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Could the traditional “I want to watch TV while doing my homework” become a thing of the past?
Research suggests the amount of time children spend online has, for the first time, overtaken that spent watching television.
It seems young people now use the internet for three hours a day on average, but spend just 2.1 hours sitting in front of the television, according to a report by Childwise.
YouTube, Instagram, Snapchat and Facebook were among the most popular online destinations for children, with half of the more than 2,000 five- to 16-year-olds who took part in the survey saying they had watched programmes on Netflix, ahead of ITV on 47% and BBC One on 46%.
And the reason? Researchers believe a surge in tablet ownership among children (up 50% on last year) is allowing them access to non-traditional entertainment online.
Simon Leggett, Childwise research director, said this year’s survey showed that “TV viewing has been redefined”.
He told the BBC: “Growing access to the internet at any time and in any place, and a blurring of television content across channels and devices, brings a landmark change in behaviour this year.
“Children are now seeking out the content of their choice.
“They still find traditional TV programmes engaging but are increasingly watching them online and on-demand or binge-watching box sets.”
