This statistic shows the use of social networks among individuals in Great Britain from 2011 to 2020. As social media takes the world by storm, this figure has seen a year-on-year increase and as of 2020 70 percent of all respondents reported they use social networks. This is a stark increase from the 45 percent who claimed they did so in 2011.
Share of individuals using social networks in Great Britain from 2011 to 2020
* The source indicates: "The source of this information is the Opinions and Lifestyle Survey (OLS). The OLS is a multi-purpose survey developed by ONS for use by government departments, other public bodies, charities, academics and the media. It provides a fast, cost effective and reliable way of obtaining information on topics too brief to warrant their own survey."
** The Opinions and Lifestyle Survey is carried out by interviewing a nationally representative sample of households in Great Britain. About 2,010 households are sampled each month and estimates are subject to sampling variability, as are those from all sample surveys.
More information on the methodology can be found here.
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Office for National Statistics (UK). (August 7, 2020). Share of individuals using social networks in Great Britain from 2011 to 2020 [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved June 04, 2025, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/286279/social-networking-penetration-in-great-britain/
Office for National Statistics (UK). "Share of individuals using social networks in Great Britain from 2011 to 2020." Chart. August 7, 2020. Statista. Accessed June 04, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/286279/social-networking-penetration-in-great-britain/
Office for National Statistics (UK). (2020). Share of individuals using social networks in Great Britain from 2011 to 2020. Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: June 04, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/286279/social-networking-penetration-in-great-britain/
Office for National Statistics (UK). "Share of Individuals Using Social Networks in Great Britain from 2011 to 2020." Statista, Statista Inc., 7 Aug 2020, https://www.statista.com/statistics/286279/social-networking-penetration-in-great-britain/
Office for National Statistics (UK), Share of individuals using social networks in Great Britain from 2011 to 2020 Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/286279/social-networking-penetration-in-great-britain/ (last visited June 04, 2025)
Share of individuals using social networks in Great Britain from 2011 to 2020 [Graph], Office for National Statistics (UK), August 7, 2020. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/286279/social-networking-penetration-in-great-britain/
