Table of Contents
Author: Pankaj Chowdhury
Facebook – The most popular social media platform across the globe
Facebook is one of the major players in the evolving landscape of the social media environment, influencing how people interact, communicate, and share information. Facebook has approximately three billion active users worldwide and has ingrained itself into daily life, bridging cultural and geographic divides. Comprehending Facebook users’ demographic characteristics is essential for unravelling the intricate interplay between social media and societal dynamics.
This article focuses on exploring the demographic characteristics of Facebook users within the working-age population across the Indian subcontinent. The Indian subcontinent, comprising countries such as India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, and Afghanistan, is a diverse region marked by a rich tapestry of cultures, languages, and traditions. As a hub of economic, social, and technological development, the subcontinent offers a unique context to explore how Facebook, as a virtual social space, mirrors and influences the demographic composition of its users.
Any society’s working population is mostly composed of people between the ages of 15 and 64, a group known as the working-age population. This group of people is crucial in determining the direction of the economy, advancing technology, and influencing cultural trends. Examining the demographic characteristics of Facebook users in this age range valuable insights into the platform’s role in facilitating social interactions, disseminating information, and fostering community engagement among individuals actively participating in the workforce.
This article seeks to address these two key objectives:
1. Exploring the distribution of Facebook users among different age groups within the working-age population in the Indian subcontinent.
2. Analysing the gender disparity among Facebook users within this demographic.
By exploring these objectives, the article aims to advance a sophisticated knowledge of how the working-age population’s demographics in the Indian subcontinent interact with social media usage. The results can provide companies, decision-makers, and scholars regarding the dynamic and diverse landscape of digital connectivity in the region.
Which age group dominates in terms of Facebook usage across South Asian countries?
This comparative analysis sheds light on the diverse distribution of Facebook users across different age brackets in the Indian Subcontinent region, illustrating how engagement varies among the young, the working-age population, and individuals in the later stages of their professional lives.
Bangladesh distinguishes itself by having the highest concentration of Facebook users in the young age category. Shifting our focus to the 25-54 age group, Sri Lanka takes the lead with the highest percentage, in stark contrast to Bangladesh, which records the lowest in this age bracket. Furthermore, in the 55–64 age group, Afghanistan showcases the lowest percentage of Facebook users, while Sri Lanka boasts the highest. India holds the position of being the largest consumer of Facebook across all working age groups, followed by Pakistan and Bangladesh (table: 1).
How is the gender gap in Facebook usage evolving across different age groups in South Asian countries?
Across all these nations, a noticeable gender disparity is observed in terms of Facebook penetration rate, in the age group of 15-24.
Notably, Bhutan stands out as an exception where gender parity prevails for this age group. Furthermore, In Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, and Bangladesh, the gender gap in Facebook penetration rates is more pronounced compared to other nations. The gender gap in Facebook penetration becomes more pronounced within the working age population aged 25-54, especially in countries like Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India, when compared to the younger working age groups. A similar trend is observed among those people as well, who are approaching the end of their careers, (55-64 years age group). Sri Lanka, Nepal, and Bhutan exhibit relatively better performance in terms of gender balance in Facebook penetration rates (fig: 2).
These findings highlight the need for multifaceted approaches, such as digital literacy initiatives, targeted education campaigns, and joint efforts between governments and private entities, to create a more inclusive and equitable online environment throughout the Indian Subcontinent as we navigate the complex terrain of social media engagement.
Tags: Demography of Facebook Users, Facebook Users Statistics, Facebook User in India 2023, Facebook Users in Pakistan, Facebook Users in Srilanka, Facebook Users in Afghanistan, Facebook users in India by age,
