Social

GlobalWebIndex’s flagship report

on the latest trends in social media

FLAGSHIP REPORT 2019

www.globalwebindex.com
Contents Introduction

Key Insights 03
GlobalWebIndex Social Media Flagship Definitions of Engagement
provides the most important insights
into the world of social media, from GlobalWebIndex defines consumer
Social Media Engagement 04
the very latest figures for social media engagement with social platforms as:
engagement to the key trends within the
Social Media Landscape 13
social space and a comprehensive view of • Members: People who say they have an
which social platforms are most popular. account on the platform in question.
Social Media Behaviors 22
Among others, this report covers the
following topics in detail: • V
 isitors/Users: People who say that, within
Social Entertainment 26
the last month, they have visited or used
• H
 ow much time per day are digital a social platform’s website or app via any
Notes on Methodology 38
consumers devoting to social media? device.

More from GlobalWebIndex 40

• H
 ow are the behaviors of social media
China
users changing?
China is excluded from most of the global
• W
 hich social platforms are most charts featured in this report which track
popular (among the total online specific/named platforms. This is due to the
population and key audiences)? unique nature of the Chinese social media
industry, which maintains its own diverse
• H
 ow are consumers using social media ecosystem of homegrown social platforms and
to engage with brands? has official restrictions on many global social
services. For detail on social media usage in
• H
 ow are social media services evolving China, see our special China section of this
as content and commerce platforms? report and consult our China Market Report.
Key Insights

In Q1 2019, time spent on social The emergence of more image- Internet users are increasingly In 2018, video calling increased
media has decreased or stayed centric and ephemeral platforms likely to log into social platforms for nearly all demographics,
the same compared to 2018 like Snapchat and Instagram, without posting content for including students as well as
data in 20 out of the 45 markets which have both been the fastest others to see; visitors of professionals. All age groups are
we survey. This is likely a result growing platforms outside of Facebook or Instagram who increasing their number of video
of many internet users having China that we track, gave people say they have done this has calls, but Gen Z are the ones
a better awareness of the time the opportunity to re-establish increased from 30% in 2015 to to watch, as they could define
they spend looking at screens, their networks, allowing them 42% in Q1 2019. how the trend develops in 2019.
and the proliferation of ‘digital to pick and choose who they’re Social services like Houseparty
wellbeing’ tools. most comfortable sharing and Squad point towards a
In the West, relatively smaller and
content with. possible new frontier in social
more specialized social platforms
media, where entertainment
The opportunities for social like Instagram and Pinterest are
and communication are more
engagement, at all times of the Since Q1 2016, Facebook best positioned to successfully
closely interlinked in virtual
day and in various locations, have Messenger has seen a 13% and seamlessly integrate
hangout spaces.
facilitated the evolution of social increase in visitation rates different stages of the purchase
platforms into entertainment outside China, while WhatsApp journey. These platforms nurture
hubs. It’s no longer about “social” has seen an impressive 30% the areas where social and
activities in the purest sense, increase in the same timeframe. commerce activities overlap the
but more purposeful activities, These figures will likely continue most, namely the research stage,
particularly those based around to rise as more consumers favor where video can better bridge
content consumption. ‘dark social’ activities. the online-offline shopping
experience gap.
Social

Social Media Engagement

Flagship Report 2019

Social Media & Digital Wellbeing
SOCIAL MEDIA 05
ENGAGEMENT

Screen Time Tracking The social media industry has begun to face a reckoning over the past
% who say they have used their mobile to track their 2-3 years. Namely, over how much time we spend on various platforms,
screen time or set limits for certain apps social media’s impact on youth, continued indictments and scandals
over how content should be moderated, and how much responsibility
platforms should take for instances of misinformation circulating the *High/Heavy Social Networkers
say they spend at least an
networks. hour per day on social media
services

One important consequence of social media being put under a

microscope is the emergence of digital wellbeing tools as a major
industry trend for 2019, which focuses on helping individuals to
understand how they use the tech around them and provide tips and
techniques to establish healthy habits.

Google’s Digital Wellbeing features provide analysis on a user’s screen

time usage. Android users can set app time limits so as not to spend too
long in one particular app, whilst Google Pixel phone owners can use
the Wind Down feature to reduce the screen's blue light before going to
bed. Apple offers similar functions with its Screen Time feature in iOS 12,
as do Facebook (‘Your Time on Facebook’) and Instagram (‘Your Activity’).

Google’s research demonstrated that 78 percent of people felt happier

6 in 10 global internet users
about their phone usage since using a digital wellbeing app. Users
say that they are constantly
reported finding more time to meditate, and stated that they had
connected online.
improved sleep quality. The flipside of screen addiction, ironically, is that
technology can enable us to take ownership of our own health.

Question: Which of these have

you done on your mobile in
the last month? (Tracked your
screen time or set limits for
certain apps)
Source: GlobalWebIndex
Q1 2019 Base: 139,397
Internet Users aged 16-64
Time Spent on Social Media
SOCIAL MEDIA 06
ENGAGEMENT

Daily Time Spent on Social Media

Average h:mm spent engaging with/connected to social networks during a typical day

98% of consumers have used a social media network in the past month; being an internet user means being a social media user

Globally, digital consumers are now spending an average of 2 hours This trend has continued. In Q1 2019, time spent on social media
and 23 minutes per day on social networks and messaging. A look has decreased or stayed the same compared to 2018 data in 20 out
at the trended data here suggests that we might be approaching of the 45 markets we survey.
saturation in social media consumption.
Across the globe, 16-24s are devoting the most time per day to
In Q3 2018, we started to see time spent on social media plateau across social media – just under three hours, on average. The importance of
Question: Roughly how many
a handful of countries – where time spent online has simultaneously messaging apps to this demographic is a key reason behind this, as hours do you spend engaging
with/connected to social
either stayed the same or decreased. This is likely a result of many is the centrality of smartphones to their digital lives. Additionally, it is networks or services during a
internet users having a better awareness of the time they spend looking important to note that this consumption is simultaneous rather than typical day?
Source: GlobalWebIndex
at screens, as well as the perceived negative effects associated with sequential; 72% of 16-24s say they use social media while they are 2012-2019 (avg of all waves
conducted in each year)
social media usage, and wanting a digital detox as a result. watching TV. Base: 1,778,895 Internet Users
aged 16-64
Time Spent by Market
SOCIAL MEDIA 07
ENGAGEMENT

