According to a new Ofcom report, the UK population is spending a quarter of their waking day on the internet during the lockdown.
During the height of the UK’s lockdown in April, Britons were spending an average of four hours and two minutes online every day.
The number of people using video-calling apps was seen to double during the pandemic as workplaces and families are commonly using videocalls to hold events.
“Lockdown may leave a lasting digital legacy,” said Yih-Choung Teh, Ofcom’s director of strategy and research. “Coronavirus has radically changed the way we live, work and communicate online, with millions of people using online video services for the first time.”
The report found that those aged between 18 and 24 spent the longest time daily online, averaging five hours and four minutes. However, the highest increase was for over-54s.
According to the report, the three apps that grew most during the quarantine were TikTok, Houseparty, and Zoom as people are finding more creative ways to stay in touch, entertained, and keep fit.
Mobile phone use has also grown during this period as Britons are making calls more often and for longer.
Despite the growth in internet use, the report found that one in eight people continue to not go online at all – a figure that has remained high for many years.
Poorer households are often left behind, which has caused issues for children during the lockdown who were not able to access educational resources and online lessons.
