New data on viewing landscape revealed in Ofcom’s Media Use and Attitudes report.
A new report from Ofcom has revealed that there have been big increases in the numbers of younger children watching content on YouTube.
The use of YouTube has increased by 11 percentage points since 2016 to 48% for 3-4s, according to the Children and Parents: Media Use and Attitudes Report, which was published on November 29.
For 5-7s, it has grown 17 percentage points to 71% and by eight percentage points to 81% for 8-11s. 90% of 12-15s use YouTube, unchanged from last year.
Half of YouTube users aged 3-4 and a quarter aged 5-7, only use the YouTube Kids app, rather than watch the main website or app.
The report goes on to say that children aged 3-4 and 5-7 are most likely to watch cartoons, animations, mini movies or songs on YouTube, while for the 8-11 and 12-15 age groups, it is music videos and funny videos/jokes/pranks/challenges.
13% of 3-4s watch whole programmes on YouTube, increasing with age to 27% of 12-15s.
Despite the increase in YouTube viewing, the report says that, for younger children, TV on the TV set makes up the largest proportion of their media time. 2017 also saw an increase in the number of hours parents of younger children say their child spends watching TV on the TV set.
Perhaps notably, YouTube is the most recognised content brand among 12-15s (94% having heard of it), followed by ITV (89%), Netflix (87%) and BBC1/2 (82%).
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