Ofcom the communications regulator for the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland have published a report that examines children’s media use.

The report provides evidence on media use, understanding and attitudes among children and young people aged 5 to 15 and information on parents’ views about their children’s media use. The report includes information from Northern Ireland.

Key findings from the report include:

• There is an increase in the number of children online compared to 2016. A higher number of younger children are online, 53% of children aged 3 to 4 years, 79% of children aged 5 to 7 years and 94% of children aged 8 to 11 years are online.
• Younger children spend more time watching TV, while older children spend more time online or on their mobile phone.
• A quarter of 8 to 11 year olds and three-quarters of 12 to 15 year olds have a profile on social media or messaging site or app.
• Children believe adverts on TV are more likely to tell the truth compared with online adverts.
• The majority of parents believe the benefits of the internet outweigh the risks.
• Parents concern about online risk increased from 2016.

For more information on the media and how to help children understand it take a look at MediaWise, our media literacy resource for schools.