Pinoys Step Up the Social Media Game

Recently, Mashable published an infographic that showed "How the World Uses Social Networks". Pinoys were tickled pink to see that the Philippines was counted among the big players in the social media game. Based on the February 2011 research conducted by Trendstream, we have the highest percentage of active online users, content creators, and messagers. We also ranked among the top 5 countries (we share the No. 3 spot with Russia) with the highest percentage of joiners/creators of groups.

It was surprising and yet expected.  I almost feel like we Pinoys would be naturals at this game.  When the SMS technology came out in the mid-1990s, Pinoys were among the first (maybe only?) in the world to take quickly to a new form of communication.  Never mind that SMS was actually invented for the deaf-mute to communicate via mobile phones (remember Globe Handyphone's classic TVC that featured two deaf-mute lovers? Read my note at the bottom of this post), once we learned that text messaging was way cheaper than calling (still is today), we ran away with it.  I still remember how amused a lot of people were to learn that South Africa was just getting on the SMS bandwagon in the mid-2000s.

What Trendstream's survey affirms is what we Pinoys have known all along: that we are a very sociable and expressive people.  It was just a matter of time until more of us discovered how powerful social media really is.  Once "Facebook" became part of our street lingo, we knew we had arrived.  As it is offline, online conversations among Pinoys are likewise colorful and full of character.  But, it's obvious that we still have so much to learn about harnessing the power of social media as well as how to use it properly.

For one, I've yet to see Filipinos applying social media in really creative ways.  There's so much we don't yet understand about online brand marketing.  For starters, it would do well for companies to stop looking at social media as just another way for customers to contact them and see it as a powerful media through which they could instead directly access customers.  It's a different ball game, kids.  Here's an intro to the possibilities: The 20 best social media campaigns

Secondly, it's obvious that a large number of active users in the Philippines are young people.  I'd say that a lot of these are tweens and young adults who are "adik!" to social networking; also known nowadays as "screenagers".  This brings to mind concerns that not all young people might know how to handle, like online predators, virtual pedophiles, and web security.  I'm sure not all of them have also been briefed about online etiquette either.  Whose responsibility is it to educate the youth about safe online practices?  It's easy to say "parents" but, if the parents themselves are as clueless (and some are!), then the next best teachers are, in fact, schoolteachers.

I'm hoping that our public schoolteachers have indeed been equipped by the DepEd to carry out the provisions in DepEd Order No. 105 on Internet Safety.  Nevertheless, there's actually a lot of material online for both parents and teachers to use to teach internet safety to kids. Here are some of them:

• B4USurf.org: Internet Safety Educational Website for Parents and Teachers
• Protecting_Children_Online: An EPCAT Guide
• DepEd promotes safe media environment for children

That social media has become part of Filipino culture is definitely a move in the right direction.  Telcos should pick up on this development, expand and upgrade our antiquated infra and improve their services; we are overdue for better and faster internet all over the country.  By now, there should already be free and speedy wi-fi access in public spaces like the MRT/LRT, parks, libraries, bus stations, sea ports, airports (why not? right?).  Especially now that we have proof that Pinoys are actively connecting to their inner circles, and even to people and services outside their usual comfort zones, while mobile and in real-time via social networks.

Not only are Pinoys expanding their social circles, but they are also causing ripples in society.  Bloggers are now becoming more influential, and self-publishing and new careers in IT and social media are now emerging.  Most, if not all, of the progressive movements that are causing positive changes on society nowadays were also birthed online.  True nationalism and a better understanding of culture are now being realized as well.

These are interesting times indeed.  Let's do social media right so that we can keep staying on top of the game.


Note: I've been scouring the web for a copy of Globe Handyphone's classic TVC about how SMS helped two deaf-mute lovers. But, no luck. Yet. If you know where to find this lovely TVC, please leave me a comment here and make my day :-) Thank you!