Albanians don't use the internet very much, but are among the first in Europe for political engagement on social networks

But Eurostat data, in publishing for Internet use in Europe, shows that they are among the first when it comes to expressing political or citizen opinions on social networks (with data referring to 2021, for those who have been using the internet over the past three months).

According to Eurostat, 26.5% of Albanian internet users between the ages of 16 and 74 use the internet for expressing opinions on political or citizen issues on the website and social networking, nearly 10 percentage points higher than the European Union average.

While for use of online banking, Albania is the last in Europe, with only 5.24% using it (out of 58% European average and 96% state with the highest rankings, Norway and Iceland), when it comes to expressing political opinions, our country ranks sixth, after Iceland, Finland, Denmark, Luxembourg and Italy.

Residents of other countries in the region are far less interested in expressing their political or civic opinions through social networks. Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia are the last in Europe, with less than 8%, Montenegro nearly 12%, while behind us is the highest social inclusion in the network in northern Macedonia, with 22%.

Although they prefer networks to express opinions about politics, to inform Albanian citizens continue to use traditional channels, especially television.

According to Eurostat, only 46% of internet users read online news and magazines -- the lowest percentage in Europe -- and well below the europoy average of 64%.

In addition to Albanians, the least interested in reading online news are Bulgarians (55.4%), Turks (53.6%), Italians (52%), Romanians (49%), while the most interested are the Irish and Norwegians (about 94-95%).

At the end of Europe, Albanian users are also listed for conducting online courses (only 2.5%), getting and sending e-mail (26.6%), getting information for goods and services (44%, the previous to Europe before Romania), the search for work (4.91% of the end in Europe, ahead of Bosnia and Herzegovina).

The absolutely lower use is for online sales, with only 0.54% of users, up from 18% which is the EU average and 43% having the Netherlands, the first in Europe.

Besides expressing opinions about politics, locals use the internet for phone calls or video calls (7.8%),

61% of users claim they are active in social networks, but ranking among the last 10 in Europe. /Monitpr.al