Social Media Capital
What is the social media reality of the Philippines? What is it about our nation and culture that makes us the top social media users? What pragmatic use do we get out of it?
According to the annual digital reports of We Are Social and Hootsuite, the Philippines is a world leader in social media usage.*** We have been keeping the crown since 2016, even if our fixed and mobile internet connections do not meet the worldwide average speeds.
The figures below are taken from the annual report released this year:
SOCIAL MEDIA |
CONNECTION Download Speed in mbps |
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Worldwide | |
73.6 mbps Mobile: 32.0 mbps |
|
| Philippines | 25.6 mbps (BA) Mobile: 16.8 mbps (BA) |
||
| Singapore | 200.1 mbps (AA) Mobile: 57.2 mbps (AA) |
||
| South Korea | 144.4 mbps (AA) Mobile: 103.2 mbps (AA) |
||
AA=Above worldwide average
BA=Below worldwide average
Singapore leads the globe on fixed internet connection speed, but Singaporeans spend lesser time on social media than Filipinos. The same case can be seen in South Korea, which is the leading country on mobile internet connection speed.
Apparently, a slow internet connection does not demotivate Filipinos from using social media regularly. The average daily time Filipino internet users aged 16 to 64 spend on social media is nearly 4 hours.
At the other end of the scale are the Japanese, who access social media for only 45 minutes a day.
WHY FILIPINOS LOVE SOCIAL MEDIA
With the figures above, it goes without saying that each platform does not have a uniform effect. Receptiveness also depends on national and cultural contexts. Constant social media usage is not solely caused by the addictive design of the platforms. If it is such the case, why do digital trends vary around the world?
To understand the social media reality of each country, it is necessary to contextualize online behavior within offline lives.
In our case as Filipinos, how does social media complement our social behavior? Is this culturally engraved in our blood – are we a nation that can easily be swayed to spend most of our time on social media due to certain cultural habits, practices, and trends?
I had some interesting conversations about this with Filipino family and friends; here are some of the reasons that I have collated – based on heuristics, hunches, and wild guesses alike – behind social media fanaticism in the Philippines:
1. Hospitality and Politeness
Positive: We, Filipinos, are known for our hospitality. A rich history of colonialism bludgeoned us into having a friendly attitude to people of diverse backgrounds. In the social media sphere, Filipinos can still exude warmth: a friend of a friend of a friend is also a friend. The list of mutual friends and followers is endless. The more we spend time on social media, the greater the likelihood of forming promising connections. Our English language skill is also a bonus; they let us interact with people of different nationalities.
Negative: Being too respectful and approachable can encroach on privacy. To what extent will we reveal our individual identities and private information just to be positively viewed as hospitable and polite? A friend of a friend of a friend may be a hacker, a bot, or a cyborg. Where are our boundaries? In the real world, we have doors and gates; in the online world, do we construct such? The more we spend time on social media, the greater the likelihood that our personal spaces will be intruded upon.
2. Resourcefulness and Thriftiness
Positive: Poverty may remain a significant challenge in our country, but financial constraints do not stop us from reaching our dreams. We are known for our ingenuity and resourcefulness. Free online information is not an opportunity to be squandered. Facebook is so kind as to introduce free Internet access in our country through the Free Basics service. It has reduced inequality; everyone can be updated on news and current events. The more time we spend on social media, the higher the chance that education can be distributed.
Negative: Our thriftiness in accessing news and education can make it harder for us to distinguish between reliable and unreliable information. Fact-checking is challenging when everyone can produce content. In cyberspace, being literate does not only pertain to reading and writing abilities, or to having a technical know-how for navigating applications; it is also about being critical in evaluating digital information. Unfortunately, the majority of us are still gullible enough to believe in false news. The more time we spend on social media, the greater the chance that misinformation, disinformation, and malinformation can spread.
