Philippines in the Digital Age

Internet access has developed over the years, with more than 70% of Filipinos going online regularly nowadays. The lifestyle of Filipinos, especially the ones residing in metropolitan areas and the suburbs, has significantly been changed by the Internet in an uncountable aspect.

I have interviewed groups of Filipinos and asked their opinions on how has the internet changed their lifestyles.

https://youtu.be/nO7ds-2SkCs

Here are 6 observable ways the Internet has changed the lifestyle of the average Filipino:

Freelance Work.

Some Filipinos choose to work from home primarily to escape the inconvenience of transportation. Jobs are outsourced from flourishing economies to the Philippines through the Internet. People start to write blogs and produce videos. Others go for job sites online.

Connecting with family and relatives.

Filipinos pride themselves on having strong and close family ties. As communication has gone digital, so do our habits. Once, the country was the “World’s Texting Capital,” now that has changed to “Social Media Capital.” The medium has changed but the purpose remains the same: Filipinos like to keep up with each other’s interests, milestones, and even vacation photos. And what better way to do all of that than logging on to social media sites.

Maintaining long-distance relationships.

About 2.3 million Filipinos are working overseas as of 2018, according to Philippine Statistics Office (PSA). Online applications have helped lovers, friends, and families survive loneliness with free features for instant communication like Messenger and Stories. Pinoys, being tech-savvy and early adopters, are using the internet to keep in touch with loved ones who live far away.

Catching up with friends.

Filipinos are highly social people. They like to keep up with work-friends, dorm pals, high school buddies, even long-lost friends from primary school. The use of the internet is simply the easiest way to get in touch with just about anyone you like to connect with.

Keeping up with trends and current events.

According to a recent survey conducted by Social Weather Stations (SWS), about 13.9 million Filipinos get their daily news online. This number is even higher than the radio and newspaper combined. Part of the reason is the ease of access.

Online shopping or selling.

Making a purchase has gone heavily online in the last couple of years for digital natives in the Philippines. The younger, more informed consumers now follow brands, businesses, and stores online to get smarter deals. Marketers and sellers are also taking advantage of the internet to reach their target customers on their websites.

Significantly, Filipinos are now more empowered in the digital age. The integration in technology into everyday lives change us in many ways. Word of mouth is powerful and a great promotional campaign can go viral really fast. Business-to-Consumer (B2C) companies can also directly connect and market their products and services to Filipino customers who are almost always on their phones. The question is, how can you maximize the use of the internet to work for your business or brand?

Aileen Jazbec

A master student in Online Business & Marketing with an entrepreneurial mindset who grew up in the Philippines lived and worked in Oman and is now settled in Switzerland. My blog shall build bridges to the Digital Marketing World of the Philippines. Let me show you some insights, trends and maybe even business opportunities in my home country. Follow me and feel free to keep me busy with your questions, ideas, and feedback.

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4 thoughts on “Philippines in the Digital Age

  1. Great topic and video of how you involved some Philippines people and encouraged them to share more about the digital evolution.
    Keep up the good work!

    1. thank you! Quite difficult to reach out because of the distance but luckily, found people to participate.

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