Pinoys remain among world’s most internet-savvy users — 2025 report

 

By

 Jeline Malasig

 -

 February 26, 2025 - 6:04 PM  

Filipinos continue to dominate the internet, maintaining their rank among the world’s top users, according to the latest report from a creative agency and a social and media intelligence company.

Meltwater and We Are Social released its “Digital 2025” report, an annual report focusing on social media and digital trends worldwide.

Latest insights showed that Filipinos, on average, spend eight hours and 52 minutes daily on the internet.

The figure is significantly higher than the global average of six hours and 38 minutes.

The report said that most of this time on the internet is spent on mobile phones at five hours and 21 minutes. This figure is also ahead of the global average of three hours and 46 minutes.

At the time of the report production, data indicated that there were 97.5 million internet users in the Philippines in January 2025.

The country’s total population stood at 116 million in January 2025.

An analysis of advisory firm Kepios revealed that the number of internet users in the Philippines increased by 792,000 or 0.8 percent between January 2024 and January 2025.

Filipinos were also among the top social media users worldwide, with Pinoys aged 16 and up spending three hours and 22 minutes on social media daily, placing fourth worldwide.

Pinoy internet users also actively engage with an average of 8.36 platforms each month, making them second in the world for the highest number of social media platforms used.

Online reference library DataReportal said that there were 90.8 million active social media user identities in the Philippines in January 2025.

The figure is equivalent to 78% of the country’s total population at the start of 2025.

Apart from being active social media users, Filipinos are also big on following influencers.

At least 44.9% of Filipinos aged 16 and up follow influencers or other experts on social media, making the Philippines number one globally in this category.

Filipinos also ranked first in terms of watching online video content each week, with 97.6% of them engaging in this activity, significantly higher than the global average of 92%

Pinoys are ranked number one in watching vlogs (48.3%) and online music videos (72.3%), while they are number two in watching online videos as a source of learning (58.1%).

These video-related figures exceed their global peers, according to the report.

Big online communicators 

“Digital 2025” also said that Filipinos top those who use digital communication methods like chatting and email worldwide.

The report noted that 98.9% of Filipinos use chat and messenger services each month, surpassing the global average of 94.5%.

Similarly, 94.2% of Filipinos use email services each month, which is higher than the global average of 75%.

Additionally, 49.5% of Filipinos utilize mobile video calling services monthly, exceeding the global average of 35.5%.

Pinoy Instagram users raise concerns over app’s map location sharing update

By

 Jeline Malasig

 -

 January 27, 2025 - 6:32 PM 

Filipino social media users raised the alarm over an Instagram app update that introduced live location sharing for its users.

Pinoy users of the Meta-owned app noticed that they can see a map of where users are upon accessing the “Messages” feature of the app.

The particular feature can be spotted on the top part, where users share “Notes.”

Named “Map,” clicking the icon shows a map featuring the profiles of their other followers who have allowed to share their location.

The user can also zoom in on the map to see the appropriate location of their fellow user and even message them.

Instagram users who will access the feature for the first time will see the following introduction.

The app said that users can share their precise location with people they “trust,” giving them the option to choose who among their followers can access their data.

The precise location updates every time the user opens Instagram.

Users can also opt to turn on the “Invisible Mode” by clicking on the gear icon on the right side of map and turning on the toggle.

This mode “hides” the user’s location.

The update bothered some Pinoys who thought that it was “creepy.”

“Wtf*ck, creepy ng IG update, kindly turn off location niyo, guys,” an X user wrote with a crying emoji.

“Ang weird talaga nung location update sa IG… the way I can see where people’s houses are now??? What happened to safety,” another online user commented with the same emoji.

“Insta’s location sharing update is kinda scary. You can literally see where exactly people are. Good day for the stalkers, I guess,” wrote a different Pinoy with a grimacing emoji.

“Ok, my IG moots [mutuals] suddenly shared all their location, like, literal addresses, what the f*ck is going on?? What the f*ck is this Instagram update?? I have to let all of them know to turn location off. That’s scary coz they were not aware their location was shared PUBLICLY!!!” another online user wrote.

“Turn your locations to invisible mode on IG, juskowwww, kaloka ka Meta, mapapahamak pa mga tao sa trip niyo,” said another Pinoy.

Others also suggested fellow users turn off their location sharing for the app itself in their phone settings.

For iPhone users, it can be found when users access “Instagram” under the “Settings” app.

This will bring them to a list showing what they will allow Instagram to access, including “Location.”

