Just under two in three (64 per cent) adult internet users said they had a social networking profile in 2012, with 72 per cent of saying they visit their social media profile every day.
However, the Ofcom Adults’ media use and attitudes report found that trust in social networking sites is lower than in 2011, with 43 per cent of UK adult internet users disagreeing that they trust what they read or see when they visit social networking sites, up from 35 per cent in 2011.
It was found that younger internet users have a higher weekly volume of use, compared to all internet users, in 2012 (22.3 hours for 16 24s and 20.1 hours for 25-34s vs. 16.8hours for all adults).
It was also found that 16-24s have a higher volume of use both at home (13.5 vs. 10.9 hours) and outside the home and work/place of education (4.1 vs. 1.8 hours), while 25-34s have a higher volume of use in the workplace/place of education (5.7vs. 4.1 hours).
The research found that 80 per cent send and receive emails at least once a week; while 34 per cent look at news websites, 25 per cent listen to or download music and 23 per cent watch or download TV programmes and films at least once a week.