Adults' media use and attitudes

Ofcom has a responsibility to promote, and to carry out research into, media literacy. Drawing largely on our quantitative Adults’ Media Literacy Tracker surveys, this report provides evidence on media use, attitudes and understanding among UK adults aged 16 and over.

The report is a reference document for industry, stakeholders and the general public. It supports our wider media literacy work and Making Sense of Media programme.

Adults' media use and attitudes report 2023 (PDF, 4.2 MB)

Defnydd Oedolion o'r Cyfryngau a'u Hagweddau Atynt 2023 (PDF, 2.4 MB)

Adults' media use and attitudes report 2023 – interactive data

The underlying Adults' Media Literacy Tracker data is available on our statistical release calendar, as well as the questionnaires and technical report.

Ofcom has a responsibility to promote, and to carry out research into, media literacy. Drawing largely on our quantitative Adults’ Media Literacy Tracker surveys, this report provides evidence on media use, attitudes and understanding among UK adults aged 16 and over.

The report is a reference document for industry, stakeholders and the general public. It supports our wider media literacy work and Making Sense of Media programme.

Adults' media use and attitudes report 2022 (PDF, 4.2 MB)

Defnydd Oedolion o'r Cyfryngau a'u Hagweddau Atynt 2022 (PDF, 1.5 MB)

Adults' media use and attitudes report 2022 – interactive data

The underlying Adults' Media Literacy Tracker data is available on our statistical release calendar, as well as the questionnaires and technical report.

Digital exclusion among adults in the UK

For the first time, we have also today published a review of Ofcom's research on digital exclusion among adults in the UK.

This report provides an overview of Ofcom’s historical research on digital exclusion and of the more recent impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic, both positive and negative.

The report shows that the number of adults in the UK unable to access the internet fell steadily in the years leading up to the pandemic, and that the pandemic has made people more reliant on internet access than ever before.

Digital exclusion: a review of Ofcom's research on digital exclusion among adults in the UK (PDF, 1.6 MB)

Allgáu digidol: adolygiad o ymchwil Ofcom i allgáu digidol ymysg oedolion yn y DU (PDF, 159.8 KB)

This report examines adults’ media literacy. Ofcom’s definition of media literacy is ‘the ability to use, understand and create media and communications in a variety of contexts’. The report is a reference document for industry, stakeholders and the general public.

The Communications Act 2003 places a responsibility on Ofcom to promote, and to carry out research into, media literacy. This report supports our work in this area and our wider Making Sense of Media programme.

Adults' media use and attitudes report 2020/21 (PDF, 4.7 MB)

Agweddau oedolion a’u defnydd o gyfryngau 2020/21 (PDF, 3.1 MB)

Adult's media use and attitudes report 2020/21 - interactive data

Adults' media use and attitudes report 2020/21 – chart pack (PDF, 5.3 MB)

Adults’ media use and attitudes report 2020/21 – data tables (PDF, 5.6 MB)

Adults’ media use and attitudes report 2020/21 – data tables (XLSX, 453.7 KB)

Adults’ media use and attitudes report 2020/21 – questionnaire (PDF, 457.3 KB)

Adults’ media use and attitudes report 2020/21 – technical report (PDF, 214.2 KB)

Adults’ media use and attitudes report 2020/21 – walking boots showcard (PDF, 142.9 KB)

Adults’ media use and attitudes report 2020/21 – respondent-level data (CSV, 3.9 MB)

Digital Exclusion Survey 2020/21 – data tables (XLSX, 100.1 KB)

Adults' media use and attitudes report 2020 (PDF, 1.9 MB)

Agweddau oedolion a’u defnydd o gyfryngau 2020 (PDF, 2.0 MB)

Adults' media use and attitudes report 2020 – chart pack (PDF, 16.0 MB)

Adults’ media use and attitudes report 2020 – data tables (PDF, 1.9 MB)

Adults’ media use and attitudes report 2020 – data tables (XLSX, 837.0 KB)

Adults’ media use and attitudes report 2020 – subset data tables (PDF, 1.0 MB)

Adults’ media use and attitudes report 2020 – subset data tables (XLSX, 340.4 KB)