Younger groups are the most enthusiastic about social media, WeChat in China. Despite Western platforms having an official
and the internet populations of fast-growth markets tend to be presence in Russia, home-grown networks VK and Odnoklassniki,
younger than most mature markets. This provides clear context for boast significantly higher figures than Facebook and Instagram
why the topline figures for daily time spent on social media differ both for membership and monthly visitation.
so significantly between countries, from a high of 4 hours in the
Philippines, to much lower figures of around 1 hour 15 minutes in But the effects aren’t down to age alone. Even among 16-24s,
some European countries. certain markets primarily in Asia and Latin America stand out
for their occupation with social media. Particularly notable are
If we examine the habits of 16-24s in isolation, we see many Argentina (4:17), the Philippines (4:16) and Colombia (4:12).
mature markets posting high numbers – with this age group in
the UK, Romania, Portugal and Ireland spending well over 3 hours
on social media daily. But the highest engagement in Europe is
in Russia, with 16-24s here typically spending over 4 hours per
day on social media. Russia’s own unique ecosystem of social
LatAm markets are in the top eight most
platforms could be key here, in particular Vkontakte (VK) which,
engaged countries on social media.
through its TV, music and payment services, provides a greater
infiltration into the everyday life of its users similar to that of
Time Spent by Market
SOCIAL MEDIA 08
ENGAGEMENT

Daily Time Spent on Social Media

Average h:mm spent engaging with/connected to social networks during a typical day

2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019

Philippines 2:49 3:06 3:25 3:41 4:07 4:00 4:08 4:01 Singapore 1:12 1:29 1:36 1:38 1:58 2:07 2:11 2:10

Brazil 2:41 2:40 2:50 3:18 3:45 3:40 3:39 3:45 USA 1:22 1:34 1:40 1:43 2:04 2:02 2:05 1:57
Colombia - - - - - - 3:34 3:36 Hong Kong 1:34 1:26 1:27 1:29 1:39 2:00 1:53 1:52
Nigeria - - - - - 3:03 3:26 3:36 Ireland - 1:24 1:11 1:22 1:38 1:45 1:55 1:51
Argentina 2:42 2:49 2:50 3:13 3:31 3:12 3:17 3:27 Sweden 1:13 1:13 1:22 1:33 1:37 1:54 1:49 1:51
Indonesia 2:12 2:21 2:26 2:50 3:02 3:26 3:23 3:15
Taiwan 1:28 1:30 1:41 1:50 2:03 2:06 1:52 1:51
UAE 2:21 2:29 2:48 3:01 3:24 2:56 3:00 3:11
UK 1:11 1:14 1:19 1:29 1:42 1:54 1:51 1:50
Mexico 2:35 2:50 2:53 3:14 3:33 3:11 3:14 3:10
Canada 1:12 1:29 1:29 1:27 1:41 1:48 1:47 1:49
South Africa 1:58 2:07 2:16 2:42 2:50 2:47 2:58 3:10
Poland 1:02 1:12 1:13 1:17 1:40 1:42 1:45 1:47
Egypt - - - - 3:17 3:06 3:05 3:06
Italy 1:33 1:49 1:47 1:58 2:02 1:53 1:48 1:46
Kenya - - - - - 2:50 2:59 3:06
Australia 1:15 1:13 1:11 1:10 1:36 1:39 1:34 1:43
Saudi Arabia 2:23 2:18 2:35 2:55 2:56 2:38 2:52 3:06
New Zealand - - - - 1:43 1:49 1:42 1:43
Turkey 1:56 2:17 2:25 2:34 2:57 2:49 2:52 3:05
Spain 1:30 1:30 1:26 1:38 1:43 1:38 1:41 1:43
Ghana - - - - - 2:59 3:09 3:03
Denmark - - - - - - 1:35 1:33
Malaysia 2:39 2:53 2:48 2:59 3:18 3:06 3:03 3:01
France 1:01 1:05 1:11 1:17 1:23 1:24 1:22 1:28
Thailand 1:59 2:34 2:41 2:49 2:46 3:06 3:14 2:51
Belgium - - - 1:15 1:33 1:31 1:31 1:24
Romania - - - - - - 2:34 2:28

Russia 1:40 1:46 1:49 1:52 2:17 2:20 2:21 2:28 South Korea 0:47 0:47 0:58 1:05 1:04 1:11 1:11 1:20

India 1:44 1:57 2:03 2:15 2:30 2:25 2:28 2:25 Netherlands 0:56 0:59 1:02 1:10 1:16 1:24 1:17 1:18 Question: Roughly how many
hours do you spend engaging
Morocco - - - - - 2:22 2:34 2:23 Switzerland - - - - - 1:18 1:19 1:18 with/connected to social
networks or services during a
Vietnam 1:47 1:57 2:07 2:16 2:34 2:36 2:33 2:23 Austria - - - - - 1:16 1:15 1:17 typical day?
Source: GlobalWebIndex
China 1:19 1:17 1:24 1:27 1:45 1:58 2:00 2:19 Germany 0:58 1:04 1:04 1:08 1:07 1:13 1:08 1:15 2012-2019 (avg conducted
across each wave of research)
Portugal - - - 1:54 2:13 2:13 2:12 2:18 Japan 0:23 0:18 0:17 0:20 0:33 0:46 0:40 0:45 Base: 1,778,895 Internet Users
aged 16-64
Social Saturation
SOCIAL MEDIA 09
ENGAGEMENT

Multi-Networking
Average number of social media accounts held by internet users 8.1  LOBAL AVERAGE NUMBER OF
G
SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS

6.4  LOBAL AVERAGE NUMBER OF

G
MOBILE ONLY SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS

OVER TIME 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019

Global Average 3.8 4.2 5.7 6.9 7.7 8.2 8.1

Gen Z 3.9 4.3 6.2 7.3 8.6 9.1 9.0

Millennials 4.6 5.1 6.7 8.2 8.9 9.3 9.1

Gen X 3.5 3.8 5.1 6.2 6.6 6.9 7.0

Baby Boomers 2.3 2.4 3.1 3.9 4.7 5.0 5.0

Social media users are comfortable maintaining a presence There are many factors that have influenced this plateauing, including
across a number of platforms; while the average internet user the growth in internet usage among older consumers who tend to
had about 4 social media accounts in 2013, the figure has now be less likely to multi-network, and the stagnation of user growth
risen to 8.1. This multi-networking is a response to the widening on certain key platforms. However, the most important trend to
choice of platforms, but it is also being caused by a degree understand regarding this peak in multi-networking is the rise of the
Question: On which of the
of specialization, where some users are turning to particular mobile-only internet user who focus their social engagement on following services do you
platforms to carry out certain types of networking behaviors, like a select group of platforms. This can especially be found in African have an account? Source:
GlobalWebIndex Q4 2018
Twitch or Pinterest. markets, where data packages tend to be restricted, or where data and Q1 2019 Base: 139,397
Internet Users aged 16-64
plans tend to subsidize data-use across certain platforms.
Just as time spent on social media is beginning to plateau,
online consumers seem to be close to maxing out the number of While social media use has generally plateaued among many of
platforms they have an account with. 2017 marked the first year the advanced economies surveyed, emerging nations seem to be Question: On which of the
following services do you
that we observed no appreciable growth in the average number much heavier social media users. Indonesia, India and Egypt mark have an account? Source:
of social media accounts per internet user, and this trend has themselves out as the keenest on having a diverse social media GlobalWebIndex 2013-2019
Base: 1,717,699 internet users
continued into 2019. portfolio. aged 16-64
Multi-Networking: Market Insights
AVERAGE NUMBER OF ACCOUNTS IN Q1 2019
The Rise of Dark Social
SOCIAL MEDIA 11
ENGAGEMENT

The Reach of Dark Social

% who say they typically share information or content with peers on the following channels

38% in the UK and U.S.

feel most comfortable
sharing content on
private messaging apps.

