In Thailand, time spent on the internet surges in 2020

A startling study claims Thais spent an average of 11 hours and 25 minutes per day on the internet in 2020.

Thais spent nearly half of their day on the internet on average in 2020, partly under the impact of the pandemic, while Facebook, YouTube and Line remained the most popular social media platforms in Thailand, according to a report. Electronic Transaction Development Agency (ETDA) survey.

“Thai users increased their time spent online to 11 hours and 25 minutes in 2020, an increase of one hour and three minutes from 2019.

Generations Y and Z were the main users as they engaged in the online study, ”said Chaichana Mitrpant, ETDA Executive Director, citing the“ Thailand Internet User Behavior 2020 ”report.

The report interviewed more than 20,000 people in Thailand between April and June last year.

In 2013, when ETDA began the survey, Thais were spending an average of only four hours and 36 minutes a day on the internet, which means that time tripled in 2020, he said.

Some 78.3% of respondents cited easier internet access and wider internet coverage to make it easier for them to connect online.

“Covid-19 is another factor that pushes people to engage in more online activity to avoid going out,” Mr. Chaichana said.

If we take a closer look, the daily time spent on the Internet on weekdays was 11 hours and 23 minutes on average, a jump of one hour and 31 minutes from the previous year, while on weekends end, the time spent was 11 hours and 29 minutes, a decrease of six minutes from the previous year.

Generation Y (20-39 years) was the heaviest user of the Internet, spending an average of 12 hours and 26 minutes per day, followed by Generation Z (under 20) with 12 hours and 8 minutes, X (40-55 years) with 10 hours and 20 minutes, and baby boomers (56-74 years) with 8 hours and 41 minutes.

“The Covid-19 resulted in the closure of educational institutions and led to the online study,” he said.

“Most workplaces have also adopted a work-from-home policy.”

Social media is the most popular online engagement among Thais, with 95.3% of respondents, followed by watching TV, music videos, movies and music online at 85%, followed by search for information at 82.2%.

Some 77.8% said they participate in online discussions, while 67.3% make purchases online.

Mr Chaichana said Facebook, YouTube and Line remain the main social media channels for Thais, according to 98.2%, 97.5% and 96% of those polled, respectively.

The short video sharing platform TikTok has seen strong growth with 35.8% of respondents.

He said respondents believed that only 50% of the news and information shared online was true or credible.

Some 97% of those polled said they had come across fake news on the Internet.

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Source: thephuketnews.com