The Philippine Online Chronicles

Filipinos are the second heaviest Internet users in Asia, spending an average of 21.5 hours a week online, says the new Nielsen Southeast Asia Digital Consumer Report.

The report, which looks at the digital media habits and attitudes of consumers, pegs Singapore as the number one Internet user in the region, with an average of 25 hours online every week.

Following the Philippines is Malaysia, ranked third with 19.8 hours online per week, Thailand with 16.6 hours per week, Vietnam with 16 hours per week and Indonesia with 14 hours per week.

The report added that the growing availability of devices like smart phones, tablets and laptops, has spurred the Internet usage of consumers.

"The increasing availability and take-up of Internet-capable devices is driving usage of digital media across the region and bringing about considerable changes in the way media is consumed, in particular fueling multitasking behaviors among Southeast Asian consumers," said Melanie Ingrey, Nielsen's APMEA region research director.

"More and more we are seeing consumers accessing multiple media platforms simultaneously, especially accessing the Internet while watching television, which many consumers are doing several times per week," she added.

E-mail remains the most popular online activity in the Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand. In Vietnam, digital media usage is driven by visiting news websites; and in Indonesia, by instant messaging and social networking.

Facebook is popularly used, with 81% of Filipinos maintaining active accounts. 51% of Filipino netizens also use video-sharing giant YouTube, and 32% are active on micro-blogging site Twitter.

65% of Filipinos have also reported interacting with brands or companies through the Internet in the past 12 months

Ingrey noted that, “Social media platforms offer a myriad of opportunities for organizations to engage with consumers, and social media is becoming an increasingly critical means of influencing consumer decision-making.”

The Nielsen report was conducted in June and July, with 8,750 respondents from Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.