Where do Pinoys turn to get their news? 60% TV, 21% Facebook, says SWS

Majority of Filipinos (60% or an estimated 40.4 million individuals) keep abreast of news daily via television, while 21% (estimated 13.9 million individuals) turn to Facebook to read news, according to the First Quarter 2019 Social Weather Survey of the Social Weather Stations.

The survey conducted from March 28-31, 2019 also showed that 15% (estimated 9.7 million individuals) get their news from radio.

Only 2% (estimated 1 million individuals) meanwhile, rely on newspapers daily to deliver the news.

The SWS found out that using Facebook to read the news is related to educational attainment.

"Half of adult Facebook members who are college (49%) and high school graduates (49%) read the news daily using the social media site. This is higher compared to 37% among elementary graduates and 36% among non-elementary graduates," SWS said of the results, which were posted online on Saturday night.

The SWS also said 99% of adult Internet users (estimated 30.3 million individuals) have a Facebook account. "This is equivalent to 45% of the total adult population (est. 30.5 million individuals)," it added.

YouTube is the second social media site popular among adult Filipino users. A total of 38% (estimated 11.7 million individuals) own a YouTube account.

Instagram is third most popular, with 15% users (estimated 4.7 million individuals).

Twitter has 8% users (estimated 2.7 million individuals) while Viber has 7% (estimated 2.1 million).

Political and social purposes

For the survey, respondents were asked if they use social media for political and social activities.

"Of the estimated 30.4 million adults who have at least one social media account (among Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Twitter, and Viber), 31% (est. 9.4 million individuals) use social media to 'Like or promote material related to political or social issues that others have posted,'" the SWS said.

Meanwhile, 14% (estimated 4.3 million individuals) use their social media accounts to "follow any elected officials, candidates for office, or other political figures."

Those using social media to "post own thoughts or comments on political or social issues" are 6% (estimated 1.8 million individuals).

Around 1.5 million individuals (5%) meanwhile, use their social media accounts to "repost content related to political or social issues that was originally posted by someone else."

Those posting links to political stories or articles represent 4% (estimated 1.2 million individuals) while 2% (estimated 537,000 individuals) use their accounts to "encourage other people to take action on important political or social issues."

An estimated 365,000 individuals or 1% on the other hand use their social media accounts to "encourage people to vote."

Age, educational attainment, geographical area

Facebook usage is highest among the 18-24 years old bracket at 86% (estimated 7.3 million individuals).

Next users are those in the 25-34 years old (71% or estimated 9.5 million individuals).

Among those in the 35-44 years old bracket, 55% (estimated 7.3 million individuals) use Facebook; 29% (estimated 3.6 million individuals) among 45-54 years old); and 14% (estimated 2.6 million individuals) among those aged 55 years old and above.

College graduates are more likely to use Facebook (78% or estimated 5.9 million individuals).

Those in urban centers use Facebook more. "A majority 56% of adults in urban areas (est. 15.3 million individuals) are on Facebook, compared to 38% in rural areas (est. 15.1 million individuals)," the SWS said.

In Metro Manila, 64% of adults (estimated 5.8 million individuals) have a Facebook account.

The survey was conducted using face-to-face interviews with 1,440 adults aged 18 years old and above spread equally (360 each) in Metro Manila, Balance Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.

The SWS said the sampling error margins are ±2.6% for national percentages, and ±5% each for Balance Luzon, Metro Manila, the Visayas, and Mindanao.

"The area estimates were weighted by the Philippine Statistics Authority medium-population projections for 2019 to obtain the national estimates," SWS said. —KG, GMA News