Roneel Lal
SUVA: Social networking websites have a growing influence on the population in Fiji and many business houses and organisations are now changing their attitude towards social media and are looking at ways on how to use its influential powers.
The What's on Network based in Nadi specialises in social networking and its commercial implications and is looking into how social networking is changing the mindset of the people of Fiji through Facebook, Twitter, Yahoo, YouTube and Skype among others.
Director Ian Collingwood revealed that according to the network's findings, the use of social networking websites is growing at a significant level in Fiji and helping disseminate information very quickly.
Collingwood said the findings showed therte were currently 110,000 Facebook accounts originating in Fiji with an annual growth in 2011 expected to exceed 75 percent.
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Their survey showed that the dominant social media user segments in Fiji was aged between 18-44 years old, representing 80 percent of all social networking, while the fastest growing segment was aged between 45-55 years.
In Fiji, 49 percent of Facebook users are male and 51 percent female. Collingwood said on average, people spent 56 minutes a day on their Facebook accounts.
But those who accessed their accounts through mobiles and hand held devices spent 50 percent more time - up to 84 minutes a day - on Facebook and other social media platforms. - Fijivillage.com/Pacific Media Watch
Pacific Media Watch
