Internet sharing peaks at 2.36 pm on a Monday

It's 2.36pm on a Monday and the weekend is already a distant memory.

As the long week ahead looms, people take to the computers in their thousands... to post funny pictures or videos.

A survey by mobile network Three indicates that internet sharing peaks at this precise time for Brits who 'wish it was still the weekend' and try instead to reconnect with friends.

The majority of Brits - 51 percent - admit they do so most when at work, 'because we want to communicate with friends working elsewhere during the day'.

The top reason for sharing is to make people smile (45 percent), followed by helping us feel closer to friends and family (37 percent), the study shows.

However, a quarter (23 percent) email or post online just to provoke a reaction and nearly one in five (18 per cent) do it to draw attention to themselves.

Oliver Topley, head of Insights at Three, said: 'It's really rewarding to stumble upon something online you know a friend will enjoy and share it with them.

'Whether it's a cute picture of a cat, the latest Harlem Shake video or downright daft stuff, it's great to be able to bring a smile to someone's face.

What we are sharing online:

Personal photos - 20.6m
Animal photos - 7.2m
Offers and promotions - 7m
Viral/funny pictures - 4.8m
News stories - 3.8m
Jokes - 2.9m
Viral/funny videos - 2.6m
Music - 2.1m
Other - 15.8m
Survey by Three