Up to one in ten hours children aged 8 to 14 spend on social media happens between 11pm and 5am, with kids expressing concerns about addictive ‘brain rot’ content

06:37 ET, 10 Dec 2025

Approximately one-fifth of the time children between eight and 14 years old spend on YouTube, Snapchat, TikTok and WhatsApp occurs during nighttime hours between 9pm and 5am, according to findings from the media regulator.

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Ofcom’s annual report, released on Wednesday, revealed that a "significant amount of the time online spent by children is at night".

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The data shows that4-10% of their usage across these four social media platforms happens between 11pm-5am, while 15-24% takes place between 9pm and 5am, varying by platform. These represent the four primary services utilized by young people. Several children expressed worries to Ofcom about squandering time consuming addictive "brain rot" content on social media, which refers to material that is fast-paced, chaotic and often nonsensical.

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One 13 year old girl shared with the study:

"I find it really hard to watch movies... So normally if I’m watching something on Netflix. I get really bored of it and I just go on my phone and I don’t even realise it, I’m just scrolling on TikTok then I look at the time and I’m like, ‘what the hell, I need to go to bed.’", reports the Mirror.

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Additionally, Ofcom’s comprehensive examination of the nation’s digital behaviors discovered that 58% of 11-17 year olds encountered bullying content online this year, 49% witnessed hate-related material, and 30% reported seeing content that encouraged dangerous stunts or challenges.

However, young people also discovered beneficial aspects of internet use, with seven in ten (69%) 13–17 year olds going online to support their wellbeing and nearly eight in ten (78%) stating the internet assists with schoolwork.

Among adults, Ofcom’s study revealed that Facebook remains the platform where users are most frequently reporting encounters with their latest potential harm.

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The research also discovered that X, previously known as Twitter, stands as the sole top ten social media service where male users makeup the majority of visitors.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is also transforming how the UK searches online, with ChatGPT recording 1.8 billion UK visits during the first eight months of 2025, a significant jump from 368 million visits in the corresponding period of 2024.

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However, Ofcom also uncovered that 5% of UK residents aged 16 and above reported lacking internet access at home this year, with this figure climbing to 20% among those aged 75 and older.

This comes as the Government unveiled 80 local initiatives on Wednesday designed to provide free assistance in getting people connected online, with these projects receiving support from the £11.7million Digital Inclusion Innovation Fund.

Digital Inclusion Minister Liz Lloyd stated: "This Government is tearing down the barriers to success and making the future work for all, not just the fortunate."

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Ofcom conducted its research prior to implementing its children’s codes in July, which provide tech companies with guidance on minimizing harm to young people online, as mandated by the UK’s Online Safety Act.

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