Filipinos now heaviest Internet users in the world — report

The Philippines now has the heaviest Internet users in the world, according to a new report.

In the latest Digital 2019 report, the Philippines trumped other countries in Internet use, via any device, with 10 hours and 2 minute average time spent. Brazil and Thailand trails behind with average times of 9 hours and 29 minutes, and 9 hours and 11 minutes, respectively. Out current average internet use increased from the 9 hours and 29-minute score the country received last year in the same report.

If we break this down, however, the country trails behind Thailand in average mobile internet use with only 4 hours and 15 minutes. We’re leading, nonetheless, on PC Internet use with an average of 5 hours and 4 minutes.

We also retain our title of being the social media capital of the world with an average of 4 hours and 12 minutes spent, a fifteen-minute increase compared to last year’s figures. With over 107 million Filipinos as the base of the study, 76 million or roughly 71% of the population are now internet users and active social media users with at least one account, up from 67 million last year. One Filipino also has an average of 10.5 social media accounts based on the study, ranking 6th and just behind other Asian countries such as Indonesia, India, Thailand, and Vietnam.

Also some interesting facts from the study: We’re even one of the heaviest users of ad blockers in the world with 50% having at least one tracker blocker, privacy browser, or ad blocker extension. The number of mobile connections exceeds the current population — 124 million vs. 107 million — with dual-SIM connectivity preferred by many some Filipinos.

The Digital report is published annually since 2011 by the global agency We Are Social and social media marketing service company Hootsuite.