Ofcom Find 6 Percent of All UK Adults Still Do Not Have Home Internet Access
The UK telecoms and media regulator, Ofcom, has today published their annual Media Use and Attitudes 2026 report, which among other things found that the proportion of UK adults without home internet access remains unchanged at 6%. Some 83% of that group are aged 65+ (66% for those aged 75+).
The full report looks at everything from our interactions and attitudes toward the internet, AI, social media, smartphone use and more – across different groups (age, gender etc.). Interestingly most adults without home internet access report that they are “not interested or feel no need” to be online (68% – but this is down from 81% last year), while others cite perceived complexity (38%) or cost (25%) as reasons for not having internet access at home.
However, a substantial proportion of adults without home internet access still rely on others to complete online tasks on their behalf. Some 42% say they have asked someone else to do something for them online, most commonly to shop online (56%) or to access online health services (37%). When asked about future behaviour, the majority (82%) say that nothing would prompt them to go online. However, 45% of this group have sought help from someone else for an online task in the past year, pointing to a gap between their stated preferences and the practical need to engage with digital services.
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On the above point it’s worth remembering that digital skills can change with age, as well as disability (the two are often associated). For example, you might be digitally skilled today, but this can go in reverse when you develop a disability (loss of sight, strokes etc.), which makes life a lot more difficult.
The study separately found that 20% of online adults rely solely on a Smartphone (mobile broadband) for access and most online adults (89%) say they feel confident as an internet user. Confidence is strong for tasks such as recognising scam messages (82%) and identifying online advertising (81%), but fewer adults feel confident judging whether online information is true or false (72%), and this has decreased slightly since last year.
But confidence overall doesn’t tell the whole story. Just over half of adults (53%) feel very confident at an overall level, but far fewer feel very confident in specific skills: 30% for recognising advertising, 29% for spotting scams, and only 21% for judging whether information is true or false.
Social media use also remains widespread, with 89% of internet users harnessing at least one social media platform, rising to 97% of users aged 16-34 and over two-thirds (68%) of those aged 75+. What people use social media for continues to vary, although messaging and calling remain the most common activities, used by 76% of social media users and consistent across age groups. The government may want to consider this when attempting to ban under 16s from social media, as it carries a lot of other common services.
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The full report goes into a lot of other areas too, and we’ve pasted a quick summary of those below.
Key Findings – Media Use and Attitudes 2026
More adults are using AI compared to last year, yet scepticism persists Just over half of adults (54%) say they use AI tools compared to three in ten (31%) last year. Three-quarters of online adults (75%) read AI-generated search summaries at least sometimes. However, attitudes towards AI-generated news are cautious: 57% of adults aware of AI say they would trust it less than a human-written story. Confidence in spotting AI-generated content is mixed, with 44% feeling confident and 31% unsure/ neutral. Qualitative findings show early signs of some adults interacting with AI as if it were a person, or using it for reassurance.
Trust in online information is mixed
Most adults (85%) say they use ‘mainstream’ media for news but trust varies. Around one in five (19%) always trust it, while a similar proportion (21%) always question its accuracy. Experiences on social media further illustrate an environment of uncertainty about what to trust – 56% of social media users say they have seen false or misleading news in the past year. Among social media users who consider the accuracy of news, the most common approaches include comparing the information with other sources (43%) and checking the original source (42%). Many also turn to social cues: four in ten (41%) look at the comments section for indications of credibility, suggesting that other users’ reactions can play a meaningful role in shaping trust.
Understanding and managing personal data varies widely
Most online adults (89%) know that companies collect their data and 31% can identify from a list all the main ways in which this happens. Awareness that online content is tailored has declined to 76% (from 85% last year). Views on use of personal data are divided, with 34% comfortable with companies using their information to tailor the content they are shown and 37% uncomfortable. Most online adults (86%) report using at least one of the security measures we asked about. These gaps matter: weaker data practices – such as password re-use or relying on autofill – are linked to people experiencing higher rates of hacking and financial loss as our later analysis shows. Although many take steps to protect themselves, inconsistent behaviours leave some adults more exposed.
