Infusing βfunβ to make something pleasurable, many of us post daily commentaries that go from random fascinations to substantial opinions on the web. I give a chuckle of amusement on how certain people can do just thatβfilling conversations jolted with entertainment value. π
In this post, we delve into the topics that headline the internet culture of Filipinosβof which the most active are university students and young professionals aged 16-24βand discover how social media apps such as WeChat have become influences as to why our smartphones, tablets and desktops have evolved into our amusement favorites.
A Digital Anatomy: What Filipino Online Entertainment Is Made Of
1. The Political Brainwave
From peace processes with the Bangsamoro to the never-ending issue of pork barrel allocations, the Internet brims with political news on a minute-to-minute basis, thanks to the presence of local social news networks as well as online versions of broadsheets and television news channels.
With real-time information made more shareable today, our online conversations have been bustling with the topic of politicsβmaking it the topic discussed by 55% of internet users and 57% of WeChat users.
2.Β The Superstar Reflex
Idolizing people has been ingrained in our social culture so much so that our television screens and online news feeds are studded with the presence of personalities.
Entertained by the goings-on of these influential people, 54% of average internet users and 55% of WeChat users go online for their daily fix of celebrity news and gossip, which they are able to satiate through photo updates, video clips, and other multimedia posts.
3.Β Nerves of Speed
Itβs no surprise why events such as the recently concluded Manila International Auto Show are such big hits in the country. With various modes of transportationβfrom Philippine jeepneys to foreign race carsβvying for the βking of the roadβ title, automobiles and the functions that make them parts of Filipinosβ daily lives have become the third most talked about topics across social networking services.
4. Adventure Hormones
Summer has dawned upon our side of the world which is probably why most of us are into the subject of adventure, sports, and wildlife.
The study reveals that 51% of average internet users and 55% of WeChat users talk about adrenaline-inducing activitiesβbe it of surfing through the waves of La Union or booking trips to the Labor Day zone that is Boracay.
5. The Beauty Bone
With more and more lifestyles open to influence by technology, clicking through 5-minute tutorials and looking up reviews online have become more rampant to those who are in the topic of beauty, which is the fifth conversation driver in the local internet scene.
Through videos and photos, experts and enthusiasts are now more easily able to engage in such health and beauty-related exchanges. Consequently, WeChat users are into similar topics but more for their furry friends with 57% talking about pet grooming and care.
About WeChat
WeChat envisions and innovates new ways for people to connect, communicate and share. A mobile social communication app designed for smartphone users, WeChat is the worldβs fastest growing social app with over 100 million registered accounts internationally.
WeChat empowers users in fun and dynamic ways by bringing together messaging, social communication and gaming in one seamless, interactive experience, with comprehensive privacy and security settings that can be tailored as needed.
WeChat is an all-in-one app that enables users to add friends with several innovative features. These include highly convenient and reliable QR code scanning, phonebook and location-based connection services such as “Hold Togetherβ, βPeople Nearbyβ and βShake.β The platform facilitates social interaction with real-time βWalkie Talkie,β βVoice Call,β and βVideo Call.β Supported on data networks and Wi-Fi, WeChat makes it easy to stay connected with friends anywhere, anytime. Users can choose to communicate and share photos one-on-one, or within their closed social network through βMomentsβ. The popular WeChat Sticker Shop has a variety of fun animated emoticons to express any emotion.Β Also, with a host of addictive WeChat Games, users can play and challenge their friends on the move, share scores and even find competitors nearby.
WeChat is available free for download on Android, BlackBerry, iOS, Symbian and Windows operating systems.
Learn more about WeChat and download the app at www.wechat.com
WeChat Philippines Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/WeChatPH
About Rochkirstin Santos-Sioco
Health and technology freak. Food and lifestyle blogger with a large appetite for food and travel.
Social media apps like WeChat have certainly made life more entertaining especially for work-at-home moms like me who spend a LOT of time at home online.
I know many people are spending more than 10-12 hours online now. Definitely, social media apps are a big help for them to connect to the outside world without the hassle.
Nice article, about wechat , i’ll check it out.
Thanks, Yippee. Analytics and insigthts are always a pleasure to share.
I love We Chat.. I love the games and the stickers too.
The characters in the stickers are so cute!
I love how you write about WeChat =) It is really a cool app, from stickers and others. I mostly video chat my cousin in Japan and it just amazed me how distance doesn’t seemed to be barrier to it. =)
Thanks, Mecheel. Apps such as WeChat served as a great help as well in keeping my loved ones and me updated when I was living outside the Philippines. I could not imagine how life will be abroad alone without the aid of such tools.
I’m still not on WeChat.Γ Most of my friends are not on WeChat too … It’s either Viber or WhatsApp.
PS. Your post’s timely and entertaining π
Thanks, Russ! Well, you can use whatever suits your need. If you have not tried WeChat, maybe it’s good to give it a try one time and see if it’s better. π
Hi Rochkirstin,
Love you blog and those graphics are well cool where did you get them from?
Have never heard of WeChat before sounds to me a bit like WhatsApp thats owned now by FB! Am I right in thinking that!
