According to a survey of parents and children in the United Kingdom (UK) conducted between October and November 2022, 25 percent of children between the ages of three and four were using WhatsApp to communicate. In comparison, 80 percent of user aged between 12 and 17 reported engaging with the same platform to exchange instant messages. Snapchat was popular among 30 percent of users aged five and seven years, and of 50 percent among users aged between eight and 11 years.
Platforms used by children in the United Kingdom (UK) to communicate as of November 2022, by age group
Characteristic
3-4
5-7
8-11
12-15
16-17
Facebook Messenger
12%
14%
17%
32%
49%
FaceTime
19%
23%
32%
38%
44%
Phone message apps (e.g. Apple iMessage/Samsung/Messages)
3%
7%
16%
22%
31%
Signal
1%
1%
1%
6%
3%
Instagram (Direct)
6%
9%
14%
46%
63%
Kik
1%
1%
1%
2%
3%
Microsoft Team
3%
4%
13%
20%
22%
Discord
1%
2%
7%
16%
17%
Skype
3%
4%
8%
9%
10%
Snapchat
14%
16%
28%
62%
69%
Telegram
2%
1%
2%
3%
5%
TikTok (Direct messaging)
9%
12%
26%
44%
42%
Viber
1%
1%
2%
3%
3%
WhatsApp
25%
29%
54%
80%
80%
Zoom
2%
7%
10%
11%
15%
Child sends messages or makes video/voice calls on other apps/sites
The original question was formed as follows: "Please think about any reason your child may have for going online – maybe to look at a website or use an app, watch a TV programme or video clip on sites or apps like YouTube, to play games online, for social media, or to do school or homework. Does your child use any of these to go online at home or somewhere else ? (multi coded)"
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Ofcom. (February 2, 2023). Platforms used by children in the United Kingdom (UK) to communicate as of November 2022, by age group [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved August 25, 2024, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/1424935/children-uk-platforms-used-to-message/
Ofcom. "Platforms used by children in the United Kingdom (UK) to communicate as of November 2022, by age group." Chart. February 2, 2023. Statista. Accessed August 25, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1424935/children-uk-platforms-used-to-message/
Ofcom. (2023). Platforms used by children in the United Kingdom (UK) to communicate as of November 2022, by age group. Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: August 25, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1424935/children-uk-platforms-used-to-message/
Ofcom. "Platforms Used by Children in The United Kingdom (Uk) to Communicate as of November 2022, by Age Group." Statista, Statista Inc., 2 Feb 2023, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1424935/children-uk-platforms-used-to-message/
Ofcom, Platforms used by children in the United Kingdom (UK) to communicate as of November 2022, by age group Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1424935/children-uk-platforms-used-to-message/ (last visited August 25, 2024)
Platforms used by children in the United Kingdom (UK) to communicate as of November 2022, by age group [Graph], Ofcom, February 2, 2023. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1424935/children-uk-platforms-used-to-message/