Question for Hungarians: Facebook or sex?

Social

Using Facebook takes an hour away from the average Hungarian’s life. Work time and bedtime equally affected – so say the results of a survey on use of the social networking site recently undertaken by communications agency ArvaliCom.

According to the survey, Facebook is more appealing than sex – at least for those 6% of Hungarians who swap intimacy for some browsing on the internet's largest social media network. Two-thirds of people still opt for coupling, while for roughly one-fifth, every now and then Facebook wins over sex.

Having read the above, the fact that 88% of the 4.7 million Hungarian users of Facebook visit the site every day should come as no a surprise. Some have already discarded their televisions and stay informed via social media. News, events, advertisements, invitations are all to be found here. Our Facebook friends select these items, not unknown editors, which make them more attractive. After all, would you read an article entitled “10 things that makes you hate Sweden” unless it was posted by a colleague/friend you like? Probably not. Almost 100% of those polled said they find Facebook to be a platform packed with useful information – including why not to like the Swedes – which they do not hesitate to like or share.

Even from a business viewpoint Facebook seems unavoidable: There is hardly any firm that is not present on the social media site. Even traditionally cautious companies such as law firms have bent to the trend; corporate digital marketing strategies for 2014 all include Facebook.

Some companies use it for recruitment, mainly targeting the younger generation. Others encourage their employees and managers to use it as an extension to their LinkedIn accounts. This makes good business sense: Facebook reaches users at times – usually early in the morning, late in the afternoon and at night – when professional accounts are less likely to be visited.

Facebook also offers a chance to approach potential business partners in a semi-formal fashion. If done smartly, ties with people met at social encounters can be strengthened via Facebook.

As an advertising site, Facebook is improving in Hungary; with 15% of online advertisement revenues projected for 2013 – a 10% rise from the previous year – it is well on way to claiming a bigger share of the market. Hungarian users are not yet wary of clicking on ads, and some 85% are curious enough to do so. The chance to win is less attractive, though: Fewer than 80% of those surveyed will try a game through Facebook.

There are some problems, however. Several users say they have a difficulty in logging off: A whopping 55% of survey respondents, to be precise. For the other half, however, a life without Facebook would be no problem at all. Some 40% of active users spend more than one hour on the webpage, working hours included. That may account for why 8% of Hungary-based firms allow limited or no Facebook time at work.

Apparently, Facebook can be detrimental to your love life. The socializing site has caused relationship problems for 15% of couples and has led to breakups for 3%.

The lesson as always, therefore: Please use responsibly.

ArvaliCom surveyed 503 Hungarian citizens in October 2013 for the survey. Some 64% of the respondents were female, 36% were male. One-third were residents of Budapest.

What makes users angry?
In response to ArvalCom’s poll question, “What makes you angry about Facebook?” the most popular answers were as follows.

53% are annoyed by advertisements
35% by offers to win at games
25% by frequently-posting friends
20% by quotes
11% by animals
8% by children
6% by themselves

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