Media use and attitudes

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Making Sense of Media

In this section

Attitudes to news

We carry out regular research into people's attitudes towards, and consumption of news.

Media habits (adults)

We carry out regular research into how adults in the UK use and understand media.

Media habits (children)

We carry out regular research into how children in the UK use and understand media.

Media literacy

Our work to help improve the online skills, knowledge and understanding of UK adults and children.

Media plurality

The UK has a rich and varied news media landscape. We want to explore how the growth of online news has affected our media ecosystem.

Online habits

Our work to understand people's online habits, behaviours and attitudes.

Research, statistics and data

Transparency Notice: Behavioural Audit Research

A transparency notice alerting to cross-functional research being carried out by Ofcom's Making Sense of Media Team, and Behavioural Insights Hub, involving behavioural audits of five major online platforms. The work is focused on digital media literacy functions.

Media Literacy Delivery Plan December 2025 - March 2027

This delivery plan sets out the work of the Making Sense of Media (MSOM) programme over the coming 15 months. It also details our progress since we published our annual plan in October 2024.

Children’s experiences of using online services

The Children's Online Safety Tracker (COST) aims to further understand and track UK children’s recalled experiences of being online, including their use and awareness of safety measures and experiences of harmful content or contact.

More research and data