They have the option to choose “Never,” “Ask Next Time Or When I Share,” “While Using the App,” and “Always.”

There is also a toggle if they want to share their “Precise Location” or not. Once it is disabled, Instagram can only determine the user’s “approximate location.”

Reports said that a live test of the controversial feature was launched in 2024.

Called the “Friend Map,” the feature is said to be the app’s way of retaining younger users amid competition from other apps popular among the youth like TikTok and Snapchat.

In June 2024, some lawmakers from the United States raised alarm about the feature and said it was a violation of privacy.

“Furthermore, the public sharing of that information puts young users at risk of further surveillance, violence and unsolicited interactions,” Congresswomen Lori Trahan (Massachusets, Third District) and Kathy Castor (Florida, 14th District) said in a letter to Instagram.

Meta, in response, said before that it was “focused on building out safety precautions and mitigations” before it explored offering the feature broadly.

Celeste Cortesi gets love from beauty queens after Miss Universe stint

 Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach, Miss Universe Philippines 2022 Celeste Cortesi and Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray in these photos taken from Instagram/piawurtzbach, Facebook/TheMissUniversePH, and Instagram/catriona_gray

By Jeline Malasig - January 17, 2023 - 12:58 PM

Former and current beauty queens shared messages of support to Miss Universe Philippines 2022 Celeste Cortesi after failing to secure a placement in the pageant’s 71st edition.

The 25-year-old Pasay beauty was bested by American bet R’Bonney Gabriel, a half-Filipina, in the prestigious beauty pageant on Sunday.

Celeste expressed her gratitude to her Filipino fans who supported her Miss Universe 2022 bid following her exit.

“Hey, guys! Thank you so much for your love and support. I truly, truly love you and I’m so grateful,” she said in a video, blowing a kiss to the viewers.

Celeste also shared a book excerpt about happiness on her Instagram after failing to secure the crown. It talked about how one’s happiness shouldn’t depend on others.

Meanwhile, some former and current pageant titleholders took to social media to offer her words of comfort following her Miss Universe exit.

Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray, who was also a backstage host for the pageant’s 71st edition, posted an Instagram Story featuring Celeste’s picture with the following words:

“Thank you for doing your best for the Philippines (Philippine flag emoji) You handled the pressure of carrying our flag so well! We’re so proud, mabuhay ka! (heart emoji)” 

Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach shared a tweet on her account, which reads:

“We know you gave it your all, Celeste. We are very proud of you (heart and Philippine flag emojis” 

Miss Universe 2021 Top 5 finalist Beatrice Luigi Gomez shared an Instagram Story featuring pictures of her and Celeste with the text:

“We are so proud of you! You worked hard and represented us well. We love you, Queen @celeste_cortesi (heart emoji)” 

Miss Universe Philippines Charity 2022 Pauline Amelinckx posted an Instagram picture of them during the coronation of the Miss Universe Philippines 2022 last May.

Celeste, who represented Pasay, was crowned Miss Universe Philippines 2022.

Pauline wrote the following which accompanied the post:

“We have seen you work, hustle, fight and GROW as you prepared to raise our flag. As I’ve told you before, you have my admiration for all your dedication in always becoming better. Always proud of you. You are a CELESTIAL QUEEN (crown emoji” 

Binibining Pilipinas 2022 1st runner-up Herlene Nicole Budol also shared words of support for her fellow beauty queen on Facebook.

“Celeste, maganda ka pa din. We love you (kissing emoji) Ako nga nabudol e” 

Herlene referenced her unpleasant experiences in her bid to secure a crown at the Miss Planet International last November, where she has since withdrawn “due to uncertainties by the organizers.”

The Miss Universe Philippines Organization national director, who was also crowned as Miss Universe 2011 3rd runner-up, also lauded Celeste for “bravely” raising the Philippine flag.

Shamcey shared a picture of her with the Philippine bet on Instagram and accompanied it with the following caption:

“You fought bravely to raise the Filipino flag on that stage and what truly matters is that you gave it your all and made your country proud. (Philippine flag emoji)” 

“This experience is truly a lesson in humility. It is a way to remind all of us to stay grounded for we are all created equal.”

“The new era of Miss Universe cemented its thrust on breaking stereotypes and embracing diversity. Apart from the glitz and glamour, we are again reminded of the true essence of this platform.” 

“Our work continues, to be a venue for women to find a purpose larger than themselves and to use their collective voices to create an unstoppable force for GOOD.”