Adults’ confidence in assessing online information does not always match their ability
Overall confidence online is high (89%), but confidence in specific skills – spotting scams (82%), recognising advertising (81%), judging accuracy online (72%) – is lower. Performance in scenario tests is mixed. Just over half of search engine users (52%) identified sponsored results correctly. Most online adults (82%) responded safely to a scam email (with indications that this has decreased, down from 88% in 2022), and 74% of social media users identified a fake social media profile. However, gaps persist: 37% felt confident recognising advertising but answered incorrectly, 14% felt confident spotting scams but did not take a safe action, and 17% felt confident about judging the accuracy of online information but misidentified the fake profile as genuine. This highlights that confidence does not always align with ability.
Younger and older adults show different strengths in evaluating online content
Younger adults (16-24) perform comparatively well at identifying fake social media profiles (88% were able to from a test we set) but, although they had high levels of confidence in their ability, performed less well than older users in identifying advertising in search results. Most adults aged 25-44 are highly active online, yet this age group were the most likely to misjudge the fake social media profile as genuine (16%). Older adults showed strengths in identifying advertising, with those aged 55-74 most accurate at identifying paid-for search results (59%). Adults aged 75+ were most likely to use low-interaction but safe responses to scam emails, and show higher uncertainty in judging fake profiles. Across tasks, breadth of online use and task-specific confidence were stronger predictors of performance than age alone.
Adults are becoming less active on social media and exploring fewer new websites
Posting and commenting on social media has declined from 61% to 49% this year. Exploration of new websites has also fallen, with only 14% using ‘lots’ of new sites (down from 24%) and 40% using none. Younger adults continue to drive video use and creation – 82% of 16-24s watch videos on social media and 42% of 25-34s post them. Platform use remains strongly age-skewed. Snapchat is used by 78% of 16-24s compared to 3% of 75+, and TikTok by 83% versus 7%. WhatsApp is widely used across all ages, and Facebook remains most popular among the oldest group (81% of online 75+).
Feelings about being online are less positive
The proportion of adults who feel the benefits of being online outweigh the risks has fallen to 59% (from 72% last year). Only 36% of social media users say that these platforms are good for their mental health, down from 42%. Concerns about online behaviour are common: 43% of social media users say people are ‘often’ or ‘always’ unkind online, and 27% frequently see viewpoints they disagree with. Screen-time concerns are widespread, with 67% saying they sometimes spend too long on screens and 40% saying this happens most days. Despite this, many adults report benefits: 71% say that being online has broadened their understanding of the world, and 62% say it has helped them learn a new skill. Views on freedom of expression and the environmental impact of being online are divided.
Digital exclusion arises from a lack of access, skills, confidence and circumstances
Six per cent of all adults do not have internet access at home. This offline group is disproportionately older: 17% are aged 65-74 and 66% are aged 75+. Most (81%) live in C2DE households. However, being online does not necessarily mean full digital participation. One in five (20%) online adults rely solely on a smartphone for access. Others face barriers linked to skills and confidence. Narrow internet users make up 21% of users and are more likely to be older, female, in C2DE households, and have lower levels of digital confidence.
Mark is a professional technology writer, IT consultant and computer engineer from Dorset (England), he also founded ISPreview in 1999 and enjoys analysing the latest telecoms and broadband developments. Find me on X (Twitter), Mastodon, Facebook, BlueSky, Threads.net and Linkedin.
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The report says 55% of 16-24s use Facebook. Thats much higher than my experience. I suspect the survey didn’t ask how much they engaged with each platform, and that the 16-24s use of Facebook is largely to interact with older friends and relatives, or just the occasional look.
You asked a greater sample size than the survey did?