Coined in 2012, “Dark Social” refers to nearly untraceable web traffic platforms outside of China that we track, gave people the opportunity
that comes from internet users sharing content directly and privately to re-establish their networks, allowing them to pick and choose
with each other, instead of posting or sharing it publicly. It often takes who they’re most comfortable sharing content with. These platforms
place on private messaging apps and email, and it means that brands may have arguably given rise to a much more ostentatious undercurrent
be overlooking a huge portion of social sharing about their products. in social media, embodied in influencer culture. Against this
undercurrent, private spaces, especially those fostered within private
Internet users in the U.S. and UK are now more likely to be sharing messaging apps like WhatsApp and Messenger, have flourished,
information or content with their peers on private messaging apps giving people much more of a safe space reserved for close peers,
compared to public social networks and even word-of-mouth. family, or those who they share genuine connections and trust with.

Dark social has quickly emerged as a major marketing channel that While private spaces absorbed a larger share of the “social” aspect
brands can’t ignore. It’s been well over a decade since Facebook took of social media, public platforms have expanded on the “media”
the mantle from Myspace as the top social platform on a global level. offering. More and more activities, from sports viewing to news
In that time, how and why people use social media has drastically consumption have found a home on users’ newsfeeds as a result.
changed. The friend networks which may have been accrued on
Facebook in that time will typically be very large and at times very Interacting directly with younger consumers in these spaces is one
impersonal, and people may not be comfortable with sharing their approach to deal with the challenge of dark social. Creating more
Question: How do you tend to
posts or updates which such a vast group of people. relevant, shareable content that encourages sharing with friends share information or content
with friends/family?
and family in these private environments using “sharing buttons” is Source: GlobalWebIndex
The emergence of more image-centric and ephemeral platforms like another. What’s essential in both these cases is that respect for users’ February 2019
Base: 3,139 Internet Users
Snapchat and Instagram, which have both been the fastest growing privacy is an undertone in any marketing tactic or campaign. aged 16-64 in the UK and U.S.
 Social Media Motivations
SOCIAL MEDIA 12
ENGAGEMENT

As we’ve just covered, the role that social media plays Motivations for Using Social Media
in the lives of its users has evolved. Digital consumers % who say the following are among their main reasons for using social media
are now more likely to say they use social to follow the
news (40%) than they are to identify it as a platform
for keeping in touch with friends (39%). Entertainment
also now plays a key role in motivating digital consumers
to engage with social media, ranking as the third most
important reason for internet users (38%) but showing
the highest growth.

The opportunities for social engagement, at all times

of the day and in various locations, have facilitated the
evolution of social platforms into entertainment hubs. It’s
no longer about “social” activities in the purest sense, but
more purposeful activities, particularly those based around
content consumption. This helps to explain why motivations
like news consumption, finding entertaining content,
researching products, and watching sports have seen
increases in the past few years. TOP MOTIVATIONS AMONG 16-24S

16-24s are the most likely audience to list ‘finding funny or

entertaining content’ (47%) as a main reason they use social
media, followed by using social media to fill up spare time
(46%) and to stay in touch with what their friends are doing
(43%). Keeping in touch with friends is consistently listed as a
reason for using social media across all age groups, but it is
waning as a motivator for 16-24 year olds. With Generation
Z and millennials showing less interest in other people’s
updates – and the growing desire to extricate themselves
from the social aspects of social media – social media as an Question: What are your main
reasons for using social media?
entertainment hub will likely become the dominant form of Source: GlobalWebIndex
engagement across the most widely used open platforms. Q1 2019 Base: 139,397
Internet Users aged 16-64
Social

Social Media Landscape

Flagship Report 2019

Social Platforms & Services
SOCIAL MEDIA 14
LANDSCAPE

Top 10 Social Platforms Globally, Facebook remains the dominant social platform
% outside of China who are members or by membership. Outside of China, 84% of internet
visitors/users of the following services users say they have a Facebook account. This shows that
Facebook is managing to retain members in spite of a
turbulent 2018, as concerns over privacy and security took a
toll. The company has spent billions of dollars to shore up
security on its platform. Despite this instability, Facebook
stock increased by 16% in value in April this year,
according to S&P Global Market Intelligence.

YouTube is in a strong second-place, with Facebook

Messenger then having a decent lead within the third
tier of services that includes WhatsApp, Instagram and
Twitter. However, many platforms which post lower figures
in this chart are nonetheless popular among particular
demographics or in certain markets (names such as Twitch,
Snapchat, LINE and Viber).

If we narrow our focus to people who have visited or used

the service in the last month, YouTube rises to top position.
It’s the only major social service to have more people visiting
than those who are a member, revealing that significant
numbers of its visitors are either not logged into their
accounts, or are not even members in the first place.

Snapchat has a considerable presence in North America,

particularly among Gen Z, where 61% use it on a
monthly basis.
Question: On which of the
following services do you
have an account?
Source: GlobalWebIndex
Q4 2018 and Q1 2019
Base: 247,879 internet users
aged 16-64 (excl. China)
 T R E N D I N AC T I O N

Facebook to launch ‘Libra’

cryptocurrency in 2020

7% of those who have

visited Facebook in
the last month have
a cryptocurrency
investment (IDX 1.16)

Facebook is planning to launch its own cryptocurrency in 2020, allowing users to make
digital payments in a dozen countries. The currency, dubbed Libra, would enable
Facebook’s users to change dollars and other international currencies into its digital
coins which can then be used to buy things on the internet and in shops/other outlets,
or transfer money without needing a bank account. Zuckerberg has reportedly met with
the governer of the Bank of England, U.S. Treasury officials and money transfer firms such
as Western Union, to develop cheap, safe ways for people to send and receive money.
In order to try and stabilize the digital currency, the company is looking to peg its value
to a basket of established currencies like the U.S. dollar, the euro and the Japanese yen.
It’s also looking at paying users fractions of a coin for activities such as viewing ads or
interacting with content related to online shopping, similar to retailers’ loyalty schemes.
China’s Unique Landscape
SOCIAL MEDIA 16
LANDSCAPE

Top Social Platforms in China In a market where the most popular social platforms
% in China who are members or globally are officially restricted, homegrown
visitors/users of the following services networks have flourished in China. WeChat
dominates: 77% of online adults have an account,
and 73% use the app each month. WeChat’s broad
functionalities, which reach far beyond that of a
simple messaging app, have ensured it a central
role in the digital activities of many Chinese internet
users, and it offers a clear example to other services
of how social media, commerce and entertainment
can merge.

