Report: Saudi is MENA’s key social media market
September 2, 2021
By Chris Forrester
Saudi Arabia has seen social media usage “sky-rocket” according to a study from media agency Crowd and its Global media Insights report, using data from Euromonitor’s Digital Consumer trends.
Because of the widespread use of smartphones, locals are using social apps more frequently, especially between 2020 and 2021. Statistics show that social media usage increased by 8 per cent, with Twitter, YouTube and Facebook seeing the most significant increases.
The country’s social media engagements are influenced by religious, political, and cultural factors. These factors impact Saudi citizens’ use of social media platforms in various situations, which enables them to communicate and connect more effectively and increase user participation, says the study.
Young Saudis are beginning to showcase their hidden talents on all social media platforms as the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia grows. According to Motivate Media Group’s case study Campaign Saudi Report June 2021, Saudi Arabian influencers have one of the highest local follower fan bases among GCC countries, ranging from 50 per cent to 60 per cent. Local Saudis are incredibly proud of their homegrown talent, believing them to be the authentic voice of their country and themselves, says the report.
One key element shows that the Saudi gaming market, for example, has one of the strongest growth rates in the world. “With more than 21.2 million players across the country, the Kingdom is currently the world’s 19th largest gaming market, growing at a rate of 41.1 per cent annually,” notes the study.