While it is no surprise that Maltese internet users are somewhat obsessed with social media, he EU's statistics office Eurostat has confirmed that it is the second highest EU state logged on to such services.
Eurostat has updated data on internet usage, released on 13 July, among the 28 member states. The data delves into personal internet usage, household data and businesses' use of internet through targeted ads and social media.
It found that in the EU, 63 per cent of internet users aged between 16 and 74 used social networks in 2016. The number one EU state for social media usage was Hungary at 83 per cent, followed by Malta at 82 per cent, and Belgium in third place at 80 per cent.
Some statistics are expected, such as Malta ranking number one in the employment of people educated in ICT at 98 per cent - meaning that 98 per cent of those who are educated in ICT are currently employed in the sector. In view of the labour market thriving on services based jobs, such as finance, insurance, catering and ICT, this news comes as no surprise.
Online usage: reading news, making video calls, listening to music and more
Of those aged 16 to 24, the proportion of internet users who are active on social media rises to 96 per cent. Interestingly, senior citizens in Malta are also more social media savvy than their European counterparts. The EU average for those aged between 64 and 75 is 32 per cent, but this figure rises to 51 per cent in Malta.
Turning to online phone or video calls, which are often used through services such as WhatsApp, Skype, Facebook and Facetime, Malta ranks 11th highest in the 28-member bloc. Among internet users aged between 16 and 75, 48 per cent use online services for phone and video calls. The figure rises to 63 per cent among those aged between 16 and 24, and drops to 45 per cent for those aged 65 and 74 - further reinforcing the idea that elderly people in Malta are increasingly making use of online services.
With regards online news, which has for the most part remained a free service among local news providers, Malta ranks number 12 in the EU. A proportion of 79 per cent of internet users aged between 16 and 75 say they access news online. This category registered the least discrepancy between young internet users (16-24) and older internet users (64-75), at 71 and 77 per cent respectively.
Oddly enough, the EU country with the least proportion of internet users reading online news is Ireland, at just 49 per cent, with the number one country being Luxembourg with 93 per cent of internet users.
It is no surprise that Malta ranks high for listening to music online, in view of the small local market and the accompanying unfeasibility for radio and television stations to pay royalties for a vast array of international music. Malta ranked number three for online music listeners at 65 per cent, with the EU average being 50 per cent. A proportion of 88 per cent of young internet users say they listen to their music online, with the figure plunging by more than half for older internet users (40 per cent).
Malta is the sixth highest member state where people view videos online, either though commercial services such as Netflix or sharing services such as YouTube. A proportion of 79 per cent say they watch online videos, with a staggering 95 per cent of 16-24-year-olds and 58 per cent of 64-75- year-olds who also watch online videos.
Internet banking, e-mails, travel and accommodation
While the Maltese love their social media, there is still some way to go for internet banking, with the island ranking 15th highest of all 28 EU states. A proportion of 60 per cent of internet users say they do, just above the EU average of 59 per cent. Fifty-seven per cent of 16- to 24-year-olds make use of this service, dipping to 46 per cent for those aged 64 to 75.
The EU nation that makes the most of internet banking is Finland at 92 per cent, while Bulgaria registers the least usage at just seven per cent.
Many students cannot imagine carrying out research without using the internet as a first point of reference. Overall however, Malta ranks 16th in the EU for internet users looking for information online, at 83 per cent. Among internet users aged 16-24, 85 per cent say they look for information online, with just 61 per cent of older internet users saying they also do this.
Italy is the country with the least proportion of internet users who research online at just 50 per cent, while Germany was registered first at 92 per cent.
Turning to sending and receiving e-mails, 80 per cent of internet users in Malta do this, with a high 73 per cent of 65-74-year-olds who also use this. Malta is 19th out of the 28 member states.
Mobile internet usage, households with fixed broadband
The EU average for 16-75 year-olds who access internet through mobile phones stands at 79 per cent. In the case of Malta, the figure is slightly higher at 83 per cent. Ninety-three per cent say they access the internet from any device or platform on a daily basis.
Malta has also surpassed the EU average for households with a fixed broadband connection, at 80 and 74 per cent respectively. This is taken as a percentage of all households in whichever member state is being surveyed. Italy is last with just 55 per cent, while Luxembourg is number one at 96 per cent.
Shopping online
Malta tied in second place for internet users ordering clothes and sports goods online, at 72 per cent, surpassed only by Bulgaria at 78 per cent.
Local businesses and the internet, how tech savvy are Maltese businesses?
The tiny island in the heart of the Mediterranean has continued to surpass the EU average across a number of categories, with 77 per cent of local businesses registering a mobile broadband connection. This is eight points higher than the EU average of 69 per cent.
With regard to how many businesses provide their employees with a portable device, taken again as a percentage of all businesses, Malta registered 73 per cent, with the EU average at 69 per cent.
Among the EU, the highest share of businesses with internet access with social media networks were recorded in Malta at 73 per cent. Malta continued to rank number one as regards internet advertising among local businesses (47 per cent), share of younger ICT specialists (15-34 years, 63 per cent) and highest employment rate for persons with an ICT education (98 per cent).
Locally, there was the highest rate for businesses trying to recruit or having managed to recruit an ICT specialist at 15 per cent, followed by Spain, Luxembourg and the UK at 13 per cent each.
In terms of businesses with an ICT security policy with a focus on disclosure of confidential data, Malta again came number one at 92 per cent, surpassing the UK and Ireland who are tied at 91 per cent.