with East Renfrewshire the first area to commit to working with us in this way.

“Our vision is to grow this into a Scotland-wide network, ensuring a consistent, sustainable and trauma-informed response for victim-survivors across the country.” 

The confidential and free Purple Phone Helpline number is 0343 841 0132. It is currently open Monday 16:30–19:30, Wednesday 10:00–13:00 and Thursday 13:30–16:30. Translators are available on request.

Financially Included is a pilot project led by Greater Easterhouse Money Advice Project in partnership with Glasgow Violence Against Women Partnership.

The project focuses on improving the provision of money advice across gender-based violence sectors through training and toolkit resources.

Caroline’s story

Caroline* was referred to Financially Included by Glasgow Women’s Aid two years ago. A survivor of sustained physical, emotional and economic abuse, Caroline is a single mother of four children, two of whom have since been diagnosed with autism. When she first came to the service, Caroline was a full-time student, working part-time and managing multiple health conditions linked to years of trauma and injury.

Despite the abuse, Caroline remained financially tied to the perpetrator through a jointly owned home, shared benefits and mounting debt. She faced benefit complications, mortgage insecurity, damaged credit, and serious housing disrepair including damp and mould. Her situation was made even more complex by ongoing stalking, threats from her former partner, and significant barriers to accessing affordable legal support.

Financially Included provided intensive, trauma-informed support across benefits, housing, debt and energy advice and supported Caroline to secure disability benefits for herself and her son, challenged incorrect benefit decisions and assisted with a Criminal Injuries Compensation application.

They also provided emotional support to Caroline while she completed these processes, acknowledging the trauma involved in revisiting her experiences. She was also supported with council tax exemption, rising mortgage pressures, household debt directly linked to economic abuse, and energy advice to address unsafe living conditions.

While Caroline continues to face serious challenges around housing security and legal protections, she now feels more confident managing as a single parent and navigating complex systems. She continues to receive multi-agency support, including from Women’s Aid, schools, health services and her employer.

*Name changed to protect identity.

TODAY: Something for everyone in a packed activities programme at North Edinburgh Arts

CREATIVITY, CONNECTION & FESTIVE FUN

✨ WHAT’S ON TODAY – Thursday 11 December at North Edinburgh Arts ✨

A full day of creativity, connection & festive fun, and most activities are free to join.

🎄 Winter Pop-Up Market | 11am–3pm

Handmade Christmas decorations, art and gifts by local artists & makers from Granton Art Collective, supported by NEA X NESSIE

🎬 Dementia-Friendly Film Club: Scrooge | 1.30–3.30pm

A relaxed, welcoming screening of the classic 1970s film

🌸 Garden Sessions for Adults | 1.30–4pm

Get active, learn new skills & meet new people in our Community Garden

🎨 Youth Arts Collective | 4–6pm

Creative challenges, fun games, snacks & chats for local young people

🥊 Women’s Wellbeing Workout | 6–7pm

BLAST Boxing for mental health, confidence & fitness (Pay What You Can)

🛸 Talk: Scottish UFOs | 6–7.15pm

A fascinating history of UFO culture with Dr Gavin Miller

🎲 Adult Social Club (16+) | 6–8pm

Board games, music, hot drinks & relaxed social time

🥊 Men’s Boxing Workout | 7–8pm

Fitness & wellbeing through boxing (Pay What You Can)

There’s something for everyone to enjoy so come and join the fun and make the most of it before the festive break!

More details can be found at: https://northedinburgharts.co.uk/whats-on

Urgent safety check for 85,000 tumble dryers

Households with specific tumble dryers manufactured by Haier must check if their machine needs an urgent safety repair

Households with specific models of integrated heat pump tumble dryers manufactured by Haier must check if their machine needs an urgent safety repair because of the risk of fire.

Affected brands include Baumatic, Candy, Caple, Haier, Hoover, Lamona, Iberna and Montpellier. Owners should check their model number and serial number online to see if their appliance is affected and contact the manufacturer to arrange a repair.

The appliance must not be used until the repair has been completed. If the plug is accessible, owners should switch off and unplug the appliance.

The manufacturer started a corrective action programme earlier this year for 103,000 affected machines. However the Office for Product Safety and Standards told Haier to halt its initial repair programme because of concerns the modification was still unsafe.

Following an updated modification, Haier has resumed its programme and begun contacting consumers again. Haier initially focused on arranging a second repair for machines that had previously been modified and are now arranging repairs for the remaining 85,000 owners whose appliances still present a fire risk.

Owners must stop using affected appliances immediately. An internal short circuit can occur during normal use, causing the tumble dryer to ignite.

Check if your tumble dryer is affected – and contact the manufacturer if it is.

This update is based on the regular reporting that Haier has been providing to OPSS.

Edinburgh’s Cockburn Association ready for another 150 years of campaigning

The Cockburn Association, Edinburgh’s oldest conservation body, yesterday celebrated its 150th anniversary in Edinburgh’s City Chambers. 