Adults’ media use and attitudes report 2020 – questionnaire (PDF, 390.5 KB)

Adults’ media use and attitudes report 2020 – technical report (PDF, 139.5 KB)

Adults’ media use and attitudes report 2020 – walking boots showcard (PDF, 178.3 KB)

Adults’ media use and attitudes report 2020 – raw data code book (CSV, 72.4 KB)

Adults’ media use and attitudes report 2020 – respondent-level data (CSV, 17.5 MB)

This report examines adults’ media literacy. It provides evidence on media use, attitudes and understanding among UK adults aged 16 and over. It focuses on the current wave of research which was conducted in autumn 2018 and looks at any changes over time. This report also draws on our qualitative Adults’ Media Lives research and quantitative Technology Tracker.

The report is a reference for industry, stakeholders and consumers. It also provides context to the work Ofcom undertakes in furthering the interests of consumers and citizens in the markets we regulate.

The Communications Act 2003 places a responsibility on Ofcom to promote, and to carry out research in, media literacy. This report supports our work in this area.

Adults' media use and attitudes report 2019 (PDF, 2.4 MB)

Agweddau oedolion a’u defnydd o gyfryngau 2019 (PDF, 2.3 MB)

Adults' media use and attitudes report 2019 – chart pack (PDF, 2.0 MB)

Adults' media use and attitudes report 2019 – interactive data

Adults’ media use and attitudes report 2019 – data tables (PDF, 2.2 MB)

Adults’ media use and attitudes report 2019 – data tables (CSV, 637.2 KB)

Adults’ media use and attitudes report 2019 – subset data tables (PDF, 3.9 MB)

Adults’ media use and attitudes report 2019 – subset data tables (CSV, 331.0 KB)

Adults’ media use and attitudes report 2019 – questionnaire (PDF, 424.0 KB)

Adults’ media use and attitudes report 2019 – technical report (PDF, 132.5 KB)

Adults’ media use and attitudes report 2019 – walking boots showcard (PDF, 242.1 KB)

Adults’ media use and attitudes report 2019 – respondent-level data (CSV, 4.4 MB)

This report examines adults’ media literacy. It provides detailed evidence on media use, attitudes and understanding among adults aged 16+. It focuses on the current wave of research which was conducted in autumn 2017, and looks at any changes since 2016.

The report is a reference for industry, stakeholders and consumers. It also provides context to the work Ofcom undertakes in furthering the interests of consumers and citizens in the markets we regulate.

The Communications Act 2003 placed a responsibility on Ofcom to promote, and to carry out research in, media literacy. This report contributes to Ofcom’s fulfillment of this duty.

Adults' media use and attitudes report 2018 (PDF, 1.7 MB) - 25 April 2018

Agweddau oedolion a’u defnydd o gyfryngau 2018 (PDF, 346.5 KB)

Adults' media use and attitudes report 2018 - chart pack (PDF, 2.1 MB)

Adults' media use and attitudes report 2018 - face-to-face survey data tables (PDF, 8.4 MB)

Adults' media use and attitudes report 2018 - face-to-face survey data tables (CSV, 562.0 KB)

Adults' media use and attitudes report 2018 - face-to-face survey subset data tables (PDF, 3.6 MB)

Adults' media use and attitudes report 2018 - face-to-face survey subset data tables (CSV, 300.9 KB)

Adults' media use and attitudes report 2018 - online survey data tables (PDF, 825.1 KB)

Adults' media use and attitudes report 2018 - online survey data tables (CSV, 166.9 KB)

Adults' media use and attitudes report 2018 - questionnaire for face-to-face survey (PDF, 389.9 KB)

Adults' media use and attitudes report 2018 - questionnaire for online survey (PDF, 564.4 KB)

Adults' media use and attitudes report 2018 - technical report (PDF, 147.3 KB)

Adults' media use and attitudes report 2018 - walking boots showcard (PDF, 212.3 KB)

Adults' media use and attitudes report 2018 - respondent-level data for face-to-face survey (ZIP, 871.8 KB)

Adults' media use and attitudes report 2018 - respondent-level data for online survey (ZIP, 215.4 KB)