U.S. and Japan languish in social networking survey

by Steven Mostyn - Oct 12 2010, 09:31

With the likes of Facebook boasting in excess of 500 million users around the world, there's little doubting the phenomenal popularity of social networking and online communication.

However, despite that popularity, it would appear that certain well-connected countries are languishing in terms of usage.

More pointedly, according to a new Digital Life report published by UK-based research specialist TNS, Malaysians lead the way in networking, boasting around 233 friends while sinking an average of nine hours per week into the social pastime.

Brazilians users follow close behind with 231 friends, while Norwegians round out the top three with 217 friends.

Interestingly, while Korea and Japan are two of the most well-connected online regions, there social networking users only have respective friends averages of 50 and 29, leaving Korea placed at a lowly 44 out of a possible 46 surveyed countries, and Japan dead last.

According to the report, countries such as Korea and Japan generally ranked poorly on the 'friends' scale due to a cultural preference for fewer but more meaningful relationships.

In terms of online users who have written their own blog or forum entry, China emerged as the global leader with 88 percent, while 51 percent of Brazilians have been active. By way of comparison, only 32 percent of Americans have partaken.

The TNS research report was collected by interviewing almost 50,000 people around the world – making it the biggest global study ever conducted into online behaviour and activity.

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