In its latest 'Adults’ Media Use and Attitudes' report, Ofcom highlights that UK internet users are increasingly stepping back from content creation on social media. Data shows that the proportion of users who actively post, share, or comment has fallen from 61% in 2024 to just 49%.
Most users now limit their engagement to simply 'liking' posts or passively scrolling through content. Ofcom suggests that this trend reflects a broader decline in digital participation, with social media becoming an increasingly dull and passive experience.
Digital Trust Hits New Lows
As engagement wanes, satisfaction with online life among the British public is also shrinking. Only 59% of respondents now believe the benefits of being online outweigh the risks, a significant decline from 72% last year. Furthermore, just 36% of social media users feel these platforms contribute positively to their mental health, while 67% admit they spend too much time online each day.
Public caution regarding online information is also on the rise. More than half of those surveyed reported encountering fake or misleading news over the past year. To verify content, 43% of users now cross-reference information across different sources, while about 40% check comment sections to gauge the reliability of a post.
Ofcom’s research also sheds light on the adoption of generative AI. Currently, 54% of adults are using AI tools, a significant jump from 31% last year. While AI is widely used for tasks like summarizing search results, 57% of respondents stated they trust AI-generated content less than content created by humans.
Despite the drop in active participation, social media remains a cornerstone of British life. Nine out of ten internet users still frequent at least one social platform, a figure that climbs to 97% among the 16-to-34 age group. For these younger users, watching videos and instant messaging remain the primary pillars of their digital lives.
The survey also identified that 6% of UK adults still have no internet access at home. Among this offline demographic, 83% are aged 65 or older. Meanwhile, approximately 19% of respondents rely exclusively on smartphones for their online activities, highlighting an increasing reliance on a single device.