UK adults are relying on AI for emotional support as they withdraw from social media
Adults in the UK are increasingly turning to services like Chat-GPT for conversation and emotional support even as they grow more passive on traditional social media.
According to data revealed in Ofcom’s recently published Adults’ Media Use and Attitudes survey, more than half (54%) of UK adults now use AI tools, such as ChatGPT, Copilot or Gemini.
Uptake is particularly strong amongst younger adults, with 79% of 16-24-year-olds and 74% of 25-34-year-olds using AI tools. AI usage was split relatively evenly between men and women: 57% of AI users were men and 51% were women.
Of those who are using AI, a significant proportion of younger users are using the tools for conversational purposes or emotional support. One in five 25–34-year-olds (19%) said they used AI for conversational purposes, speaking to the service as if it were a person.
“Some participants in our qualitative study appear to be interacting with AI as if it were a person, often unconsciously,” Ofcom said.
“In some cases, they reported using AI to seek relationship breakup advice or to keep them company when working from home.”
Young people are increasingly drawing on AI for reassurance and support, with some respondents giving examples of how they asked Chat-GPT for advice moving on after a break-up, and others described how AI could make them feel less isolated and alone when working from home.
Screentime and stepping back from social media
Another phenomenon revealed in Ofcom’s latest data shows that UK adults in general are becoming more passive online, posting less on social media platforms.
While adoption remains high, with nine in 10 adult internet users using at least one social media platform, only 49% of social media users now actively post, share, or comment on these platforms – down from 61% in 2024.
Those who do not directly interact and post contact tend to simply view content passively and simply like posts published by others.
UK adults are also growing increasingly concerned with the dangers of too much screentime. Last year, 72% of online daults said the benefits of being online outweighed the risks. This year, only 59% felt this trade-off was worth it.
Two thirds of those surveyed admitted they spend too long on their devices, and 40% said this overuse of their devices happens most days.
Increasingly, UK adults are adopting strategies like setting time limits on their device, deleting apps, and keeping their smartphone physically away from them to cut down on screentime.