Tencent QQ and Qzone also perform strongly,

though they’re still 10-20 points behind WeChat in
membership. As with YouTube, video-site Youku
and microblogging site Sina Weibo see notably
higher figures for visitors than members.

Also notable is that Douyin – known as TikTok

outside of China – is currently undergoing its own
metamorphosis. Specifically, there has been an
increase in celebrities posting more humorous
content, more vertically-specific content (i.e. tips
or how-tos) and shorter episodic content. These
changes are part of a wider fundamental shift in
social media platforms. As noted in The Atlantic, the
Question: On which of the
so-called ‘Instagram aesthetic’ with artfully staged following services do you have
an account? | Which of the
pictures is shifting towards authenticity. following sites / applications
have you visited or used in
*China Only the past month via your PC/
**China and Hong Kong Only Laptop, Mobile or Tablet?
Source: GlobalWebIndex
Q4 2018 and Q1 2019 Base:
30,480 Chinese Internet Users
aged 16-64
Social Media Landscape: Market Insights
Messaging Apps
SOCIAL MEDIA 18
LANDSCAPE

WhatsApp vs Facebook Messenger Engagement

% who say they have visited/used the following platforms in the past month (excluding China)

For messaging services, it’s a close race between Facebook WhatsApp generally outperforms Facebook Messenger
Messenger and WhatsApp. While Facebook Messenger has a across world regions and age groups, and currently enjoys a
6-percentage-point lead in membership rates over WhatsApp 13-percentage-point lead over Facebook Messenger outside of
(73% to 67%), the latter has more monthly users (60% vs 54%). China, judging by users who use the services at least daily. The
only region where WhatsApp does not post higher figures than
Both have seen consistent increases over the past few years. Since Facebook Messenger is in North America, where only 9% use
Q1 2016, Facebook Messenger has seen a 13% increase in WhatsApp on a daily basis compared to 31% who use Messenger.
visitation rates outside China (from 48% to 54%), while WhatsApp
has seen an impressive 30% increase (from 46% to 60%) in the However, WhatsApp does hold more weight among minority
Question: Which of the
same timeframe. These figures will likely continue to rise as more groups in the U.S., particularly Hispanics; only 5% of 16-18s following sites / applications
consumers favor ‘dark social’ activities. in North America use the service more than once per day, have you visited or used in
the past month via your PC
compared to 27% of 16-18-year-old Hispanics and a massive / Laptop, Mobile or Tablet?
Source: GlobalWebIndex
75% in the Latin America region. Q4 2018 and Q1 2019
Base: 247,879 Internet Users
aged 16-64 (excl. China)
Messaging Apps
SOCIAL MEDIA 19
LANDSCAPE

12%  F INTERNET USERS INTERACTED WITH A BRAND

O
ON A MESSAGING APP LAST MONTH

In some parts of Asia, on the other hand, the messaging app LINE is Having control over how long their posts
hugely popular among consumers. Namely, Taiwan (85%), Thailand are seen for, and being able to share
(84%) and Japan (66%) post very high monthly visitation figures. posts with certain people, is attractive to
young consumers who don’t necessarily
Instagram also posts high monthly visitation figures (59%), rising want opinions and pictures to remain
to 75% among 16-24s. Instagram’s Direct Messaging tool could be online forever. This could be the reason
a key reason for this; globally, 15% say they have used Instagram behind Instagram rolling out a ‘Close
Direct to send a photo or message to a friend on a 1-to-1 basis, Friends’ feature on Instagram stories,
rising to 27% among 16-24s. where users can share their stories only
with a personalized set of friends. This new
While platforms like Instagram may not have blanket usage like feature is invariably a way to cater towards
Facebook, they do seem to generally have stronger engagement. Gen Z’s need for autonomy and sense of
Despite having less than half of Facebook’s monthly active users, privacy, and is representative of a wider
Instagram’s top 10 accounts generate more than 6 times more shift in the industry towards greater user Question: Which of the
following actions have you
interactions than Facebook’s most-engaged accounts. discreteness and control. done online in the past month?
Source: GlobalWebIndex
Q4 2018 and Q1 2019
Base: 278,359 Internet Users
aged 16-64
Usage Frequency
SOCIAL MEDIA 20
LANDSCAPE

Daily Usage Rates: Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat Engagement

% of platform members who say they use the following services on at least a daily basis

The strength of Facebook’s wider ecosystem of services is clear once when we

examine usage frequency across the major networks. Facebook, WhatsApp and
Instagram all feature in the top four spots for at least daily visitation/usage.

When we look at trended data for visiting platforms on at least a daily basis,
Instagram has seen the biggest growth since 2017 for both global and 16-24
Instagram visitors. In Q1 2019, 7 in 10 16-24 Instagram members visit the platform
on at least a daily basis, and other age groups are not far behind this. While
Facebook and Snapchat have seen decreases in daily visits, Facebook in particular
Question: How frequently
still commands a very authoritative position; 65% of Facebook members globally do you visit/use these social
say they visit at least daily. platforms/services?
Source: GlobalWebIndex
Q2 2017−Q1 2019
Base: 894,629 Internet Users
aged 16-64
 T R E N D I N AC T I O N

Telegram On the Rise

Question: In the last month,

which of these apps have you
used? Telegram Messenger
Source: GlobalWebIndex
2016-2019 Base: 1,195,044
internet users aged 16-64

In January, Mark Zuckerberg said he planned a technical integration of Facebook

Messenger, Instagram and WhatsApp, allowing users to “communicate across the
platforms for the first time”. But if these platforms do share the same underlying structure,
will users feel the need to own all three separately?

And while Facebook constantly deals with concerns over privacy, instant messaging service
Telegram gained a lot of praise over its refusal to bow to government pressure for access
to encrypted messages in early 2018. As an all-in-one messaging, social media and
e-commerce platform, Telegram has been growing in popularity, especially in the Middle
East and Africa. It is a platform perfectly positioned to capture a whole new generation
of users growing up in a completely digital lifestyle, pitching privacy and favoring
cryptocurrency features.
Social

Social Media Behaviors

Flagship Report 2019

Social Behaviors: Dark & Fleeting
SOCIAL MEDIA 23
BEHAVIORS

Passive Engagement with Facebook & Instagram

% of Instagram/Facebook users who say they have logged in without posting/commenting in the past month

Internet users are increasingly likely

to log into social platforms without
posting content for others to see;
visitors of Facebook or Instagram
who say they have done this has
increased from 30% in 2015 to 42%
in Q1 2019.

