Ofcom finds Google and Meta dominate UK online time

Ofcom data shows over half of online time in the UK goes to Google and Meta platforms.
Nearly all UK adults use at least one Google or Meta service each month.

British people now spend an average of 4.5 hours online each day, with more than half of that time concentrated on platforms owned by just two technology groups, according to new analysis from the communications regulator.

Ofcom found that services operated by Alphabet and Meta accounted for 51 per cent of total time spent online, totalling around 2 hours and 18 minutes per day. The findings draw on survey responses from more than 10,000 adults, alongside additional digital usage data.

Usage levels in the UK were close to universal. Over a one-month period, 99 per cent of respondents accessed at least one Google service, while 97 per cent used a Meta platform, with similar patterns observed across all age groups.

YouTube, Facebook and Instagram were the most widely used platforms. UK users spent an average of 51 minutes per day on YouTube, up from 47 minutes last year, while Facebook, including Messenger, averaged 43 minutes and Instagram 20 minutes.

The report also highlights shifts in search and messaging habits in the UK. WhatsApp dominates messaging, Google remains the leading search engine, but AI tools such as ChatGPT and Gemini are seeing steady growth.

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