I’m certain that most Freeview channels will migrate to FAST (Free Ad-supported Streaming TV) within five years, leaving only the essential public service broadcasters (BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5) plus news and a handful of niche channels on Freeview. Question is what happens to those who aren’t on broadband as they both lose many TV channels and are not accessing online services? The government has a policy of digital inclusion and wants more people to get online (not least because its pays heavily for offline citizens due to more expensive phone‑based services, more administrative overhead, etc).
I have a proposal: BBC is reportedly interested in developing a cheap and basic Freely puck (which will provide the Freeview channels and much more), but internet is needed for it to work. A Mi-Fi router can be used to provide a W-Fi hotspot for both the puck and smartphone. This would be easy to set up and help bring the digitally excluded into the IPTV and online world. The router would only work where there is a good mobile signal, but that’s available to most. The government already has processes to identify the eligible for a subsidised Mi-Fi router/Freely package such as pension credit, universal credit (UC) and disability benefits (PIP/Attendance Allowance).
Why do you need to stick your proposed device between the smartphone and the cellular network? It’s pointless. The smartphone already has connectivity built in.
Given the age profile of the non-connected this problem is self-solving.
Just having the basic 5 would be fine, at least for my grandmother, she never touches anything else.
My mum was telling me the other day she was worried about the Freeview shut off as her mum will be a massive PITA for any transition.
I once even got her a basic ‘elderly’ phone with a ‘panic button’ in case her landline goes down again and she refused it.
For the price she pays for her landline, I could get her a basic internet and VOIP but she wont want it.
She doesn’t want any change, even when it’s to her benefit.
Hell she doesn’t even want her POTS phones replaced, even though they’re failing.
If the government thinks they can get everyone (knowingly) online, good luck is all I can say.
I’m not surprised by that number, some people have no interest in social media, there is absolutely nothing wrong with people who access their news via the television, physical news print and radio, all the traditional outlets, they probably have a perfectly usable POTS, and might have an old fashioned flip phone.
The only time they might dip their toes into the internet is if copper is discontinued and fibre arrives at their front door, don’t be surprised if they refuse to pay for installation, as their phone works perfectly.
Then you get people like my mother who is in her 80s and doesn’t want to do anything online nor is even in the slightest bit interested. She has an internet connection for relatives to use and for a digital phone line (with battery backup). You literally couldn’t pay her to do anything online. News, nothing. Doesn’t wanna know. That’s gotta be more people than you think who are “luddites” which probably explains the 6%. No amount of campaigning will change their mind.
Their phones will stop working in less than 12 months unless they move to DV.
In the USA, official sites should be 508 compliant. This can greatly aid those mentioned as disadvantaged above.
Section 508 are accessibility standards to ensure digital content—websites, apps, and documents— are usable by people with disabilities. Key requirements include providing text alternatives for images, keyboard navigation, readable structure, captions for multimedia, sufficient colour contrast, and compatibility with assistive technologies like screen readers. Compliance improves usability for all users. Regular testing (automated and manual) can be used to maintain conformance.
Maybe we should start mandating in some cases and heavily encouraging in others, any service or company ‘front end’ to support this type of accessibility.
The UK already has legislation that mandates websites must be accessible (Equalities Act etc). We have some of the most accessible websites in the world, including all government websites. The GDS is the global benchmark in this area that other countries are compared to. Others organisations such as the BBC are not just compliant, but actively promote accessibility within the industry.
I know of several elderly residents in my village (CO8) who have no interest in the Internet
They continue to shop quite happily in the adjacent town, for all there needs
I know a couple of middle age people that have no interest in the internet, they have only recently got a mobile phone and that is because BT is banging on about going digital for their phone. So they have a basic Nokia phone on a stand where their old phone stood.
I also know people who don’t have broadband in the home, some of them are young, they use their phones.
It seems as if it is a crime not to be online these days.