The Rise of "Stories"

Question: On Facebook/
% of platform users outside China who say they have done the following in the past month Instagram, which of these have
you done in the last month?
Source: GlobalWebIndex
Q4 2018 and Q1 2019
And when they do post content for their social Base: 141,900 Instagram users
and 202,7699 Facebook users
sphere, it is increasingly likely to be in the form aged 16-64

of a story over a status. The transient, easily-

consumable nature of stories allows users to
share with a greater degree of control in how
much they give away. For both Instagram and Question: On Facebook/
Instagram, which of these have
Facebook users outside China, the proportion you done in the last month?
sharing stories has increased while those Source: GlobalWebIndex
Q4 2018 and Q1 2019
uploading a status (Facebook) or photo Base: 141,900 Instagram users
and 202,7699 Facebook users
(Instagram) has decreased, albeit only slightly. aged 16-64
 T R E N D I N AC T I O N

Ads Coming to
WhatsApp Next Year

42% of WhatsApp
users agree they tend
to buy brands they see
advertised, but 26% say
they use an ad-blocker
because too many ads are
annoying or irrelevant

Facebook has confirmed that WhatsApp will be introducing ads to its messaging
app next year. Facebook acquired the messaging service in 2014 for $19 billion, and
revealed the update at its annual Facebook Marketing Summit in the Netherlands. The
ads will reportedly take up the entire screen of a smartphone and allow users to find
out more information about the advertiser by swiping up, although not all users will be
happy with the new feature. When WhatsApp first launched, its creators promised it
would not sell its users’ data or put ads on the platform, instead charging a yearly fee
of 99 cents in order to cover the costs of hosting millions of chats. But now, with 60%
of internet users outside China using the app on a monthly basis, it is now looking to
generate extra revenue.
The Social Purchase Journey
SOCIAL MEDIA 25
BEHAVIORS

Enabling consumers to finalize a purchase while The Social Path to Purchase

remaining within social apps has been a goal % who say they do the following
for social platforms for some time now. Social
commerce is seen to have the potential to be a
major revenue generator and an important way
to diversify revenue streams beyond advertising.
Across Asia, networks like WeChat and Line
have successfully facilitated commerce via their
platforms, allowing consumers to carry out a
range of commerce activities from booking taxis
to paying for restaurant bills or items in-store.

But social commerce has been a tough sell in

many Western markets. Online consumer habits
here can be difficult to change, especially when
it comes to the potentially sensitive information
involved in financial transactions. Social media
can play a big role in the purchase journey right
up to the point of purchase, but the appetite to
complete a final purchase within the platform
remains low. Most will move to retail sites. These
benefits must be intrinsically social or deeply
embedded with payment systems, and must be
Question: How do you
grounded in consumer-engagement strategies, typically find out about new
brands and products? //
in order for social commerce to achieve the Which of the following online
roaring success seen in APAC. furthering the social commerce agenda in this market. In the U.S., relatively smaller and more sources do you mainly use
when you are actively looking
specialized social platforms like Instagram and Pinterest are best positioned to successfully for more information about
brands, products, or services?
The prospect of using “buy” buttons on social and seamlessly integrate different stages of the purchase journey. These platforms nurture // When shopping online,
media in the U.S. has not quite gained traction. the areas where social and commerce activities overlap the most, namely the research stage, which of these features would
most increase your likelihood
The growing role of social networks as a way of where video can better bridge the online-offline shopping experience gap. The disconnect of buying a product?
Source: GlobalWebIndex
researching products does, however, provide between research and purchase could also be helped by more nuanced and sophisticated Q4 2018 and Q1 2019
social video with a strong value-proposition in personalization tools, as well as more advanced chatbots and machine learning. Base: 278,359 Internet Users
aged 16-64
Social

Social Entertainment

Flagship Report 2019

Types of People Followed on Social
SOCIAL 27
ENTERTAINMENT

Social Following More than a third of internet users say they follow their favorite
% who say they "follow" these brands on social media, while 27% follow brands which they are
types of social media accounts Global thinking of making a purchase from.
average 16-24s

3 in 10 follow news or media organizations via social media and,

People you know in real life 51% 55%
significantly, the likelihood of doing this doesn’t vary appreciably by
Brands you like 38% 44% age except for a slight peak among 25-34s. The opportunity for brand
ambassadors to reach vast audiences via social meeting is apparent –
Singers, musicians or bands 34% 45% 33% say they like to follow actors and 1 in 4 who follow sports stars.
Actors 33% 46%
Content networkers – those who use social media to find entertaining
News/media organizations 30% 29% content, watch sports or follow vloggers – are roughly 1.35x more
likely than the average internet user to visit a brand’s social network,
Contacts relevant to your work 28% 26% like/follow a brand on a social network, and click on sponsored
posts. This reflects the shift we’ve seen generally in the social media
Brands you are thinking of buying something from 27% 30%
landscape, whereby news, entertainment, shopping and content
Comedians 26% 35% have taken up a greater role compared to classic social networking.
Various instances of brands increasing their efforts for hard-hitting
Sports stars 24% 30% and easily shareable quality video content confirm this trend.
Bloggers 22% 31%
The accounts that 16-24s follow confirm the wide reach that
Entrepreneurs/business people 20% 23% influencers can have. Almost half of 16-24s (46%) follow actors
on social media, placing these accounts ahead of branded ones.
Vloggers 19% 29%
And with other celebrities occupying the top five spots, traditional
celebrity endorsements should not necessarily be abandoned totally
Charities/good causes 17% 18%
for influencer marketing. What matters is relevance.
TV Presenters 17% 20%
Even among 16-24s (the most avid celebrity followers), just 19%
Politicians 16% 16%
say they find new brands via celebrity or influencer endorsements,
Question: Who do you follow

Journalists 14% 14%

clearly showing that this group aren’t all beholden to influencers on social media?
Source: GlobalWebIndex
and can be reached with other ‘traditional’ means, too. Q4 2018 and Q1 2019
Base: 278,359 Internet Users
aged 16-64
Social Usage Personas
SOCIAL 28
ENTERTAINMENT

