Are Our Weekends Getting More Digital? Exploring the Latest Online Trends
Weekends increasingly blur the line between offline and online leisure, transforming how we unwind. A recent Ofcom report shows that UK adults now spend an average of 4 hours and 20 minutes online per day, a sharp rise over previous years. Complementing this, the 2025 IPA TouchPoints survey reveals that for the first time, mobile phones have overtaken television, with adults in Great Britain spending 3 hours and 21 minutes per day on their devices, just slightly above TV’s 3 hours and 16 minutes. The total daily screen time across devices has climbed to nearly 7.5 hours, compared to around 6.5 a decade ago.
This growing digital footprint is reshaping weekend leisure in striking ways. On-demand entertainment, from binge‑watching streamed series to immersive gaming experiences, has become a staple. Food delivery apps and online shopping offer the convenience of a night in with restaurant-quality meals and doorstep drops, all accessible with a few taps. Indeed, Britons spend an average of around two hours a week shopping online and allocate 8.8% of their annual income to e‑commerce purchases, more than any other nationality, according to The Times.
Beyond these mainstream services, a host of niche platforms are carving out new ways to relax: From new betting sites that offer in-play markets, instant withdrawals, and personalised odds, to curated travel hubs with AI-driven recommendations, niche platforms continue to redefine how we unwind. Whether it’s exploring bespoke weekend getaway recommendations online, discovering niche subscription boxes, or trying emerging sports‑betting apps, digital services are tapping into increasingly targeted leisure needs.
Underlying all of this is the UK’s robust digital infrastructure. Today, around 99.7% of households enjoy internet access at speeds of 10 Mbps or higher, while median broadband speeds have reached approximately 73 Mbps, up by over 12% in under a year. These improvements ensure that streaming, marketplaces, and digital-first leisure hybridize seamlessly into weekend routines.
The result: weekends are becoming digitally infused by design. Weekend culture now blends streaming marathons with real‑world experiences, like booking local culinary classes online or organizing outdoor activities through niche platforms. The once clear boundary between offline downtime and screen-based engagement has all but dissolved.
While convenience and access remain driving forces behind the digital weekend, another layer is emerging: shared virtual experiences. Livestreaming has become a significant weekend draw, whether it’s tuning into Twitch streams, watching live sports with real-time commentary, or engaging in creator-led events on platforms like TikTok Live and Instagram. The appeal lies in the immediacy, viewers aren’t just consuming content, but participating in it.
Livestreaming has also prompted a rise in second-screening behaviour, where users engage in parallel digital activities. For example, it’s common for viewers to place micro-bets during live sports broadcasts via integrated betting platforms, or to join fan chats on Discord while watching gaming marathons. These interactions create a communal environment that traditional weekend routines often lacked.
Digital communities themselves have also taken on a more prominent role. Whether it’s niche Reddit threads, fandom-based forums, or private WhatsApp groups centred around specific interests, many people now supplement weekend downtime with ongoing digital conversations. These communities often provide discovery, introducing users to new platforms, services, and events aligned with their personal tastes.
Another trend gaining traction is ambient content, low-effort, continuous digital streams that accompany other weekend activities. YouTube channels offering virtual train rides through Switzerland, lo-fi music streams for background ambience, or 24/7 walking tours of major cities are increasingly popular. This form of digital engagement aligns with a slower, less attention-intensive weekend pace, offering stimulation without requiring full immersion.
In the realm of digital self‑improvement, weekends are also seeing growth in structured online experiences. Platforms offering short, goal-oriented activities, such as app-based language challenges, weekend fitness streaks, or interactive cooking classes, have carved out a distinct category. These services cater to users looking to unwind without switching off entirely, balancing productivity with leisure.
What’s also clear is that mobile access underpins most of these changes. With smartphones now central to entertainment, planning, and communication, apps have evolved to become weekend enablers rather than distractions. Integrated calendars, voice assistants, and location-aware tools help users map out their free time in ways that feel spontaneous yet efficient.
Importantly, this shift is also influencing real-world decisions. Digital previews, from restaurant walkthroughs to 360-degree venue tours, allow users to evaluate weekend options without committing. Booking systems, rating platforms, and algorithm-driven recommendations remove friction from traditionally time-consuming processes, making last-minute plans more viable.
Commerce, too, has been pulled into the digital weekend. “Shoppertainment”, a blend of live e‑commerce, influencer product reviews, and time-limited offers, is capturing significant traffic during weekends. These events are structured to overlap with leisure time, often running on Friday nights or Sunday afternoons, when user engagement peaks.
One area where digital habits are gaining ground is through wearable technology, which increasingly acts as a silent companion to weekend routines. Devices like smartwatches and fitness trackers not only monitor activity and health metrics but also sync with entertainment apps, music platforms, and social tools. Whether logging a countryside walk or managing a weekend training session, wearables keep users tethered to digital ecosystems without disrupting the offline flow of their plans.
Meanwhile, group coordination has taken on a new dynamic. Weekend catch-ups now often begin in group chats but end in shared calendars and ride-hailing apps. Friends sync availability using scheduling tools, preview venues via social media reels, and often share their experiences in real time through Stories and short-form content.
The definition of leisure itself is also evolving. With the ubiquity of mobile connectivity and real-time updates, there’s less pressure to commit to fixed plans. Spontaneity is now enabled, not hindered, by digital services. Browsing last-minute ticket apps or opting into geo-targeted pop-up events on a whim has become part of the fabric of modern weekend culture.
What’s emerging is a new baseline expectation: that every leisure opportunity, from entertainment to errands, should come with a digital counterpart. If it can’t be booked, tracked, watched, shared, or revisited online, it risks feeling incomplete. This shift has far-reaching implications not just for platforms and apps, but also for how individuals pace their free time and define satisfaction.
As more services go hybrid by design, the digital weekend is no longer a supplement, it’s a structure. One that accommodates entertainment, interaction, decision-making, and discovery, all in parallel. Also, as online and offline blend, weekends have become less about choosing between screens and streets, and more about orchestrating experiences across both. Whether streaming live sport while browsing for takeout, or booking next month’s trip between multiplayer gaming sessions, the digital layer is no longer optional, it’s central to how downtime unfolds.