@Ad47uk No kidding, our GP surgery demand you fill in a form on their website in order to request callback from a GP who in turn will decide if you are worthy of an appointment. They claim “a select few can call us” but its completely hit and miss. The only other alternative is you have to go into the surgery itself and fill in a form. Both options are potentially problematic for the elderly/disabled and have lead to me spending MONTHS trying to sort out my mums medication.
we have home broadband but i never use it as i find my mobile data of 4g and 5g more reliable and great for gaming on console.
More reliable? Then you must either be still on ADSL or be a fair distance from the cabinet if you are on FTTC. Broadband reliability even FTTC have come on leaps and bounds over the last few year.
When I was on FTTC, it may not have been sup fast, around 36Mb/s, but for the most part it was reliable.
If you are not using your broadband, then why carry on paying for it? If I did not use mine for watching videos, I would consider getting rid of it
Not helped by BT, unsolicited, sending me out refurbished BT Smart Hub 2 (A later version than mine, the last hub that had sent me, FOC, was HH3 in 2010). This new SH2 was set to FTTP mode (My line is FTTC) and it had a previous users Multiple DECT phone and MESH disc entries still showing in ghosting fashion when hub menu pages were switched.So that when I connected it to my system and switched it to FTTC it cut-off my year old Digital Voice connection. And when I removed it and substituted my original SH2 the erroneous DECT and MESH details started ghosting on that. I understand that somehow, the bad provisioning data found its way onto my profile on the BT ACS server and then was downloaded to my original SH2. I further understand, that a user initiated factory re-set will not erase the erroneous data because it has been flashed onto the persistent NVRAM by the BT ACS server . And,I am yet further told that only the BT offices dealing with DECT, MESH and DV, can individually put the provisioning right. But I have also established, from the Openreach/BT Broadband checker that the exchange that my line is attached to has an FTTC “Stop-Sell” order on it and its not a priority exchange for FTTP. So looks like I am foo-barred as regards DV and a telephone is an essential as I have been declared by the Communities and local government Department HMG as Extremely Clinically Vulnerable OAP because of multiple medical conditions. As Lorriane Chase used to say “Good, innit ?”
I e-mailed the BT CEO and got a prompt response but all that happened was that they sent through what looks like a new SH2. But, unless BT can re-constitute my profile on their ACS server, delete all the erroneous DECT, MESH and DV stuff, even if I connect the 2nd new hub, the ACS server, if uncorrected, will download and flash another copy of the erroneous data into the persistent NVRAM, depriving me of DV and producing this blessed ghosting when switching hub menu entries.
Is this a frequent sales tactic to get people to switch to FTTP ?
Policy of digital inclusion, but what about end user costs, and inclusion of those without ‘digital’, when was it mandated that you had to have digital, its costs and dependencies or be excluded/treated as 2nd class, or sterotyped( discriminated ) as ludite, not woth bothering about, belittling (for not wanting to be in the rat race of ‘technology’ (and its sellers/purveyors only really wanting users money)?
You used to be able to get (good) service simply by using a phone and talking to a competant person, but alas no more. Filling in form / web pages is impersonal and frequently does not get a proficient service, frequently the opposite!
Technology should be an option, not a coercion (for more cost/revenue streamd, taxation etc.) and it should be an improvement in service, reliability and quality and h[c]i to the end user, and fully respect people not just tech corps and revenue streams under a fog of alledged improvement or service.
E.g. GP inaccesibility – sure bolt on internet web form for those addicted dependant on their smart’ mobile, but respect those that were quite happy actually phoning their GP practice, after all the more interdependant technology gets the more prone to failiue/fracture of the holistic service, contractor cessation/failures/obsolessence etc.
Given ‘tech’ you might as be be implnted with a chip at birth and fail to exist if you dont have, pay and ‘upprade’ at more cost etc – I’m sure many would like to be corraled by such… Just remeber it should be there to serve us, not the other way around.
And for all those of you that bemone what you lable as luddites, imagine your self in your 80’s deling with what ever people misslead tech ‘improvements’ are.