- Nearly two in five Brits say Christmas without internet would be ‘catastrophic’, connectivity labelled as essential to households trying to keep the peace
- A third of Brits (33%) expect to kick off the day by scrolling social media, while a quarter (24%) say they plan to escape Christmas tension by sneaking off to doomscroll
- Virgin Media O2 is releasing new broadband data which shows the rhythm of the UK’s Christmas, with connectivity underpinning much of the day
London, 23 December 2025 – Christmas without Wi-Fi would be a disaster for millions of households, with nearly two in five Brits (38%) saying the big day would be ‘catastrophic’ if they lost internet access, according to new research from Virgin Media O2. This comes as Wi-Fi disruption is seen as a bigger threat to Christmas enjoyment than food or present-related issues.
Brits say that a Christmas Day without the internet would either completely derail the day or cause major problems, with 37% worried about how they would keep family and friends entertained.
New broadband network data and consumer insights reveal how connectivity now underpins everything from present-opening and family catch-ups to escaping festive tension and settling in for Christmas TV.
The rhythm of Christmas Day: Britain’s new digital timetable
Virgin Media O2’s broadband upstream and downstream data paints a picture of a new ‘rhythm’ to Christmas Day, showing how connectivity now underpins everything from entertainment and downtime to staying in touch with loved ones. Last year’s Christmas Day network analysis revealed a markedly different pattern to a typical day, with network activity peaking at 11am, followed by a noticeable drop-off later in the day as the nation stepped away from screens.
7am-9am: The screen-first start
Rather than opting for a lie-in, Brits are up early on Christmas Day, with broadband traffic starting to rise from 6.30am. A third of the nation (31%) start the big day checking social media before seeing if Santa has been, or opening presents. While early-morning usage starts slightly below a typical weekday, it rises rapidly and by 8am is already outstripping average daily traffic.
9am-10am: Peak present opening
Between 9am and 10am, broadband traffic rises sharply, as present opening is in full swing across the UK. This year, 21% of households say they are expecting a new phone, and more than a quarter (27%) will be unwrapping new streaming or gaming subscriptions, driving more data consumption as people set up their new devices.
10am-12pm: Connectivity spike
By mid to late morning, the Christmas morning broadband rush reaches its peak, with households making video and voice calls to family and friends and setting up new gadgets, pushing traffic on household broadband networks.
12pm-3pm: The Christmas lunch dip
Afternoon broadband traffic dips in the early afternoon, with the nation typically sitting down for Christmas lunch between 2pm and 3pm. Many households step away from screens for a walk, board games, or a post-lunch clean-up.
Evening: On-demand entertainment take-over
Evening broadband traffic rises sharply again from 5.30pm through the evening as most Brits (68%) say they settle in to stream Christmas TV and films. Last Christmas, the evening rush peaked at 9pm, as families tuned into the long-awaited Gavin and Stacey Reunion Christmas Special. Traffic drops off slightly from 10pm as Brits fall asleep on the sofa – with some late-night peaks in upload traffic after 11pm as some post and share Christmas Day content before bed.
Christmas tensions and new traditions
High expectations are fuelling festive tension, with more than half of Brits (52%) stating that cooking is the biggest source of Christmas Day stress, while 46% struggle to persuade others to clean up. Competitive behaviour also adds to the strain, with 40% saying it causes friction, and more than a quarter (26%) admitting arguments break out over Christmas games.
Nearly a quarter of Brits (24%) plan to sneak off to “doomscroll” to escape the tension, while one in five (19%) plan to retreat to call or FaceTime/video call a partner or friend who isn’t present. A further 21% say they’ll be actively trying to avoid certain relatives altogether.
Christmas traditions are shifting as well, with Brits admitting they now spend more time setting up gadgets on Christmas morning than opening presents and streaming has overtaken the King’s Speech as the nation’s festive viewing ritual. Almost two thirds (65%) don’t plan to watch it this year, compared with 89% who say they will stream other Christmas TV or films instead.
Gareth Lister, Director of Connectivity at Virgin Media O2, said, “Our network traffic paints a clear picture of how the nation spends Christmas Day, showing how Brits rely on connectivity to contact absent friends and family, stream their favourite movies, keep the day running and maintain the peace when festive tensions run high.”
“With connectivity playing such an important role, it’s vital that families ensure their internet is set up for success. Simple steps such as placing your Wi-Fi router in a central, open location and checking your broadband speed in advance can make a real difference. It’s also worth setting up connected gifts in advance to ensure they are ready to go once opened to ensure nobody is stuck waiting around.”
The top Christmas Day tensions as revealed by Brits this year:
- Cooking stress – 52%
- Persuading others to clean up – 46%
- Overly competitive behaviour – 40%
- Fights breaking out over games – 26%
- Avoiding certain relatives – 21%
- Pressure to keep everyone entertained – 37%
ENDS
Notes to editors
- The network data analysis is based on a comparison between broadband traffic on Christmas Day, Wednesday 25th December 2024 with traffic for other Wednesdays earlier in December 2024.
- The polling insights are based on nationally representative consumer data from Strand Partners.
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