Social Media Segmentation

% who fall into the following segments

In our social media usage segmentation, individuals are just over half (51%) can be classed as brand interactors,
classified into segments based on how they engage with which includes those who are using social platforms to
social media. The largest share of social users are qualified get in touch with brands and those who share posts from
as personal and celebrity networkers. brands. The proportion of those following brands they like
or brands they interact with has stayed consistent over the
58% of social media users qualify as brand followers. last 2-3 years. The result of a heavy brand presence on our
Clearly, many social networkers are happy to be exposed newsfeeds has been the humanization of brands, helping to
to branded content on their newsfeeds, highlighting how give rise to the culture of accountability under social media, Question: What are your main
reasons for using social media?
today it is vital for brands to stand-out with an engaging as we outline in our Sustainable Packaging report. Source: GlobalWebIndex
presence across social platforms. Consumers’ relationships Q4 2018 and Q1 2019
Base: 278,359 Internet Users
with brands on these platforms are not always passive either: To find how each of these segments are defined, click here. aged 16-64
Social Media Behaviors: Market Insights
USING SOCIAL TO STAY DISCOVERING BRANDS RESEARCHING PRODUCTS/ MOTIVATING PURCHASE MOTIVATING PURCHASE
UP-TO-DATE WITH NEWS FOLLOWING BRANDS THROUGH COMMENTS BRANDS USING SOCIAL THROUGH LOTS OF "LIKES" THROUGH "BUY" BUTTON
AND CURRENT EVENTS THEY LIKE ON SOCIAL MEDIA NETWORKS ON SOCIAL MEDIA ON A SOCIAL NETWORK

* Please note these are mobile markets, where respondents see a shortened version of the GlobalWebIndex survey. As such, some questions in this chart are not asked in these markets.
Social Video
SOCIAL 30
ENTERTAINMENT

Social Video Engagement 60% of internet users outside China have all demographics, including students as
% of internet users outside of China watched a video on Facebook, Twitter, well as professionals. All age groups are
who are social video viewers Snapchat or Instagram in the past month. increasing their number of video calls, but
As more and more become acclimatized to Gen Z are the ones to watch, as they could
consuming video on social networks, and define how the trend develops in 2019.
as online TV takes off more generally, clear
opportunities will arise for Facebook and Social services like Houseparty and Squad
other platforms to move aggressively into revolve around video calling, allowing friends
the world of TV. to hang out when they’re not physically close.
They point towards a possible new frontier
Live video has quickly become an essential in social media, where entertainment and
asset in the arsenal of social media communication are more closely interlinked
companies. Not only does this open up in virtual hangout spaces, especially given
the possibility of user-generated content, that Epic Games – owner of Fortnite – have
but it also resembles one of the most acquired Houseparty this month. With a
important trends in which entertainment recent survey finding that half of teens say
and marketing overlap the most. For brands, playing Fortnite helps them keep up with
live video allows them to engage with their friends and helps them learn teamwork,
consumers in a two-way interaction, with and 40% say they have improved their
a greater sense of trust, transparency and communication skills, the idea that Fortnite
immediacy. could become a new type of social network is
one to keep an eye on.
Whenever mobile video is discussed –
particularly for younger age groups –
it’s almost always in the context of
entertainment. Watching videos on mobile
rose sharply last year, but there’s another
This report defines Social Video Viewers as internet
users who have done any of the following: type of video on the rise. Video calling Question: Which of these have
is often talked about from a business you done in the last month
• Watched a video on Facebook, • Watched something on Facebook/Instagram/
perspective, like using software to keep Snapchat/Twitter? Source:
on Facebook Live, • Watched a video clip on Instagram GlobalWebIndex Q4 2018
• Viewed a Live Story on Snapchat, • Viewed a User in touch with remote colleagues. But in and Q1 2019 Base: 247,879
Story on Snapchat, • Watched a video on Twitter 2018, video calling increased for nearly Internet Users aged 16-64
(excl. China)
 T R E N D I N AC T I O N

5G is here
37% of consumers
in the U.S. and UK
say they will switch
to 5G as soon as
it’s available

5G connectivity is one of the most hotly anticipated developments in consumer technology, with the hope that
it promises to revolutionize not only smartphone capabilities, but also the capabilities of any other connected
device, be that a watch, a car or a household appliance. 5G promises connection speeds up to 20x faster than
4G, enhancing the quality, speed and predictability of mobile entertainment, as well as opening up opportunities
for emerging branches of entertainment such as streaming games online on mobile. In theory, 5G will be able to
simultaneously support more than a million devices per sq km, a big jump over the 60,000-odd devices that 4G
maxes out at. In the next few years, we might expect ‘network slicing’ to become a new buzz word, which will allow
operators to carve up their network into a variety of ‘virtual’ slices, each of which will be isolated from the others
and can be adjusted to guarantee different download speeds, latencies and bandwidth.

Hyperfast connectivity could provide a boost in the capabilities of immersive video advertising on social newsfeeds.
With anything from location-based tools, AR filters and 4k videos moving to the core of social ad offerings, social
media companies will be hoping to grab a bigger slice of digital adspend in 5G-enabled markets.
Social Sport
SOCIAL 32
ENTERTAINMENT

Looking to watch or follow sports events as a main

motivation for going on social media has seen a 47%
increase since Q4 2016. In Q1 2019, going to social media for sports
content is now cited by 22% globally.
And sports leagues are now turning to more digital offerings
to lure in younger fans, amidst concerns that TV audience
numbers for sporting events are falling. While TV is not
Sports fans are craving more tailored, accessible content. The challenge
dead, particularly for live sport, the fact that the Super Bowl
for sports broadcasters and sponsors now is to offer an immersive digital
audience shrank this year and the Premier League’s rights
experience as well as a compelling watch on TV, as they look to maximize
values were down has prompted the sports industry to
audience reach and monetization. One potential route for a more
broaden its horizons.
engaging online experience is live video, allowing brands to connect with
consumers in new and exciting ways in the realms of entertainment. The
How social media motivations have changed over time sports industry is already progressing towards digital and social media
% who say the following are main reasons for going on social media and there’s still plenty of room for growth. Globally, 22% of internet users
say that following sports events is one of their main reasons for using
2016 2019 social networks, climbing to 39% among live social video viewers.

To watch/follow sports events 15% 22% +47% Peter Hutton, Director of Global Live Sports Partnerships and Programming
To promote/support charitable causes 10% 14% +35% at Facebook, appeared at last October’s Leaders Sport Business Summit
to discuss what the sports industry can leverage from the platform going
To find funny or entertaining content 31% 38% +24%
forward. First, the sports rights holders can experiment with new forms of
To research/find products to buy 26% 31% +19% production as Facebook plans to utilize its Oculus Rift VR platform to enhance
and redefine the spectator experience by enabling fans to feel like “they
To fill up spare time 33% 37% +13%
are in the crowd at the game”. The recent unveiling of the Rift S, a higher
To stay up-to-date with news/current events 36% 40% +12% resolution VR headset, signals that developments in this space continue.
To meet new people 28% 26% − 9%
Second, social media provides new avenues to keep fans engaged by
General networking with other people 37% 33% − 11%
building a community, which will ultimately be followed by monetization. Question: What are your main
Because a lot of my friends are on them 35% 30% − 16% As audiences become accustomed to platforms like Netflix and Amazon reasons for using social media?
Source: GlobalWebIndex Q4
Video, long-form viewing on social media and other online channels has 2016 and Q1 2019
To share my opinion 38% 29% − 24%
increased, contributing to an enriched live sports viewing experience. Base: 57,522 (Q4 2016) and
139,397 (Q1 2019) internet
users aged 16-64
Social Sport
SOCIAL 33
ENTERTAINMENT

