Poll: Bangkok youth use cell phones 3 hrs/day

BANGKOK: -- Most Bangkok teenagers spend an average of three hours every day talking on cell phones, while they are occupied 16 minutes a day with reading newspapers, according to a recent poll conducted by the Assumption University ABAC Poll.

The poll, conducted among 1,262 students and youth in Bangkok from November 26 to December 2, found that 95.7 per cent of the respondents spent an average of three hours per day talking on their mobile phones, followed by 94.6 per cent watching television an average of four hours a day, 88.3 per cent using computers for an average of three hours, 79.9 per cent on the internet for three hours and 77.4 per cent listening to radio programs on average for three hours per day.

Students in the capital spent only 16 minutes daily on reading newspapers and 75.1 per cent, or about three-fourths of the respondents, said they read some news on page one while over half--just 51.6 per cent--said they read magazines, but spent just 26 minutes a day on them.

According to Noppadol Kannikar, ABAC Poll director, Bangkok youths are not interested in reading, but prefer talking, watching TV and listening to radio, rather than following up news themselves.

The poll, he said, showed that 48.3 per cent of the respondents loved to chat on Internet an average of two hours a day while 45.4 per cent sent text messages and pictures via cell phones twice a day.

As many as 86.7 per cent of the respondents paid an average of Bt423.50 for monthly cell phone expenses while the rest had no idea as they did not pay the bill themselves.

Another concern lies on the fact that as many as 32.4 per cent watched porn pictures on websites and only 8 per cent watched 'clean' websites, according to the poll.

--TNA 2006-12-03

How do they manage to talk for three hours a day and still pay just 400 odd baht. I doubt I talk for three hours a year, but still manage to spend around 700 baht a month on top up cards

My guess is that the average Bangkok youth doesn't even have a cell phone.

Chownah

Called a friend of mine th'other night, 1 hour, 300 baht!

Where do they get the money?

BANGKOK: -- Most Bangkok teenagers spend an average of three hours every day talking on cell phones,

As many as 86.7 per cent of the respondents paid an average of Bt423.50 for monthly cell phone expenses while the rest had no idea as they did not pay the bill themselves.

So how do these youth manage to talk for an average of 90 hours on a cellphone for an average cost of BT423.50 per month.

Is there some magic cellphone, free minutes plan that I've missed. Does anyone have any information? With all the cell phone information exclusively in Thai, it's hard to know much about the plans. Maybe they're trying to discourage farangs from availing themselves of cheap rates.

So how do these youth manage to talk for an average of 90 hours on a cellphone for an average cost of BT423.50 per month.

Is there some magic cellphone, free minutes plan that I've missed. Does anyone have any information?

There are some postpaid plans that allow for unlimited calling during certain hours, usually a timeframe such as 05:00-17:00.

Edited December 4, 200619 yr by ovenman

I think this study is flawed--or the way it is reported is flawed. First, what group did it survey. If they were random teens, then I think it is just plain wrong. If it is teens with mobile phones only, then we might be getting close, but 3 hours is a long time for an average!

I think this study is flawed--

Yes: Never trust in studies you didn't fake yourself.

95.7 per cent on mobile phone 3 hrs/day

94.6 per cent watching television 4 hrs / day

88.3 per cent using computers 3 hrs / day

79.9 per cent on the internet 3 hrs / day

77.4 per cent listening to radio 3 hrs / day

total 16 hrs/day for most!

when do they have the time to answer ABAC polls?

95.7 per cent on mobile phone 3 hrs/day

94.6 per cent watching television 4 hrs / day

88.3 per cent using computers 3 hrs / day

79.9 per cent on the internet 3 hrs / day

77.4 per cent listening to radio 3 hrs / day

total 16 hrs/day for most!

when do they have the time to answer ABAC polls?

When they are not reading the newspaper (average 8 seconds/day, ooops sorry , "16 minutes/day").

How do they manage to talk for three hours a day and still pay just 400 odd baht. I doubt I talk for three hours a year, but still manage to spend around 700 baht a month on top up cards

'Buffet' promotion by Dtec

Monthly subscribtion = 299 baht

Phone calls made between 5.00am to 5.00pm is FREE = 12 hrs !

That is for the 1st & 2nd month.

3rd mth onwards, calls made to Dtec numbers will be free. But others like 1-2 call or True move etc will be charged.

So, there you go, the youth in the survey must be Dtec subscribers But they seems to be only making use of just 25 percent of the total hrs allowed

I use True Move (forget which promotion package) but it is damned cheap.

I have a real problem using all the credit up before expiry. My phone credit is now 2400(ish) baht purely because I have to re-credit it to get the extended time. Also everytime you re-credit you get extra free credit making it even more difficult to use up

7/11 are aslo doing a special promotion at the moment. When you buy stuff you get little stickers/stamps.

5 stamps=free true move sim card which also comes with 30 THB credit.

Maybe all the students are working at 7/11 and using their 5 fingered discount:P

May be the students only pay an average 428 Baht, did the reseachers ask how much other people contributed to the cost?