The Most Popular Forms of Online Entertainment Across the UK

As we draw ever deeper into the midst of the digital age, online entertainment is truly becoming a juggernaut that rises ever further in popularity. Streaming services, online casinos, social media, video games and music streaming platforms are the biggest contenders in the digital entertainment landscape and most of these industries seem to be growing at a prodigious rate.

The populace of the UK has always been blessed with many avenues for entertainment and the digital age has only heightened the truth of that statement. As mobile technology improves and high-speed internet becomes speedier and more ubiquitous, online entertainment is growing in popularity at an ever greater rate. Streaming platforms, online casinos and social media platforms hold the lion's share, but there are other players in the game. This article will cover, in no particular order, the most popular forms of online entertainment across the UK.

The prince of the pack, streaming services

It should surprise no one that streaming services are by far one of the most popular online entertainment choices for people across the UK. Platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, BBC iPlayer and Disney+ are absolutely huge in terms of the numbers they pull. Statista claims that Disney+ alone has 7.5 million subscribers in the UK, which is impressive considering that it is the youngest of the major streaming services. Statista also claims that 68% of UK households are subscribed to at least one streaming service, with many subscribing to multiple. Providing entertainment on-demand has become a hallmark of the digital age and the streaming services are at the top of that game, providing an extensive library of shows, movies and documentaries to their subscribers, with all of the major streaming services investing in creating original content as well.

Online casino gaming marries chance with convenience

While not as popular as streaming services, playing at online casinos is also a top choice for many people across the UK. With an ever-growing number of innovative games, people wondering where to play slots and table games online in the UK are unlikely to spend long looking, as trustworthy online casinos abound in the online entertainment landscape of the UK. With options that let players feel as though they are playing at a physical venue and mobile apps that provide intuitive and convenient choices to play while on the go, the online casino market in the UK continues to grow. According to The London Economic, as of 2023, the online gambling industry in the UK was estimated to be worth over £14.3 billion, which is no small potatoes.

Social media

Like elsewhere in the world, social media platforms are a big part of how many people in the UK spend their entertainment time. TikTok, Facebook and YouTube all offer different types of content, but all of it can easily be branded as entertainment-based. According to ProfileTree, TikTok had over 23 million users in the UK in 2023, which is simply immense. The success of TikTok in particular is largely due to the bite-sized nature of the content that it offers coupled with the personalisation of the algorithm that TikTok uses to push content to its users. Despite most TikTok videos being under a minute in length, many users stay engaged and scrolling for hours. Social media is where influencers ply their trade and social media platforms are huge businesses for advertisers.

Gaming and esports have skin in the game

Gaming is such a wide field to cover and encompasses many different disciplines, but all of it falls under online entertainment. As of 2023, there were about 37 million people who identify as gamers living in the UK, more than half of the population. With the console wars all but over, it seems that people are playing all sorts of games with abandon. PC gaming is bigger than ever and all three console markets are flourishing. The biggest new player in the gaming market is mobile gaming, which reached over USD 4 billion in 2023 according to IMARC Group. To add to the gaming industry, esports continues to grow in popularity as gamers grow up and have less time to play, but are still interested in watching their favourite types of games played. As of 2023, the UK esports industry was valued at about USD 1.72 billion according to Stellar Market Research. While not yet as popular as traditional sports, esports continues to grow and shows no real signs of slowing. 

Listeners of music and podcasts weigh in

Much in the way that radio still delights many with audio-only content, there is a large offering of that same content available online, and it makes up a reasonable amount of entertainment consumed by people in the UK. While music has been popular online for decades, podcasts have seen a meteoric rise in popularity, with a 139% growth in podcast listeners from 2018 to 2023 according to the BBC. With audio-only content being able to be listened to as people complete other tasks such as commuting or exercising, it should surprise no one that it holds a special place for many people looking for online entertainment.

Conclusion

There is no unifying theme across all of these different mediums, but it is clear that the people of the UK enjoy a wide range of different online entertainment options. From social media to online casino gaming to consuming content through streaming services. Many of these services and options offer a large amount of accessibility and adaptability, allowing people to choose how and when they are entertained. One thing does unite these different choices, across the board they are all seeing growth, meaning that people in the UK are more and more turning to the digital realm for their entertainment.