Digital 2021: The evolution of the digital landscape in Singapore
Special Reports
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Today we launched Digital 2021: Singapore, part of our series of annual global digital reports (check out our global report, Digital 2021, if you haven’t seen it already). It’s a comprehensive report covering digital, social and mobile use in Singapore.
Digital 2021: Singapore shows that we spend on average 8 hours and 7 minutes a day online – just over a third of our lives. Our internet usage is significantly above the global average of 6 hours and 4 minutes online each day.
During 2020, the number of active social media users in Singapore rose by 4% to nearly 5 million. Internet users devote on average 2 hours and 17 minutes to social media a day with the report showing YouTube, WhatsApp and Facebook to be the most popular social platforms. Snapchat had a particularly strong end to the year with parent company Snap’s tools showing a 43% increase in its quarter-on-quarter advertising reach, representing an extra 240,000 users.
Other key findings in Digital 2021: Singapore include:
The pandemic has impacted mobile users app interests: livestreaming app Bigo Live, amid the restrictions on live events, was the biggest mobile app in terms of consumer spend in 2020, while Zoom was the most downloaded app overall
Older internet users are very likely to shop online but to a lesser degree than their younger counterparts: 71% of internet users aged 55-64 have made an online purchase in the past month, compared with 83% of 25- to 34-year-olds
Ecommerce spend on travel and accommodation plummeted by 47% in 2020, but every other category in the report saw a marked increase in sales, including a 37% rise in the food & personal care category and 40% more being spent on digital music. Across the board there was a year-on-year rise of 32% in the value of the ecommerce consumer good market
There was an 8% increase in social ad media spend during 2020, compared with a 4% increase in digital ad spend across the board. The report found that 43% of internet users aged 16-64, a relatively high number, carry out research into brands using social media – just about on par with those who consult online consumer reviews
Our Managing Director in Singapore, Christina Chong, commented on the report’s findings:
“Even though the lockdown situation in Singapore was shorter than many countries, this report shows how much of an impact they’ve had on our lives, our digital use and the way we socialise and shop, among many other things. With internet users spending around a third of their lives online, it’s never been more important for marketers to understand online and social media cultures in order to reach people – of all age groups – in a relevant way.”
To get in touch with We Are Social Singapore to discuss your digital marketing approach, email us at [email protected]
