33 percent of Singapore’s Internet-using population regularly produce content on the Internet.* This includes blogs, webcasts, and podcasts. About 65 percent of Singapore's population goes online at least moderately or count themselves as casual users.

*Source: MDA (Media Development Authority)

MDA released these findings in conjunction with MediAction, a public outreach to further adoption and involvement in Internet usage throughout Singapore.

There are clear efforts from the government to push Singaporeans to be IT friendly and they are paying off. More malls are offerring free wireless access, enabling more Singaporeans to be connected more frequently and easily. As Singaporeans grow more tech-saavy, the need to engage them beyond the ubiquitous banner and email ads becomes more pressing.

Steve Robert Irwin, popular Australian conservationist and television personality, passed away on Sept 4th this year. His sudden death brought about high media attention.

Singaporeans felt the loss and many visited his website: www.crocodilehunter.com to pay homage. Besides checking in on the site, many bloggers posted their heartfelt feelings too. During the early Sept period, Blogpulse* tracked a sudden hike of the words "Steve Irwin".

*a blog search engine that analyzes and reports daily activity in the blogosphere

This observation shows how an offline occurance can have such a spiral effect on online behaviour. People no longer just rely on TV for information, but delve deeper through trawling the net. This goes for brands, celebrities and simply anything that catches the fancies of people. The internet had also ceased to be just a feeding channel, but also an outlet of expression - whatever that impacted the individual can now be freely 'feedbacked'.

© 2006 Zenithmedia
© 2006 Optimedia
© 2006 Equinox

Photos credited to media owners
and www.crocodilehunter.com