More in Central Visayas shift to digital media

CEBU, Philippines — The landscape of media consumption in Central Visayas has significantly shifted in 2024, with more individuals relying on digital platforms over the traditional printed ones, the Philippine Statistics Authority in Central Visayas reported.

Based on the latest results of the Functional Literacy, Education, and Mass Media Survey (FLEMMS) presented by PSA-7 regional director Wilma Perante, exposure to online or digital newspapers among Central Visayans aged 10 to 64 years old soared to its highest rate in 2024 at 64.6%.

In contrast, exposure to printed materials such as newspapers and magazines dropped dramatically during the same period.

The data revealed that printed newspaper readership declined from 73.8% in 2019 to just 49% in 2024. Printed magazine exposure also saw a drop --from 71.9% five years ago to 58.8% this year.

Even printed posters, which are widely used in community announcements and campaigns, recorded a decrease in exposure, from 65% in 2019 to 55.1% in 2024.

The FLEMMS data also recorded a similar shift in audio-visual media platforms. Television exposure, while still high, declined from 94% in 2019 to 83.7% in 2024. Radio exposure experienced an even more significant drop, from 78.6% to 63.7% within the same five-year span.

Movies and plays shown in cinemas or through DVD/VCD players also suffered a decline, with exposure rates falling from 68.8% in 2019 to 60% in 2024.

On the other hand, video streaming platforms, accounted for a 63.1% exposure rate, while music streaming registered at 61.3%.

The digital shift is also evident in how people use the internet. The survey showed that while internet usage for work or research declined from 65.3% in 2019 to 54.5% in 2024, internet usage for social media increased significantly --from 73.3% to 83.4%.

New forms of internet engagement also emerged in the data. Around 43.2% of the population reported using e-commerce platforms in 2024, while 37.6% accessed government services or conducted online banking.

Interestingly, the data also shows a decline in the ownership of traditional household communication and entertainment devices.

Television ownership decreased from 71.3% in 2019 to 64.9% in 2024. Cellular phone ownership dropped slightly from 86% to 84.4%.

Ownership of personal computers remained almost flat, declining marginally from 20.8% to 20.5%.

Radios became less common in households, falling from 44.6% in 2019 to 36.8% in 2024. Landline phones are becoming obsolete, with ownership dropping from 10.6% to just 8.1%.

Moreover, audio components like karaoke and stereo systems saw a resurgence. Their presence in households jumped from 12.7% in 2019 to 25.2% in 2024.

Meanwhile, 43.1% of households reported being subscribed to mobile broadband, mobile postpaid plans, or prepaid mobile subscriptions. This figure reflects the growing demand for mobile internet connectivity in a region increasingly driven by digital access.

Department of Information and Communications Technology in Central Visayas (DICT-7) project development officer Angelito Gregorio Geverola emphasized that the FLEMMS data in the region has significant implications for national strategies related to digital inclusion and governance.

“The data presented in these slides carries significant implications for our strategic initiatives in fostering digital literacy, promoting digital governance, and strengthening the nation's digital infrastructure,” said Geverola.

Geverola raised concern over the decline in internet use for work and research, noting that this trend may indicate underlying challenges that hinder the population from using the internet for productive and educational purposes.

“From our perspective, this could imply that there is a need for enhanced digital skills training,” he added.

The DICT-7 is pushing for wider access to digital skills programs to ensure that the public can fully utilize the internet not just for entertainment, but also for professional and academic use.

He also underscored the continued necessity of the National Broadband Program to provide robust, fast, and affordable internet connectivity, especially in underserved areas.

Geverola said the DICT remains committed to collaborating closely with the PSA and other relevant agencies to ensure that comprehensive data on internet usage and access to mass media is regularly collected and analyzed.

“Beyond basic internet access, the data strongly suggest a necessity to pivot and focus towards functional digital literacy,” Geverola stressed.

“This entails equipping Filipinos with the skills to effectively use the internet for work, research, accessing government services, and engaging in e-commerce,” he said. — (FREEMAN)