Belgian people are heavily connected

Belgian is doing good. That is far above European average level: more people spending more time than the European average. So much for reach concerns.
More than 66% of the Belgian population goes online every week (almost 6million people). 88% could not live without at least one online activity. 34% would probably die without e-mail access. The 16-24 generation made it their number 1 media beyond TV (91% are online 5 to 7 days a week). Pourcentage of 55+ being online every week has grown by 31% in the last year. Every day, 40% of the female population surfs, emails, buys, has fun, ..

I'd say directly linked to the explosion of social media*- am I biased on that one? But wait:

• Just look at FB: in last August the Belgian network counted 15,000 members. You can add an other digit to the number.
• Social networks are indeed exploding: now the top 4 activity behind search, email and IM
• 31% create online reviews, forums are up to 29% more contributors
• only 17% don't know about the possibility to create their own content

Missed it in December, started it 10 days ago, but so rare to get Belgium data, precious to keep in mind. Thank you MDAS ;)

* and yes indeed, to the wide adoption of broadband: now 86% of Belgian people are surfing with broadband access enabling them to watch 120% more online videos (compared to monthly access a year ago)

Comments

[Jay, writer MemberSpeed.com]

Last year, I thought it was the British who led the race on connections. Anyway, being heavily connected seems like a good thing but I wonder if the whole world can manage to be connected as well? There are plenty of countries who still suffer from the lack of technology. Are they getting left behind? And what does this say for their future? How about 20 years from now? Somehow, I'm more interested in how that will be for everyone involved.

[Rolling Talks]

Hey Jeroen! With all the delay they cumulated I suspect this is not going to be in their top priorities unfortunately..I wonder how much our online activists groups like the IAB are in relation with the politicals. Do you know? Would you have more numbers you could share on the subject? thanks for dropping by btw. I felt bad to have so lightly dismissed your last comment ;) Each time I stumble upon an example of non tech/gadget international company playing nicely the WOM game I send you a virtual wink.

[Jeroen]

I agree completely taht this is great news, but on the other hand I get the feeling that there is a big gap between the 66% that are online and the 33% that are not...

The growth rate of the online part of the Belgium audience is slow compared to other neighbouring countries - we risk losing part of a generation here, with all due consequences for the Belgian knowledge economy.

Now that we have a govenrment it would be nice to see them act on this and help the other 33% to get online, both by creation of awareness of the need to get online to this group and by ending the unspoken agreements between providers that keep the cost of access artificially high...