As of the third quarter of 2024, Facebook was the most used social media platform in the Philippines, as stated by about 95 percent of respondents. Facebook Messenger follows, with about 93 percent of Filipinos stating they used the messaging app. Facebook as the top social media in the Philippines In the Philippines, Facebook is not only considered a social media platform, but also as a primary source of news and a platform for e-commerce companies to reach out to their potential consumers. It is perhaps unsurprising how the app dominated the social media market in the country, as seen in the growing number of Filipino Facebook users. Reasons for increasing social media usage As a country divided by over seven thousand islands, the constant need for interaction has been driving the growing number of social network users in the Philippines. This is also an important platform for families with members working overseas and those who have already emigrated abroad.

According to a survey conducted on digital news in the Philippines between January and February 2024, 61 percent of respondents stated that they used Facebook as a news source. Other popular social media platforms for consuming news were YouTube and Facebook Messenger, which were used by 45 percent and 26 percent of respondents, respectively.

As of the third quarter of 2024, 36 percent of respondents in the Philippines stated that Facebook was their favorite social media platform. This was followed by Facebook Messenger and TikTok.

According to a Rakuten Insight survey conducted in the Philippines in February 2025, TikTok was the most popular social media platform for shopping during the past 12 months. Facebook followed, with 50 percent of respondents using it for online shopping.

Facebook and YouTube are still the most used social media platforms today.

Facebook accounted for the highest share within the social media market in the Philippines in 2024. Video streaming platform, YouTube, follows at 24 percent. Demographics of Facebook users Over the years, the Philippines has been dominating the Facebook landscape, ranking among markets with the largest audience size. The platform's user demographic is mainly composed of users between the ages of 18 and 34 years old, although a fair share of older people also use Facebook. Over the years, the social media channel has moved beyond simply a platform to connect with other internet users but has also established online marketplaces for small-scale entrepreneurs as well as shaping political perspectives, especially during elections. Facebook advertising As Facebook grows within this select group of users, it prompts social media marketing or social advertising to use that time and screen space to promote various products and services. In fact, the Philippines was one of the largest Facebook advertising audiences in Asia in 2024, with almost an equal share of ad audiences across genders.

The results of which gender uses which platforms are in.

The Philippines is poised to become a social media powerhouse, with an estimated 122.14 million users by 2029. This represents a significant portion of the country's projected population, underscoring the growing importance of social platforms in Filipino society. The rapid adoption of social media reflects the nation's tech-savvy nature and its strong desire for digital connectivity. Facebook dominates the social landscape Among social media platforms, Facebook reigns supreme in the Philippines. It was the most used social media platform in the third quarter of 2024. Facebook's popularity extends beyond personal connections, serving as a primary news source and e-commerce platform. The app's dominance is further evidenced by the number of Facebook app downloads in 2024, which was more than double that of the second-place Instagram. Internet usage and accessibility challenges Filipinos are among the most active internet users globally, spending over eight hours online daily as of the third quarter of 2024. However, the country faces unique challenges in providing widespread internet access due to its archipelagic geography. Despite this, the internet penetration in the Philippines is projected to reach 98 percent by 2029, marking a significant increase from previous years. This growth in accessibility will likely further fuel the expansion of social media usage across the nation.

The results might surprise you when looking at internet users that are active on social media in each country.

56.8% of the world’s total population is active on social media.

Regional use of social media has a significant effect on the male and female social media statistics.

During the first quarter of 2023, internet users in Brazil spent an average of three hours and 49 minutes per day on social media. Nigeria and the Philippines also reported high usage levels. By comparison, internet users in Japan spent less than 50 minutes per day on social media. Low levels of daily usage were also recorded in South Korea and the Belgium.

As of January 2023 social network Facebook was ranked first worldwide in terms of active users with almost three billion MAU. Other popular social media include mobile messaging platforms YouTube and WhatsApp, as well as social content sharing networks such as Instagram and social video platform TikTok.

Most social networks are accessible through multiple platforms, but many popular social media started out as mobile apps, demonstrating the growing trend of mobile first development. Examples include Instagram, which initially was launched as an iOS photo editing and discovery app as well as mobile social messenger, as well as TikTok, which recorded 23.7 million downloads worldwide via the Google Play Store alone in June 2023.

Social networking does not only enable users to connect with other people but also with brands and celebrities. Social media has also become a growing source of news for internet users in many countries.

In this post, I'll give you all the social media addiction statistics you need to be aware of to moderate your social media use.

According to a Rakuten Insight survey conducted in the Philippines in February 2025, about 86 percent of respondents aged 16 to 24 years stated that they often made purchases via Instagram in the last 12 months. Meanwhile, the older generation chose to buy their products through both Facebook and Instagram, as stated by around 55 percent of Filipinos aged 55 years and above.

According to a survey among Gen Z consumers from 2023, the most used social media platform type was instant messengers in China, Indonesia, and Malaysia. Social networks like Facebook were the most popular among Gen Z in Vietnam and Thailand, with 83 and 78 percent of the respondents using it regularly in 2023. About Gen Z consumers in Asia Gen Z consumers are one of the largest cohorts of consumers worldwide. According to a survey, social media websites and apps were widely used product research sources for Gen Z consumers. In China, various consumer electronics were popular among Gen Z consumers, and nearly 87 percent had smartphones in 2022. Popularity of TikTok among Gen Z TikTok is a video-sharing app based in China and saw a massive growth in the number of users in the Asia-Pacific region. About 29 percent of Gen Z respondents in Thailand had spent more than two to four hours a day on TikTok. The advertising reach of TikTok in Asian countries was relatively high, especially in Malaysia, Vietnam, and Thailand. With the rise of social commerce, shopping on TikTok is also gaining traction. However, most consumers in the Asia-Pacific region still research inside and outside the app or switch apps while shopping.

