Virgin Media O2 Reveals Some Internet Traffic Trends of UK Children

Broadband ISP and mobile operator Virgin Media and O2 have this morning revealed new mobile, internet, and TV data showing a weekday afternoon surge in traffic after 3.40PM, as children across the UK reach for screens after school. This is largely driven by TV/streaming, YouTube and homework related activity.

The new network data is accompanied by a limited consumer survey, although VMO2 fails to clarify any details about the methodology or sample size of this (take it with a pinch of salt). Nevertheless, this survey finds that half of parents say they head to the park with their children after school, while many others report that they read together.

However, the broadband data shows many families are immediately turning to screens to navigate busy afternoons. Traffic on the network jumps at 3:40pm every week day and continues to rise until around 5pm (sadly no actual network data is provided to help substantiate this), with YouTube topping the list of platforms typically used, cited by 61% of parents, followed by TV at 55%.

Summary of Additional Findings

➤ 46% of parents regularly continue to work after picking up their kids from school and find themselves juggling work and home commitments.

➤ 62% of parents give their children devices to use while they cook, while 47% use the time to tackle housework and a third catch up on emails and work.

➤ 70% consider the internet essential to their family’s daily routine – 44% say the household would fall apart without it, and 47% admit that any WiFi issues would spark arguments over who’s hogging the connection.

Jeanie York, CTO of VMO2, said: “Our data shows just how essential connectivity is to modern family life. With parents juggling busy schedules and children going online to learn, stay entertained and chat with friends, our gigabit broadband ensures everyone stays connected – without the arguments. As busy households turn to our services more than ever, we’re investing and innovating to deliver the reliable, high-speed connectivity British households rely on.”