The gender gap in using social for sport

The male/female ratio in those saying one of the main reasons for using social media is to watch/follow sports events

Last year, the MLB signed an exclusive broadcast agreement with Exclusive content or services are important to those going on social
Facebook to produce 26 live games online for $30 million. The media for sports content. 29% of social sport users say they want
initiative was a success, with games receiving 123 million views their favorite brands to improve their knowledge and skills, and
on Facebook, leading MLB to pursue a similar agreement for the they’re 50% more likely than the average internet user to say
2019 season. What’s more, Facebook signed a deal with La Liga to they would promote their favorite brand online for getting insider
live stream games in India for free over the next three seasons. This knowledge about the brand/product. And exclusive content is
partnership has helped the club to expand its reach and visibility, particularly important to younger consumers; 16-24 sports fans
reaching a new audience in a country of 1.3 billion people. It’s clear are 30% more likely than the average sports fan to say exclusive
that sports live streaming provides new revenue streams to both content or services is a purchase driver.
social networks, as well as sports leagues and sponsors.
These sports fans want to see content that they’ve never seen before,
YouTube is also a key platform in this space. UK pay-TV giant BT which gives them a new view into their favorite club, or a game
Sport streamed the UEFA Champions League final on YouTube they’ve just watched on TV. They want to be able to get behind-the-
for a fourth straight season, in the first all-English final since 2008. scenes access and watch their favorite players in natural, relaxed
Three in ten YouTubers say they’ve watched a sports video or clip on environments. This could be why so many sports teams and leagues
Question: What are your main
the platform in the past month. With YouTube boasting the highest have joined the TikTok bandwagon. The NBA, NHL and MLB have reasons for using social media?
Source: GlobalWebIndex
membership and visitation rates outside China among those using all launched league accounts, while the NFLPA reached a deal 2016-2019 (avg of all waves
social media for sports content, it will be looking to be the dominant with the platform in January to allow TikTok users to implement 3D conducted in each year) Base:
7.733 (2016), 48,925 (2017),
player in social sports consumption. augmented reality stickers of its players. 68,643 (2018) & 20,875 (2019)
social sport watchers aged
16-64
 T R E N D I N AC T I O N

Turning to TikTok

Bayern Munich, which timed its account launch ahead of a rivalry match against Borussia
Dortmund, attracted almost 135,000 likes on a behind-the-scenes walkthrough video
on gameday at the Allianz Arena. Their content revolves around producing four to five
weekly clips, mainly consisting of players performing viral dance moves and routines,
and quirky goal celebrations. The NBA, meanwhile, has been on the platform since the
Music.ly days and built much of its audience through posts of quirky in-game moments.
The league has found large success in dropping unseen highlights with accompanying
music. While the NBA already utilizes Twitter and Facebook as its home for game-related
action and developments, brands are now cognizant of the fact they need to stay nimble
on what content fits the right platform.
Social Music
SOCIAL 35
ENTERTAINMENT

TikTok Engagement
% of internet users outside of China who say they have used the TikTok app in the past month

6%
of internet users
outside China
use the TikTok app

Much of our time using paid music subscriptions is largely spent In the West, YouTube and SoundCloud are really the only global
listening alone, despite music experiences such as concerts, clubs and streaming services meeting this self-expression need with social
soundtracks being inherently social activities. Although YouTube and features, as well as TikTok, which has become massively popular
SoundCloud have comments; Spotify has its desktop tracker of what with younger demographics and recently amassed around 1 billion
friends are listening to and the ability to make playlists collaborative; downloads around the world. TikTok is particularly good at helping
and Apple Music has its personalized playlist ‘Friends Mix’, there is still their creators and influencers grow their high-quality content, as
a nagging feeling that more could be done. well as unleashing the creativity of ordinary people to help create
innovative products on social. TikTok has already started testing
So far, it has proved tricky to make social music streaming a ads in the U.S., with GubHub being among the first to try out the
reality. Back in June 2018, Facebook users in select countries platform’s launch screen ad units. TikTok is still experimenting with
could add songs to the videos they shared and posted, as well as the best ad options, but they do have Douyin’s experience with the
use the feature ‘Lip Sync Live’ to, surprisingly, lip sync songs live. different ad approaches to learn from. However, the rapid influx of
Such features were highly anticipated ever since Facebook started social media ‘gurus’ and ads could really kill off the cool factor that
licensing deals with major publishers and record labels earlier that TikTok currently has.
year. More recently, Facebook has partnered with T-Series Music,
Question: In the last month,
Zee Music Company and Yash Raj Films to let its users share music which apps have you used?
Source: GlobalWebIndex
through videos, messages and stories on Facebook and Instagram. Q4 2018 and Q1 2019
Base: 10,634 TikTok users aged
16-64 (excl. China)
Social Music
SOCIAL 36
ENTERTAINMENT

TikTok owner ByteDance is planning to experiences for younger Instagram mash-up of music streaming and social
launch a paid music streaming service to users, share music and organize music networking, enabling users to listen to
rival the likes of Spotify and Apple Music. The experiences on Messenger, and have music, sing with friends, and buy digital
platform will be aimed at users in emerging sound-tracked stories on Facebook, all with merchandise. In China, music culture is
markets where leading streaming services social layers that are directly implemented highly social – Karaoke is very popular, and
have not yet scaled, and could launch as into the streaming apps themselves. This many of the most popular TV shows are
soon as fall 2019. And it seems like Snapchat may already have begun – Instagram has based around signing performances.
could also be moving into the social music recently released a new feature that lets you
space. Snapchat has apparently been in talks display lyrics on your video Story or synced Tencent Music is the most dominant music-
with a number of record labels to add more to a soundtrack you’ve added with the streaming service based on its user count
music to its app. This is a sign Snapchat wants Music sticker. and music catalog, but it has a lot more
to do more to lure fans of TikTok to its service. to offer than just listening. The ability for
Facebook could learn from Tencent Music, consumers to interact with celebrities and
But its Facebook, through its portfolio the company that develops the highly bond with friends over performances has
of social apps, that truly has the most popular music apps QQ Music, Kugou and made it a vibrant social network as well.
potential to deliver a social music Kuwo. Combined, these apps have around By piggybacking off of Tencent’s popular
experience that appeals to multiple 650 million active users and 27 million messaging service WeChat, Tencent Music
age groups and use cases. Imagine a paying subscribers, and could be poised has helped to create a network effect on the
scenario where you could have TikTok-like for even further growth. The platform is a three platforms they own.
 T R E N D I N AC T I O N

