By Ellalyn De Vera Ruiz
A record-high 47 percent of Filipino adults go online to access the Internet, based on the latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey results.
In the fourth quarter 2018 nationwide survey conducted last Dec. 16-19 among 1,440 respondents, 47 percent were found to have access to the Internet.
A man checks his social media account, in Quezon City, February 1, 2019. (MARK BALMORES / MANILA BULLETIN)
This is six points above the 41 percent in September 2018, and five points above the previous record of 42 percent in March 2018.
The respondents were particularly asked, “Do you ever go online to access the Internet or send and receive email?”
SWS pointed out that the proportion of Filipino adults using the Internet has been steadily increasing since SWS first asked about it in June 2006, when it was at 8 percent.
It ranged from 11 to 19 percent from September 2007 to December 2011, and rose to 23-32 percent from March 2012 to December 2015.
It ranged from 34 to 42 percent from April 2016 to September 2018, before it reached a record-high 47 percent in December 2018.
According to SWS, since 2006, the proportion of Internet users among Filipino adults has always been highest in Metro Manila, although it went down by five points from 64 percent in September to 59 percent in December 2018.
In the rest of Luzon, the proportion rose by nine points, from the previous record of 47 percent in September 2018 to a record-high 56 percent in December 2018.
In Visayas, it increased by seven points, from 28 percent in September to 35 percent in December.
In Mindanao, it also rose by five points, from 27 percent in September to 32 percent in December.
In urban areas, a record-high 62 percent of Filipinos are Internet users (up by eight points from 54 percent in September), compared to rural areas with a record-high 37 percent (up by six points from 31 percent in September).
Likewise, SWS said Internet use has always been highest among classes ABC or the upper-to-middle class, at 61 percent in December 2018 (up by six points from 55 percent in September 2018), followed by class D or the “masa” at a new record-high 49 percent (up by six points from 43 percent), and class E or the poorest at 34 percent (up by six points from 28 percent).
Beginning December 2015, Internet use has been higher among women, at a new record-high 49 percent in December (up by seven points from the 42 percent in September), compared to men, at a new record-high 44 percent (up by four points from 40 percent).
SWS also pointed out that Internet use has always been higher among younger Filipinos.
It is highest among those aged 18-24, at a new record-high 88 percent in December (up by seven points from 81 percent in September), followed by those aged 25-34, at 69 percent (up by four points from 65 percent), those aged 35-44, at a new record-high 56 percent (up by 12 points from 44 percent), those aged 45-54, at a new record-high 32 percent (up by five points from 27 percent), and those aged 55 years old and above, at a new record-high 17 percent (up by five points from 12 percent).
By educational attainment, Internet use has always been highest among college graduates, at 77 percent in December (up by four points from 73 percent in September), followed by high school graduates, at a new record-high 60 percent (up by four points from 56 percent), elementary graduates, at a new record-high 31 percent (up by five points from 26 percent), and non-elementary school graduates, at a new record-high 15 percent (up by six points from 9 percent). (Ellalyn De Vera-Ruiz)