Stacy Jo Dixon
Research expert covering social media usage worldwide
Social media and children in the UK - statistics & facts
Social media can be a place for fun, games, and communication. Users in the United Kingdom, particularly those of Generation Alpha, can be captivated by social media applications such as Instagram and TikTok. How long do children spend on these platforms, and how easy is it for them to access them?
In 2023, TikTok was the most used social media platform amongst all children in the UK, followed by X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, and Reddit, respectively. In terms of video apps, YouTube was by far the most popular, followed by Netflix and Disney Plus.
Smartphones and social media go hand in hand, and, as every user’s online world is entirely different due to unclear algorithms, parents take matters into their own hands. In 2023, 73 percent of parents in the UK were using a tool to monitor their child’s internet usage, and 14 percent had installed apps to monitor mobile activity.
Most social media platforms have age restrictions, but many are simple for users to bypass, resulting in children being exposed to content that is not age appropriate. In 2024, the most common method of age assurance in the UK was self-declaration. The reasoning for this, according to UK based companies, was mostly due to the ease of setting this up, the ease for the user, and cost effectiveness.
Children in the UK are entertained by the constant entertainment of TikTok and the fun that is to be on Snapchat. In the digital era, that is not too surprising. However, smartphone usage and ownership are concerning parents in the country, and that concern is not without valid reason. Children’s privacy and data are at risk, and the onus is on companies and governments to ensure that children have rights while enjoying social media.
UK children’s favorite social media platforms
In 2024, children in the UK spent a daily average of five hours and 36 minutes on the internet, almost three hours on a laptop, and around two hours on social media. For communication, Snapchat and Instagram were very popular platforms for teens. For young children, aged between three and four years, sending voice messages was a common method of communication.In 2023, TikTok was the most used social media platform amongst all children in the UK, followed by X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, and Reddit, respectively. In terms of video apps, YouTube was by far the most popular, followed by Netflix and Disney Plus.
TikTok and Snapchat keep kids entertained
Some social media platforms can keep users engaged for longer periods of time. For kids in the UK in 2024, TikTok was the platform upon which most time was spent, at over two hours every day. Snapchat was accessed for 97 minutes per day, and Facebook for 19 minutes. Pinterest, Reddit, and X, although used by children, came nowhere close in terms of average daily time spent.Parents are not too happy with smartphones
Parents in the UK are concerned about their child’s online and social media activity and are fully aware that smartphones are the gateway to potential online harm. As of April 2024, 36 percent of parents surveyed in the UK stated that they would support a law banning children from being able to own a smartphone.Smartphones and social media go hand in hand, and, as every user’s online world is entirely different due to unclear algorithms, parents take matters into their own hands. In 2023, 73 percent of parents in the UK were using a tool to monitor their child’s internet usage, and 14 percent had installed apps to monitor mobile activity.
Most social media platforms have age restrictions, but many are simple for users to bypass, resulting in children being exposed to content that is not age appropriate. In 2024, the most common method of age assurance in the UK was self-declaration. The reasoning for this, according to UK based companies, was mostly due to the ease of setting this up, the ease for the user, and cost effectiveness.
Children’s data is at risk
The United Kingdom has implemented the UK GDPR, which is essentially the GDPR incorporated into UK law, even though the EU's GDPR no longer directly applies to the country. Looking at GDPR fines that include the data of children can offer an insight into how important these policies are. In cases involving children's data, Instagram has been fined a total of 405 million euros so far. TikTok has been penalized for a total of 360 million euros, and WhatsApp, 231 million euros. The complexity of social media usage is further compounded by the fact that platforms, which consume a significant amount of time, are not fully respecting and properly managing the data and privacy of children.Children in the UK are entertained by the constant entertainment of TikTok and the fun that is to be on Snapchat. In the digital era, that is not too surprising. However, smartphone usage and ownership are concerning parents in the country, and that concern is not without valid reason. Children’s privacy and data are at risk, and the onus is on companies and governments to ensure that children have rights while enjoying social media.
