Khaberni - The British media regulator Ofcom revealed exciting data about the use of social media platforms by children between the ages of 8 and 14, showing they spend about 20% of their time on YouTube, Snapchat, TikTok, and WhatsApp during the night hours, between 9 PM and 5 AM.
The report showed that between 4% and 10% of usage time is concentrated between 11 PM and 5 AM, while it reaches 15% to 24% between 9 PM and 5 AM, depending on the platform.
Addiction to fast-paced and chaotic content
The report referred to what is known as "Brain Rot", which is fast-paced and chaotic content that children tend to watch unconsciously, leading to wasted time.
A 13-year-old girl said: "When I get bored with watching something on Netflix, I switch to my phone unconsciously, and I keep scrolling on TikTok until I realize it's gotten very late"".
Harmful content affecting children
The report also showed that 58% of children between the ages of 11 and 17 have seen content that includes bullying, and 49% have encountered content that incites hatred, and 30% have watched content that encourages dangerous challenges or actions.
Despite the risks.. the Internet is also useful
Yet, young people have found positive aspects of using the internet, with about 69% of the age group 13–17 using it to support their mental well-being, and 78% saying it helps them in their studies.
Facebook most associated with harm
According to the report, Facebook still remains the platform where users are most likely to report their latest harmful or abusive experience, while the platform X is dominated by males among the top ten platforms, according to Mirror website.
Artificial intelligence changes the search experience
The report noted that artificial intelligence has reshaped the search experience in the United Kingdom, where ChatGPT recorded about 1.8 billion visits during the first eight months of 2025, compared to 368 million in the same period of 2024.
Digital divide and government initiatives
The report also indicated that 5% of the population over the age of 16 still lack home internet, and the rate increases to 20% among those older than 75 years. The government has launched 80 local programs to support internet connectivity, with funding amounting to 11.7 million British pounds within the Digital Inclusion Innovation Fund.
Ofcom confirmed that the data were collected before the implementation of child protection codes in July (July) 2025, which are guidelines that compel technology companies to reduce the risks faced by children according to the British Online Safety Law.
