What do people think about the internet in the UK? Do benefits outweigh risks, and is sentiment changing? We analyzed the latest Ofcom data to answer the questions about attitudes toward the internet in Britain.
Internet and Society
Do People Think the Internet Is Good for Society? (2025)
33% felt the internet is good for society, down from 40% in June 2024. 19% said the internet is damaging to society, up from 15% in June 2024.
48% felt neutral about whether the internet is good or damaging to society.
Sentiment toward the internet's societal impact is declining across all age groups. 18-34 year olds saw the largest drop, falling 9 percentage points from 42% to 33%.
Sources: Ofcom Online Nations Report 2025, Ofcom Online Experiences Tracker 2025
Do Personal Benefits Outweigh the Risks? (2025)
65% believe the personal benefits of being online outweigh the risks. That is down from 71% in June 2023.
7% felt risks of being online outweigh the benefits. 28% felt neutral, up from 23% in June 2023.
Women are less likely than men to believe benefits outweigh risks, at 61% versus 70%. Parents of under 18s are also less likely at 61% versus 66% of non-parents.
Sources: Ofcom Online Nations Report 2025, Ofcom Online Experiences Tracker 2025
Mental Health
Does Being Online Affect Mental Health? (2025)
29% felt being online positively affects mental health, down from 33% in 2024. 28% disagreed that being online positively affects mental health.
Among 18-34 year olds, 31% agreed being online is positive for mental health, down from 39% in 2024. 35% of 18-34 year olds now disagree, up from 28% in 2024.
Young adults are becoming more skeptical about the mental health benefits of being online.
Sources: Ofcom Online Nations Report 2025, Ofcom Online Experiences Tracker 2025
Freedom of Expression
Can People Express Themselves Better Online? (2025)
35% feel they can share opinions more easily online than offline.
40% of men can share opinions online more easily, compared to 30% of women. 44% of LGB+ users can share opinions more easily online.
25% feel more free to be themselves online, down from 30% in June 2024. 30% of men feel freer to be themselves online versus 21% of women.
Sources: Ofcom Online Nations Report 2025, Ofcom Online Experiences Tracker 2025
Positive Uses
What Positive Things Do People Get From Being Online? (2025)
78% of adults agree being online helped broaden their understanding of the world. 73% agree being online helped them learn a new skill.
95% of adult internet users searched for information online in the past 3 months. 71% searched for information related to a potential purchase. 70% searched for news about the UK.
43% of social media users agree it makes them feel more creative, with men more likely than women at 46% versus 40%.
Sources: Ofcom Online Experiences Tracker 2025
- [Ofcom Online Nations Report 2025](https://www.ofcom.org.uk/siteassets/resources/documents/research-and-data/online-research/online-nation/2025/online-nations-report-2025.pdf)
- Ofcom Online Experiences Tracker 2025
- Ofcom Online Experiences Tracker 2024
- Ofcom Adults' Media Literacy Tracker 2024