Highlights of the latest TNS Digital Life Research in Kenya and East Africa.

• Mature markets being left behind online as Kenya and other emerging markets become more active
• Increase in mobile use as consumers seek greater access to social networking on the go
• Online is now the media of choice

The largest ever global research project into people’s online activities and behaviour – Digital Life – has been launched in London by TNS, the world’s biggest custom research company.  Covering 88% of the world’s online population through 50,000 interviews with consumers in 46 countries, the study reveals a number of very significant findings as well as providing indicators for the future of the world’s online behaviour. The core data from the study is being made publicly available via an interactive website – www.discoverdigitallife.com

“We believe that our research data, which we intend to do on an annual basis, will become the new benchmark for information on online consumer behaviour,” says Melissa Baker, TNS Research International CEO East Africa, adding that “Providing some of the data to the world was an important first step for us and obviously we have a wealth of further information behind those basic statistics.”

Among the key findings of the study were:

• Globally, people who have online access have digital sources as their number one media channel. 61% of online users use the internet daily against 54% for TV, 36% for Radio and 32% for Newspapers.
• Online consumers in rapid growth markets have overtaken mature markets in terms of engaging with digital activities. When looking at behaviour online, rapid growth markets such as Egypt (56%), China (54%) and Kenya (51%) have much higher levels of digital engagement than mature markets such as Japan (20%), Denmark (25%) or Finland (26%).  This is despite mature markets usually having a more advanced internet infrastructure.
• Activities such as blogging and social networking are gaining momentum at huge speed in rapid growth markets. The research shows four out of five online users in China (88%) and over half of those in Kenya (55%), Brazil (51%) and Tanzania (50%) have written their own blog or forum entry, compared to only 32% in the US.  The Internet has also become the default option for photo sharing among online users in rapid growth markets, particularly in Asia and Sub Saharan Africa. The number of online consumers who have ever uploaded photos to social networks or photo sharing sites is 92% in Thailand, 88% in Malaysia, 87% in Vietnam, 74% in Kenya and 72% in Tanzania whilst developed markets are more conservative.
• Growth in social networking has been fuelled by the transition from PC to mobile. Mobile users spend on average 3.1 hours per week on social networking sites compared to just 2.2 hours on email. The drive to mobile is driven by the increased need for instant gratification and the ability of social networks to offer multiple messaging formats, including the instant message or update function. When looking at how the digital landscape will change in the future, research shows that consumers expect their use of social networking on mobiles to increase more than use through PC.  In Kenya, for example, 78% of online consumers expect their use of social networking on a PC to increase in the next 12 months compared to 84% who will be looking to their mobile to increase usage. In Uganda the figures are 66% and 74% respectively and in Tanzania 71% and 69%.

Goodbye email, hello social networking

One further finding of the study showed that online consumers are, on average, spending more time on social networking sites such as Facebook and LinkedIn than on email, despite the former only becoming mainstream in many markets over the last few years. The heaviest users of social networking are in Malaysia (9 hours per week), Russia (8.1 hours per week) and Turkey (7.7 hours per week). Kenya (6.5 hours per week) is closely behind the heaviest users while Uganda (1.5 hours per week) and Tanzania (1.6 hours per week) are currently amongst the lowest users. In Kenya TNS are launching the local report sponsored by the Kenya ICT Board on 25th November, 2010.

About Digital Life

www.DiscoverDigitalLife.com
Digital Life is the world’s largest study into consumers’ digital behaviours and attitudes ever conducted.  The study seeks to go beyond behaviour to understand the core emotional drivers behind what consumers do online. TNS completed analysis of the results of its 46-country study into online behaviour and perspectives around the world in September 2010.  A total of 48,804 people aged 16 to 60 years old were interviewed in the following countries: Argentina , Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, Denmark, Egypt, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Mexico, Morocco, Netherlands, Nigeria, Norway, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Tanzania, Thailand, Turkey, UAE, Uganda, UK, USA and Vietnam.

About TNS Research International
TNS Research International is part of the world’s largest custom research agency delivering actionable insights and research-based business advice to its clients so they can make more effective business decisions.  TNS has been present in the Kenya market for nearly 40 years and have extensive experience of research across Africa.  TNS Research International offers comprehensive industry knowledge within the Consumer, Technology, Finance, Automotive and Political & Social sectors, supported by a unique product offering that stretches across the entire range of marketing and business issues, specializing in product development & innovation, brand & communication, stakeholder management, retail & shopper, and qualitative research. Delivering best-in-class service across more than 75 countries, TNS is part of Kantar, one of the world’s largest research, insight and consultancy network. Visit www.tnsglobal.com for more information. TNS have offices in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda within the region. The head office in the region, located in Nairobi, Kenya.

For further information please contact:

Melissa Baker, CEO East Africa
Telephone: +254 20 4280000
Melissa.Baker@research-int.com