As of June 2024, Facebook and Instagram were the leading social media applications in the Philippines. As of this date, the social media apps have been downloaded five billion times from the Google Play Store. Both Facebook and Instagram are owned by Meta, along with the messaging application Facebook Messenger. Facebook's popularity in the Philippines  The number of Facebook users in the Philippines has been gradually increasing over the years, with the platform’s popularity apparent across generations. Facebook is used more than just as a networking site; it is leveraged by businesses and news outlets to reach out to the country’s growing internet population. A 2024 survey on digital news in the Philippines revealed that among the social networking platforms, Facebook was the most trusted news source. Challenges in cybersecurity As more transactions become digital, the risk of falling prey to cybercrime also increases. In 2023, about 14,000 online scam incidents were recorded in the Philippines, which represents a significant increase from just 600 in 2019. To address this, the Philippine government passed the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012, which penalizes illegal acts done online such as identity theft, child pornography, and cybersex.

As of November 2023, ChoOxTV was the leading gamer and streamer on Facebook in the Philippines with around 13 million followers on his gaming creator page. Edgar Dumali, also known as ChoOxTV, mostly streams on the mobile multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) game Mobile Legends using a voice filter.

Social media uses for online gamers

Spending time on social media platforms such as Facebook, Youtube, Instagram, and Twitter is a popular pastime across all ages and genders. For some online gamers and streamers, turning to social media platforms is their best chance of exposure, especially for someone who wants to be known in the video game arena. Recently, more and more online streamers have popped up during the COVID-19 pandemic in the country as a result of being confined at home to mitigate the spread of the virus.

Online gamers

In a recent survey conducted in the Philippines, an average online gamer spends between one to two hours on online gaming daily. As a result, a vibrant video game culture has emerged among Filipino gamers, with some of them opting to play in a bigger scope and audience. While some prefer streaming on social media platforms, others have taken it to a higher level and competed internationally. Recently, the Philippines has been recognized as one of the fiercest competitors in Esports within tournaments involving multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA), first-person shooter (FPS), fighting, card games, battle royale, and real-time strategy (RTS).

Gen Z and Millennials are the biggest social media users of all age groups.

The Southeast Asia media and advertising industry is experiencing robust growth, projected to reach a market size of $24.59 billion in 2025, expanding at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 15.30%. This significant expansion is fueled by several key drivers. The increasing adoption of digital media, particularly mobile, across the region is a major catalyst. Southeast Asia's burgeoning young and tech-savvy population is driving demand for engaging online advertising formats, including video, social media, and influencer marketing. Furthermore, rising disposable incomes and increased urbanization are contributing to higher advertising spending across various sectors, from consumer goods to financial services. Economic growth in key markets like Indonesia, Vietnam, and the Philippines further bolsters this trend. However, challenges remain. The industry faces complexities in media fragmentation, the need for sophisticated data analytics to target specific demographics effectively, and the ongoing evolution of consumer preferences. Competition among established and emerging players is also intense, demanding continuous innovation and strategic adaptation. Regulatory changes and data privacy concerns also present ongoing hurdles for the industry's growth and sustainability. Looking ahead, the industry will likely see a continued shift towards digital channels, a greater emphasis on data-driven strategies, and a more nuanced understanding of regional cultural contexts to maximize advertising effectiveness. The analysis of regional markets shows varying levels of maturity. While advanced economies may exhibit steadier growth, emerging markets are expected to experience more rapid expansion driven by higher penetration rates of digital media and rising advertising budgets. The significant contribution of key players like JCDecaux, Clear Channel, and OOH Media underlines the dominance of established Out-of-Home (OOH) advertising alongside the emergence of digital-first companies. Future growth will depend on the continued investment in digital infrastructure, fostering greater trust in data privacy practices, and adapting creative strategies to effectively engage diverse audiences in the region. The industry’s success will hinge on successfully navigating the balance between technological advancement and cultural sensitivity to build meaningful connections with consumers. Recent developments include: February 2023: Foodpanda Singapore announced a strategic partnership with Clear Channel Singapore to launch a real-time, user-generated, out-of-home execution across Clear Channel Singapore's digital screens, Play+Display, as part of its 360-media campaign., August 2022: Vistar Media announced the launch of complete programmatic capabilities in Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Hong Kong, expanding its already established Asia-Pacific presence, which includes Singapore, Australia, and New Zealand. The Vistar Demand-Side Platform (DSP) is the primary source of programmatic demand transactions for digital out-of-home. Advertisers and agencies in Southeast Asia can now use the Vistar DSP to design, purchase, and evaluate data-driven out-of-home (ooH) campaigns through open exchange and private marketplace partnerships.. Key drivers for this market are: Increase in Public Transit Infrastructure, Increasing Adoption of Digital Screens. Potential restraints include: Increase in Public Transit Infrastructure, Increasing Adoption of Digital Screens. Notable trends are: Transit Application is Expected to Hold the Highest Market Share.

Today the average time spent on social media is 2 hours and 24 minutes today for people aged 16 to 64.