The use of social media on mobile devices is expected to surpass one billion people in Asia Pacific by the end of the first quarter of this year, according to a study by We Are Social in collaboration with the Singapore chapter of the Interactive Advertising Bureau.
The number of people in APAC accessing social media from mobile devices jumped 32 per cent in the past year, to reach 900 million.
However, less than half of the region’s population currently has access to the internet, and fewer still have access to fast broadband, the report finds.
South Asia has the lowest internet penetration in APAC, and Oceania the highest.
Internet penetration worldwide. Source: We Are Social
APAC internet use – New Zealand leads the region for internet use.
However, Filipinos spend longer online than any other nation in APAC.
Filipinos also spend the longest amount of time on social media.
South Korea is the most advanced country for e-commerce, India the least.
Singapore is the most active country on social media as a percentage of the population.
Singapore also leads APAC for mobile social use.
But Myanmar is the fastest growing country for social media users.
Myanmar is also the fast growing country for mobile social use.
“Digital connectivity around the Asia Pacific has surged in the past 12 months, and we’re seeing accelerating growth throughout the region, much of it driven by mobile. Nearly half the region’s population now owns a mobile phone, and as data plans become more accessible to people in developing nations, we are looking forward to seeing even more impressive numbers in 2015,” said Simon Kemp, regional managing oartner, Asia, We Are Social.
Miranda Dimopoulos, executive director, IAB Southeast Asia Singapore chapter, added: “Digital experiences are on the rise and it is becoming increasingly important for key stakeholders in the industry to better understand the landscape in our region, in order to keep up with consumer behaviour.
“Our mission at the IAB is to work with the industry to increase capacity and build capability via our Training, Guidelines & Standards and Research initiatives in the region,” she said.
