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24.12.2012

SOCIAL NETWORKS IN ARMENIA

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Samvel Martirosyan
Expert, Center for Information Studies, “Noravank” Foundation

In 2011-2012 the number of the Internet users in Armenia has shot up dramatically, and in consequence more than a half of the population uses the Internet. Most of these users are the visitors of the social networks.

According to the Public Services Regulatory Commission of the Republic of Armenia the number of the multiline Internet services users in 2011 was 378159 and total number of the Internet subscribers on December 31, 2011 was 1 835 002 (Picture 1).

The dramatic increase of the visits to the social networks in Armenia in 2009-2010 was proceeding in parallel with increase of the Internet users. The Russian Odnoklassniki social network, which is still number one among the most visited networks, moved to the fore at once. Today the number of the visitors of this website has almost reached 700 thousand, i.e. 40% of the Internet users and approximately ¼ of the population of the country.

However, it should be mentioned that the saturation of the audience of this social network took place and no growth can be observed anymore. According to Aleksandr Izryadnov, the Director of Marketing and Strategic Communications of “Social Networks” business-unit of “Mail.RuGroup” (which manages Odnoklassniki social network), about 272 thousand people today visit this website with the help of the mobile devices. The main frame of the site population is 18-24 years old people and, according to the presented statistics, the number of the male visitors overruns the number of the female visitor (60% against 40%)1.

Picture 1
The growth of the percentage of the Internet users in Armenia in 1998-2011 according to the data of the World Bank and Public Services Regulatory Commission of the Republic of Armenia


Picture 2
The number of the visitors of Odnolkassniki per month in 2010-2012 according to Liveinternet.ru system


Picture 3
The growth of the number of the visitors of Facebook from Armenia in June-December 2012 according to Socialbakers.com


Picture4
Age growth on Faceook in Armenia in the 1st, 2nd and 3rd moths; figures for October-December 2012 according to Socialbakers.com


Picture 5
Fraction of the Traffic from Armenia according to the age qualifications for December 2012 (Socialbakers.com)


The second most visited social network in Armenia is Facebook. The number of the active users of this social network, according to the figures for December 2012, reaches 356 thousand (about 12% of the population of the country) (Picture 3).

The most rapidly growing segment here is people of 18-34 years old (Picture 4). This group constitutes about 65% of Facebook social network users in Armenia (Picture 5).

The Internet users in Armenia actively visit some other social networks either. According to the statistics of Alexa.com the Russian VKontakte social network is the 10th most visited website in Armenia2. Despite the absence of any open statistics on this social network, it is known that in December 2012 the number of the registered visitors from Armenia has gone beyond 310 people3.

Twitter still remains passive network for Armenia; the site population does not exceed several thousand people.

Sharper increase of the visitors’ number has been observed at Youtube which contains the elements of the social network and has a great impact on the social-political and information space in Armenia. Though there is no open statistics on the users of this website either, but uploads of the materials from Armenia, as compared with the worldwide number, have increased almost ten times in recent years (Picture 6).

Thus, it becomes obvious that in recent years sharp, even dramatic increase of the number of Internet users and social network users is observed in Armenia. In fact, almost half of the population of the country is Internet users and this causes redistribution of information flows

Picture 6
Uploads of vdieo materials from Armenia on Youtube in 2009-2010 as copared with the worldwide data, according to Google Transparency Report


1 From now on Odnoklassniki social network is available in Armenian, Yerevan, Mediamax, June 22, http://www.mediamax.am/am/news/society/5281/

2 Top Sites in Armenia, http://www.alexa.com/topsites/countries/AM

3 The inner statistics of VKontakte provided to the advertisers.

“Globus” analytical journal, #12, 2012

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