The many uses of social media
As the Asia-Pacific region becomes increasingly connected with faster broadband speeds and more robust internet access, consumers have moved beyond merely using social media to connect with friends and family. Through the new and fast-growing social commerce industry, social media platforms double as hubs for consumers to shop, review, and discover new products.
Further, social networking sites have also allowed people to connect on a professional basis, with internet users all over the Asia-Pacific region stating to use social media for work purposes.
What are the leading platforms?
Facebook remains a key social media platform throughout the world and the Asia-Pacific region, having reached just under a third of the world's population. APAC accounted for a significant number of Facebook's monthly active users, with the platform accounting for the largest share of the social media market in the Asia Pacific region. However, despite Facebook's huge success across APAC, local platforms are on the rise throughout the region.
WeChat (Weixin), owned by Tencent, is a messaging, social media, shopping, and online payment services app which is China's predominant instant messaging platform. The messenger app has over 1.3 billion active accounts worldwide.
