Ofcom, the UK regulator responsible for radio, television and telecoms, recently published its annual market review. This brings together a wide range of usage data and financial results to provide a snapshot of UK communications and media.

One of the more interesting findings was the drop in television consumption among 16 – 24 year olds; in 2005 they watched an average of 7 hours less per week than the average UK citizen. At the same time, they are the most active users of mobile and web services, particularly social networking. Use of sites such as MySpace and other blogging services runs at 70 percent in this age group, compared to a UK average of 41 percent.

They also send 42 more text messages and make 7 more mobile calls than the average UK citizen.

The picture which emerges is of a generation of users who see the mobile as the key device at the centre of their digital universe and seek participatory activities above passive consumption of media. This usage pattern will drive a whole new set of user experience challenges for the mobile industry.

Read the full report here.