Anyway I dont have a lot of apps on my phone only really Evernote I use for my blogging!
GReat post anyway!
– PD
Thanks, Phillip. I get them from random sites (mostly Flickr – free to use). π
Great post. I can relate to a lot of it. I was in the entertainment industry for several years myself before fusing it with Coaching.
I see. Thanks, Magda! Knowing the segments and types of users’ discussions is interesting.
Never heard of this app before.. will need to check it out, i could use some entertainment..
Hehe yup! People online share and talk a whole range of topics and you can find yourself meddle through them anytime.
I will definitely be checking this app out! Thank you for sharing it, we could all use some entertainment.
Sure. Without entertainment and fun talks, we would all dry up of seriousness and monochromatic chats.
I have never heard of wechat. I am going to look into that app.
WeChat is growing larger each day especially in China and it’s now getting also used by many people all throughout the globe. π
The app sounds great and I am one for being online like 15hours a day lol. That be great a place to talk with friends.
Hehe I would have to admit that I’m also online about 15 hours a day, but I don’t spend that much of time talking with friends. Whoa, that’s a lot! π
I was like yes that’s the reality then came WeChat. Nice article, never thought this will be about the weChat app.
Thanks, Kath! This is Filipinos we’re mostly talking about. Wonder what other people are sharing on the app.
Video has become a mainstay of culture all over the world. A recent study by Cisco found that it would take more than 5 million years for a person to watch the amount of video that will cross global IP networks each month in 2017.
Political news clips shared online can have a profound impact on political movements. There is something powerful about seeing images of an unfolding political situation.
I recently found an interesting source for continuous streams of political news videos from around the globe called MondoPlayer. You can watch streams of the latest clips. You can share a breaking news clip or you can contribute clips to streams and they are automatically shared with all people viewing that stream. You can find out more at http://www.mondotag.com/stream/News_junkies1
The internet is having a profound effect on how news gathering and watching is happening. It will be interesting to see how it changes with new innovations.
Agree. Thank you very much for sharing! Articles and news feeds in whatever form are enjoyed by users online depending on their niche and interest.
There are so much to see and learn online nowadays unlike how things were before..
Yeah, we’re glad to know that the world is evolving and people and innovations come with it to adapt and embrace every new learning that must be taken.
Which would you qualify in? Or are you part of each category.
Good question! Actually, none of those above. Hehe you know, I mostly speak on food and technology since I’m a foodie and a techie haha.
I think you also have the adventure hormones especially when traveling.
Right, I’m up for travel adventures since I had always been “locked up” at home in the first 20 years of my life. π
After using Whatsapp, I never thought anything can be better than this… but I find WeChat much much better
Oh wow, thanks for the short and simple review. I’d say +1!
Yeah the news today is very now important for us to know the trending and events in our country.
News are divided to several sorts. We can never see ourselves just focusing on just one.
This sounds like a great app, but I’ve never heard of it…going to check it now!
Feel free to drop by again here to share us what you think about WeChat. π
WeChat and kik seem like almost the same type of application for socia media chat.
Yup. WeChat is meeting success from country to country as a popular multimedia mobile messaging app. I haven’t tried Klik though.
Looks like an interesting app, interesting post.
Thanks, Natalie. Try WeChat and you may get addicted to it. π
awesome apps loved this post and presentation π
Presentation-wise, WeChat is a winner hence the accumulation of users. This app has already made great progress in terms of technology, capital and marketing.
WeChat is definitely making waves as an App!
Battling with more established apps used in the Philippines, WeChat has already proven itself to be a fierce competitor.
Yeah, I agree!
I have never heard of WeChat? This post got me excited and ready to check it out. Thanks for sharing!
You’re welcome. Have fun using the app. π
Recently am using wechat and I must say I’ve become a fan of this app.
That’s a sweet and short review coming from a super-techie like you, Deb! π
If ever I’ll download this app, I’m sure I’ll be happy because of the health and beauty related exchanges.
I’m sure you will. There are lots of those exchanges. π
im still learning to use this app ,,, and it was really fun to know some people nearby you and those people who are also shaking and bounce with people from other countries… chat chat with strangers is a little fun but be cautious also by not giving much of personal info,
Exactly! I was excited to meet new people around my vicinity by shaking the phone but later got less enthusiastic when I learned that nobody in the Philippines was near; it seemed that only those from China were using the app in the beginning.
numbers 2-4-5 are the ones i am guilty of! I have installed wechat on my phone since lots of bloggers here uses it hehe
Nice nakikiuso hehe I hope you find the app useful not only because it’s the trend but because the functions suit your needs well.
the percantage of classifying the user of wechat fascinate me. if i would fit myself into one, that would be #4. hehehe!
Yup, I think you’d mostly fit into #4, too. π
3rd time i read about this Wechat maybe i will try to download and check this out
You should already have it next time to read about WeChat haha.
You’ve definitely summed them up well. I’m with the adventurous π
Thanks, Sam! π
Social media has certainly made life today more interesting. everything is just a google away
Yeah, Google is our best friend! π