A survey by the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Authority has revealed how UAE residents use social media.

According to the survey, the results show that WhatsApp and Facebook are the most popular social media apps with 97 per cent and 89 per cent, followed by YouTube with 73 percent. The least popular form of social media are Snapchat and LinkedIn, with 27 per cent and 16 per cent. LinkedIn is used mostly by the age group between 22 and 34 years old, while the age group between 18 and 21 years old had the highest rate of social media usage.

The report showed a difference in favourite platforms used by citizens and residents.

Citizens:

WhatsApp: 96 per cent

Instagram: 78 per cent

Snapchat: 62 per cent

Residents

WhatsApp: 97 per cent

Facebook: 93 per cent

YouTube: 75 per cent.

According to Abdullah Lootah, the Director-General of the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Authority, the survey will enable the leadership and people of the nation to find the right direction towards innovation and employing modern technology and social media to serve society. This comes from solid scientific evidence and modern data, so it can become an example for everyone including decision makers and specialists.

He added that with the level of technological growth in the UAE, it is important to learn about new developments in social media, the diversity of its audience and its new technological platforms.

Sumaya Saeed, Director of Government Communication at the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Authority, stressed the growing importance of social media platforms in building bridges of communication between the government authorities and decision-makers, and the public.

“The results show many important facts about the uses of social media in the country by citizens and residents in different age groups, and we hope that the institutes and governmental authorities, both federal and local, benefit from this research to develop and activate their presence on these platforms in order to serve the citizens and residents, and make them happy.