Ani Petrosyan
Research expert for cybersecurity and cybercrime
Internet usage in the United Kingdom (UK) - Statistics & Facts
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The United Kingdom (UK) has one of the largest online populations worldwide and in Europe. With around 60 million internet users, the country is fourth in Europe, and 17th in the world. By 2028, the country is forecasted to have around 63 million online users. Most of the UK’s population, about 98 percent, has access to the internet, ranking sixth worldwide by internet penetration rate. Furthermore, the share of households with internet access in the country was 95 percent.
A survey among internet users in the United Kingdom (UK) also found that the majority of them were full-time employees. Approximately 30 percent of those using online services and platforms had a bachelor’s degree.
The most popular app in the UK as of March 2023 was Facebook and Messenger. Internet users spent on average 1158 minutes a month using it. Snapchat and TikTok followed in the ranking, generating 947 and 877 minutes of average monthly screen time, respectively.
Being privacy-conscious to some extent, UK users take certain actions to protect their online information. For instance, around four in ten individuals said they decline cookies on websites at least some of the time. Nevertheless, people mostly agree that if they use an online service for free, they should give away personal information.
Who is using the internet the most in the UK?
The UK’s most active internet users were individuals between 30 and 39 years old. This age group made up almost 30 percent of all internet users in the country. Meanwhile, the share of men and women going online was almost the same, with only a two percent difference.A survey among internet users in the United Kingdom (UK) also found that the majority of them were full-time employees. Approximately 30 percent of those using online services and platforms had a bachelor’s degree.
What digital device is often used in the UK?
By 2023, smartphones have well established a dominance over other digital devices connected to the internet. In the UK, roughly 77 percent of the time spent online was via a smartphone. On average, people in the United Kingdom spent three hours and 40 minutes online daily, including almost three hours via a smartphone. Young adults between the ages of 25 and 34 years were among the most active smartphone users.Mobile internet and apps usage in the UK
As of 2023, around 60 million individuals in the United Kingdom (UK) were using mobile internet, which translates to around 93 percent of the country’s total population. On smartphones, people mainly use internet browsers, e-mail services, and social media apps.The most popular app in the UK as of March 2023 was Facebook and Messenger. Internet users spent on average 1158 minutes a month using it. Snapchat and TikTok followed in the ranking, generating 947 and 877 minutes of average monthly screen time, respectively.
Social media usage in the UK
As of 2023, there were around 62 million social media users in the United Kingdom. Facebook had the highest market share in the country, over 62 percent, while Twitter ranked second, with about 15 percent. Used more often by older generations, 308712 Facebook had nearly 47 million users nationwide. The number of Twitter users amounted to over 18 million as of 2023. Young people in the UK were also using Instagram and TikTok.Online Privacy and data protection
Around a third of internet users in the United Kingdom were concerned about how companies might use their data. Knowing that a website tracks their personal data, UK online users tend to be more wary of what they read online.Being privacy-conscious to some extent, UK users take certain actions to protect their online information. For instance, around four in ten individuals said they decline cookies on websites at least some of the time. Nevertheless, people mostly agree that if they use an online service for free, they should give away personal information.
Ani Petrosyan
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Dec 19, 2023
Ani Petrosyan
Research expert for cybersecurity and cybercrime