In celebratory mood, a diverse mix of the charity’s members and supporters from civic society, academia and business gathered to champion its achievements over a long history of campaigning. 

Edinburgh could well have been criss-crossed by inner city motorways, had it not been for the efforts of the Cockburn Association, according to the opening address by the The Rt. Honourable Lord Provost, and Lord Lieutenant of the City of Edinburgh, Councillor Robert Aldridge.  

Lord Provost Robert Aldridge, said: “Over the last 15 decades, the Cockburn Association has played an important role in shaping public policy and in protecting and enhancing our ancient built and natural heritage.

“On behalf of the city I would like to congratulate and thank the Cockburn Association for 150 years of achievements, a milestone that stands is testament to the continuing commitment, enthusiasm, and talent of all of those involved at all levels of the organisation. As we celebrate this anniversary,  we can also look forward with confidence, knowing the Association will continue its work.”

The Association’s Chair, Dr Lesley Martin, compering the event, revealed how the Association’s namesake, Lord Henry Cockburn, had written a famous – or infamous – letter to the then Lord Provost in 1849.

It expressed concern about the planned “monstrosities” that would irreparably damage the city’s “beauty and amenity”. Dr Martin went on to emphasise that the role of the modern Association was to fulfil the charity’s civic function, bringing together diverse interests in productive conversations. 

Chair, Lesley Martin, elected in May this year said: “In fulfilling our role as Edinburgh’s civic trust, the Cockburn Association must aim to include as wide a range of voices as possible and to try to ensure that the quieter, less powerful voices are heard, and listened to”.

The Association’s long history has seen successive waves of modernisation, most recently its wooing of younger trustees and volunteers and the appointment of the current all-female leadership team for the first time in its history.

The Association’s Director Rowan Brown, lauded the role of volunteers and their role in the Association’s success. She said: “Edinburgh has been shaped by ordinary citizens willing to stand up for its built and natural heritage, access to green spaces, dramatic beauty and unique identity.

“As we celebrate our 150th year, our book Campaigning for Edinburgh honours that legacy, illustrates the Edinburgh that might have been and challenges us to think boldly about the city we want to create for future generations.”

“The Cockburn has been built on civic action for civic good, and there are few better examples than the monumental collective seventy year contribution of the Association’s Archival Volunteer Team – Ann Stark, Ruby Dickson, Alan, Margaret Jessop, Lexi Christian and Doreen Parker – who have protected, catalogued, researched and shared the contents of the Cockburn Association’s vast archive.”

Dr Martin ended by putting the charity’s success down to its unique breadth of interests, its focus on “pragmatic solutions” its people, and its streadfast devotion to campaigning for a better future for Edinburgh.

Human Rights Day: Local communities back protections as debate intensifies

Recent findings show the public wants politicians to safeguard rights, not weaken them 

As the world marks Human Rights Day today (Wednesday 10 December), Amnesty International UK says it is a vital moment to reflect on the fact that, despite political manoeuvres, most people across the country strongly support human rights protections and believe they matter now more than ever. 

Recent polling conducted by Savanta for Amnesty International UK found: 

• More than 8 in 10 people say human rights protections are as important or more important today than when they were created after the Second World War 
• 87% believe rights and laws must apply equally to everyone 
• 78% say rights should be permanent and protected from government interference 
• Support for the UK remaining in the European Convention on Human Rights is almost twice as high as support for leaving (48% vs 26%) 

Across regions and communities, people are clear that human rights should not be up for political grabs. 

National tragedies such as Grenfell, the Hillsborough disaster, the infected blood scandal and the Windrush scandal were each identified by the public as key moments that show why Britain needs strong legal protections that can secure truth, justice and accountability. 

Tom Morrison, Amnesty International UK’s Human Rights Legal Frameworks Campaign Manager, said: “There is a growing global trend where some attempt to whip up anti-rights sentiment and sow division between people. Human rights exist precisely to stop the powerful from dividing us, and harming the vulnerable. 

“Human Rights protections were not designed only for fair weather. They were built for the storms, the moments when authoritarianism, institutional failure or abuses of power put people at risk. 

“Thankfully, the UK public instinctively understands this. Seventy-five years on from the creation of the European Convention on Human Rights, people are telling us they want their rights protected permanently. They do not trust politicians to mark their own homework or decide which rights people should or should not have. 

“This is a day to celebrate our national pride in human rights and the equality they guarantee. These protections are a hard-won legacy of our grandparents’ generation. We must be responsible custodians, so that future generations inherit them too.” 

Local relevance and shared belief 

Human Rights Day offers communities everywhere the chance to stand together for fairness and dignity, values that an overwhelming majority of people in the UK say remain essential to modern life. 

From the right to a fair trial, to the right to privacy and family life, to the right to be treated with dignity and respect, the findings show that human rights are fundamental to everyday life and to the kind of country people want to live in.