Internet usage in the United Kingdom has doubled in the last ten years, a new report finds.
The data comes courtesy of new research by Ofcom, which claims the rise in net usage is thanks to an increase in the use of smartphones and tablets.
According to the Media Use and Attitudes 2015 report, over-16s spent an average of 20 hours and 30 minutes online each week last year.
That’s up from a comparatively paltry 9 hours and 54 minutes over the same period in 2005.
Unsurprisingly,
The report claims net usage amongst this group tripled over a decade, rising from 10 hours and 24 minutes each week, up to 27 hours and 36 minutes weekly in 2014.
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Ofcom puts it down to the proliferation of mobile devices, citing the doubling of smartphone use over the last five years.
In 2010, just 30 per cent of adults were using net-friendly smartphones, a figure which has since increased to 66 per cent.
Tablets, meanwhile, saw similar growth, rising from 5 per cent in 2010, up to 39 per cent in 2014.
This has led people to spend significantly more time online while away from home or the office.
In 2005, 30 minutes were spent on the net while out and about, compared to last year’s 2 hours and 18 minutes.
Have you become a basement-dwelling netizen, or do you still remember the tender warmth of daylight? Let us know in the comments…
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Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
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We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
