Most smartphone users in the UAE spend five hours per day on social media apps like Facebook and Whatsapp, a new study has said.
The Connected Life report, carried out by the global market research firm TNS, found 86 per cent of users in the UAE spend that time browsing.
“Facebook and YouTube are the top contenders, but it is the new kid on the block – WhatsApp – that is emerging as the most favoured communication platform of the moment,” said Stephen Hillebrand, CEO of the Middle East division of TNS.
The study tracked 55,000 internet users across 50 countries. TNS said such trends offer opportunities for advertisers, but one psychologist warned spending hours online could be unhealthy.
Carey Kirk, programme manager at Lighthouse Arabia, said: “While it is called social media, it’s not incredibly social. We are excluding things that give us a greater sense of connection in our lives – like actually meeting friends for dinner or a cup of coffee.”
She said prolonged use could lead to “feelings of depression and can create feelings of anxiety and loneliness”.
Some UAE residents said social media is part of their life.
“I personally use Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Snapchat, and I am constantly checking them throughout the day,” says Aya Attia, a 26-year-old student from Sharjah.
But American expat Teresa Thayer, 32, said: “I deleted my Facebook a few months and I have never felt better… see more
source: msn, 7days
Tags: Smartphones owner, social media, technology, UAE
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