3. Conservative
Positive: We are very traditional; unconventional ideas are usually frowned upon. In real life, it is hard for bohemians and liberal thinkers to express opinions that could overturn long-held beliefs. However, in cyberspace, it is easy to create communities for any cause. The more time we spend on social media, the higher the chance of meeting like-minded intellectuals. Everyone has a voice to incite positive social change.
Negative: When we do not want to be negatively viewed with our esoteric ideas, we tend to create false accounts that can guard our identities. This enables us to create content that fortifies personal beliefs. However, the more time we spend on social media, the greater the chance that we will be exposed only to information we support. Forming bonds with like-minded communities can close off access to opposing opinions. How can everyone be equally heard to incite positive social change?
4. Family-Oriented
Positive: Our intimate ties with family members can be maintained regardless of geographic locations. With social media, communication is free and instant. This is very beneficial for overseas Filipino workers; diaspora does not stop the sharing of deep cultural bonds. The more we spend time on social media, the more at home we can feel.
Negative: Ironically, social media can also tear a family apart. As we constantly communicate with those who are far away, we forget to spend time with those who are near us. The more time we spend on social media, the more we run away from our house.
5. Bayanihan (Community Spirit)
Positive: Bayanihan is a Filipino word that pertains to the spirit of unity within a community. Everyone is inclined to help one another without expectation. It is natural to extend this cultural trait online, where our fellow men can be found without a sweat. The more time we spend on social media, the easier it becomes to facilitate crowdsourcing and build humanitarian organizations.
Negative: Unfortunately, a strong sense of community can also foster crab mentality where people consciously sabotage others' achievements for personal gain. In the online world, we can unite with like-minded communities to throw hate speech at our enemies. The more time we spend on social media, the easier it becomes to facilitate wars.
6. Resilience and Humor
Positive: We, Filipinos, have been through a lot. Many colonialists have invaded our territory, natural disasters strike us regularly, and we are still categorized as a "developing" country. Thus, it is just natural for our survival instincts to instill equanimity in our spirit. When push comes to shove, a good sense of humor is necessary. Viral jokes and memes in the online world relieve us from the burdens of everyday life. The dopamine hits help us to de-stress. The more time we spend on social media, the more positive and inspired we can remain.
Negative: Too much resilience can also lead to fatalism. We may remain contented in inaction. Our mañana (procrastination) habit does not motivate us to face our problems head-on. When push comes to shove, we may remain paralyzed in laughter. Getting reactions and shares from feelings vented online does not solve actual problems. The more time we spend on social media, the more we can literally escape rather than embrace harsh realities.
7. Faithfulness
Positive: Our country is predominantly Catholic. Most of us are religious people who love to glorify God at all times in all spaces. Nonetheless, regardless of religion, almost everyone believes in positive karma. What goes around comes around: religious teachings and/or spiritual information must be shared to receive good blessings. The more time we spend on social media, the more communities of faith we can build.
Negative: Too much inspiration and positivity leaves no room for healthy curiosity. We do not even mind trying all social media applications as long they can connect the faithful. We become too kind; we always have a positive reception to tools with spiritual content that we have not fully reviewed. Anything labeled as Christlike is accepted even if the content is fabricated. The more time we spend on social media, the more communities of faith can be used for unspiritual ends.
STUDENTS OF THE MEDIA
I will forever be a student of the media. I hope all Filipinos will take this stance as well, so that we could collectively answer, as a nation, if we shall still keep the social media crown in the years to come.
How does our social media usage reflect our sociability? Is our online behavior a reliable depiction of our offline realities?
Is it a good space to live?
Is it worthy of our time?
Does it operate without space?
Is it bounded by time?
At the very least, intentionality is our responsibility. Consciousness of why, when, and how we are using a platform is key to understanding our social media reality.
***(1) https://wearesocial.com/digital-2020;
(2) https://wearesocial.com/digital-2019-global;
(3) https://wearesocial.com/blog/2018/01/global-digital-report-2018
(4) https://wearesocial.com/special-reports/digital-in-2017-global-overview;
(5) https://wearesocial.com/special-reports/digital-in-2016
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