(Eagle News)—-A “record-high” 47 percent of adult Filipinos use the Internet, a recent Social Weather Stations found.
According to the SWS, this was 6 points more than the 41% registered in September 2018, and 5 points more than the 42% posted in March 2018.
The SWS said the proportion of Filipino adults using the Internet has been “steadily increasing” since the pollster first asked about it in June 2006, when it was at 8%.
The proportion ranged from 11% to 19% from September 2007 to December 2011, and rose to 23% to 32% from March 2012 to December 2015.
From April 2016 to September 2018, the proportion ranged from 34% to 42%.
According to the SWS, the proportion has “always” been highest among Filipino adults in Metro Manila, although the recent figure went down by 5 points from 64% in September.
The SWS said the proportion rose by 9 points in Balance Luzon from the previous record of 47% in September 2018.
In the Visayas, the SWS said the proportion also rose, this time by 7 points, from the 28% registered in September.
In Mindanao, the proportion also saw an increase, but by 5 points, from 27% in September.
“The proportion remains higher (since June 2006) in urban areas than in rural areas. In urban areas, a record-high 62% of Filipino are Internet users (up by 8 points from 54% in September), compared to rural areas with a record-high 37% (up by 6 points from 31% in September),” the SWS said.
Across demographics
Based on results of the survey, Internet use registered “record-highs” across main demographics, class, sex, age and education levels, the SWS said.
According to the pollster, since June 2006, Internet use has always been highest among classes ABC, at 61% in the recent survey.
This was an increase of 6 points from the 55% registered in September 2018, followed by class D, which is now at a new record-high 49% from 43%.
Internet use among members of Class E , was at 34%,up by 6 points from 28%.
Based on the survey, Internet use was still higher among women, at a “new record-high” of 49% vis à vis the 44% of Internet use among men, also a new record-high.
Internet use, the SWS said, has always been higher among younger Filipinos, with those from the 18 to 24 bracket registering the highest proportion, at 88% from the 81% in September.
This was followed by those aged 25-34, at 69%, those aged 35-44, at a new record-high 56%, those aged 45-54, at a new record-high 32%, and those aged 55 years old and above, at a new record-high 17%.
All were increases from their previous rates in September.
According to the SWS, based on educational attainment, Internet use has always been highest among college graduates, at 77% in December.
This was followed by high school graduates, at a new record-high 60%, elementary graduates, at a new record-high 31% , and non-elementary school graduates, at a new record-high 15%.
All were increases from the previous figures in September.
Survey background
The December 2018 Social Weather Survey was conducted from December 16 to 19, 2018 using face-to-face interviews of 1,440 adults nationwide: 360 each in Balance Luzon, Metro Manila, the Visayas, and Mindanao.
Sampling error margins were pegged at ±2.6% for national percentages, and ±5% each for Balance Luzon, Metro Manila, the Visayas, and Mindanao.