Spotify in the Spotlight

Spotify has prototyped an unreleased feature called “Social Listening”, allowing multiple
people to add songs to a real-time queue by scanning a QR-style code. This has the
potential to expand to feature synchronized playback, allowing all listeners to hear the
same songs at the same time. The feature is similar to 2011 startup Turntable.fm, which
lets users DJ in virtual rooms on their desktop that other people could join to chat, vote
on what’s played and [cyber]dance, while Facebook briefly offered its own version in 2012
which lets Spotify or Rdio users synchronize music playback. Spotify itself has stripped
down its own social features, eliminating the in-app messaging inbox and instead pushing
users to share songs over third-party messaging apps. But with music inherently being a
social experience, “Social Listening” could help give Spotify a new viral growth channel,
with co-listening promoting longer sessions on Spotify and boosting ad plays.
Notes on Methodology 38

All figures in this report are drawn OUR QUOTAS MOBILE SURVEY RESPONDENTS GLOBALWEBINDEX SAMPLE SIZE BY MARKET
from GlobalWebIndex’s online
To ensure that our research is From Q1 2017 on, GlobalWebIndex This report draws insights from GlobalWebIndex’s Q4 2018 and Q1 2019 waves
research among internet users aged
reflective of the online population has offered our Core survey on of research across 45 countries, with a global sample of 278,359 respondents.
16-64. Please note that we only
in each market, we set appropriate mobile. This allows us to survey
interview respondents aged 16-64
quotas on age, gender, and internet users who prefer using a Argentina 3,116 Netherlands 2,624
and our figures are representative
education – meaning that we mobile or are mobile-only (who use Australia 8,057 New Zealand 2,558
of the online populations of each
interview representative numbers of a mobile to get online but do not
market, not its total population. Austria 2,560 Nigeria 2,099
men vs women, of 16-24s, 25-34s, 35- use or own any other device). Mobile
Belgium 2,553 Philippines 3,272
44s, 45-54s and 55-64s, and of people respondents complete a shorter
OUR RESEARCH with secondary vs tertiary education. version of our Core survey, answering Brazil 4,680 Poland 3,651

50 questions, all carefully adapted to Canada 4,539 Portugal 2,557

Each year, GlobalWebIndex
To do this, we conduct research across be compatible with mobile screens. China 30,480 Romania 2,625
interviews over 575,000 internet
a range of international and national
users aged 16-64 across 46 markets. Colombia 2,787 Russia 4,368
sources, including the World Bank, Please note that the sample sizes
Respondents complete an online Denmark 2,522 Saudi Arabia 2,886
the ITU, the International Labour presented in the charts throughout
questionnaire that asks them a
Organization, the CIA Factbook, this report may differ as some will Egypt 3,533 Singapore 5,455
wide range of questions about their
Eurostat, the US Bureau of Labor include both mobile and PC/laptop/ France 10,130 South Africa 3,039
lives, lifestyles and digital behaviors.
Statistics as well as a range of national tablet respondents and others will
We source these respondents Germany 10,190 South Korea 2,555
statistics sources, government include only respondents who
in partnership with a number of Ghana 1,990 Spain 10,231
departments and other credible and completed GWI’s Core survey via PC/
industry-leading panel providers.
robust third-party sources. laptop/tablet. For more details on Hong Kong 3,650 Sweden 2,604
Each respondent who takes a
our methodology for mobile surveys India 15,109 Switzerland 2,550
GlobalWebIndex survey is assigned
This research is also used to calculate and the questions asked to mobile
a unique and persistent identifier Indonesia 3,686 Taiwan 3,545
the ‘weight’ of each respondent; respondents, please download this
regardless of the site/panel to which Ireland 2,499 Thailand 3,094
that is, approximately how many document.
they belong and no respondent can
people (of the same gender, age, Italy 10,373 Turkey 3,145
participate in our survey more than
and educational attainment) are Japan 3,604 UAE 3,482
once a year (with the exception of
represented by their responses. Kenya 2,024 UK 20,303
internet users in Egypt, Saudi Arabia
and the UAE, where respondents are Malaysia 3,071 USA 50,087
allowed to complete the survey at
Mexico 5,274 Vietnam 3,164
6-month intervals).
Morocco 2,038
Notes on Methodology: Internet Penetration Rates 39

ACROSS GLOBALWEBINDEX’S MARKETS Internet Penetration Rates

GlobalWebIndex’s Forecasts for 2019 based on 2017 ITU data
GlobalWebIndex’s research focuses exclusively This table provides GlobalWebIndex forecasts
on the internet population and because on internet penetration (defined as the
Argentina 78% Indonesia 39% Russia 80%
internet penetration rates can vary significantly number of internet users per 100 people) in
between countries (from a high of 90%+ in parts 2019. This forecasted data is based upon the Australia 88% Ireland 87% Saudi Arabia 83%

of Europe to lows of c.20% in parts of APAC), the latest internet penetration estimates from the Austria 88% Italy 62% Singapore 85%
nature of our samples is impacted accordingly. International Telecommunication Union (ITU)
Belgium 89% Japan 92% South Africa 62%
for each market that GlobalWebIndex conducts
Where a market has a high internet online research in. Brazil 71% Kenya 43% South Korea 95%
penetration rate, its online population will be
Canada 94% Malaysia 83% Spain 87%
relatively similar to its total population and GLOBALWEBINDEX VERSUS ITU FIGURES
hence we will see good representation across China 59% Mexico 69% Sweden 96%
As GlobalWebIndex’s Core Research is
all age, gender and education breaks. This is
Colombia 66% Morocco 69% Switzerland 96%
conducted among 16-64 year-olds, we
typically the case across North America, Western
supplement the internet penetration forecasts Denmark 97% Netherlands 93% Taiwan 83%
Europe and parts of Asia Pacific such as Japan,
for a country’s total population (reproduced
Australia and New Zealand. Where a market Egypt 54% New Zealand 93% Thailand 58%
above) with internet penetration forecasts for
has a medium to low internet penetration, its
16-64s specifically. France 85% Nigeria 36% Turkey 71%
online population can be very different to its
total population; broadly speaking, the lower Germany 88% Philippines 64% UAE 95%
the country’s overall internet penetration rate, Forecasts for 16-64s will be higher than our
forecasts for total population, since 16-64s Ghana 48% Poland 79% UK 96%
the more likely it is that its internet users will
be young, urban, affluent and educated. This is are the most likely age groups to be using the Hong Kong 91% Portugal 78% USA 80%
the case throughout much of LatAm, MEA and internet.
India 42% Romania 72% Vietnam 55%
Asia Pacific.
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 Jason Mander Duncan Kavanagh
Chief Research Officer Insights Analyst & Writer

jason@globalwebindex.com duncan@globalwebindex.com

www.globalwebindex.com
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