Redefining how stories are read and shared

MANILA, Philippines - Chief executive officer and co-founder of Wattpad, Allen Lau, shared that there are more than five million monthly users of the Wattpad application in the Philippines as validation that people love to share stories through mobile devices and social connections. After the United States, the Philippines is the largest community of Wattpad users in the world.

 “Wattpad is a huge part of entertainment in the Philippines. In fact many Filipino bestsellers and blockbusters get a headstart on Wattpad,” said Allen Lau. “Last month, Filipino Wattpadders spent close to a billion minutes immersed in free stories. We’re excited and encouraged by the response we have had from the community in the Philippines.” 

The Philippines has been very prolific with 11 movies already adapted from Wattpad stories and close to 100 books published after their Wattpad stories were discovered by interested publishers. This is no mean feat for an app that promises, quite simply, to connect the world’s readers and writers.

 Based in Toronto, Wattpad is revolutionizing the way people read, write, and think about storytelling. Anyone with Internet access can read stories and share their own writing for free. To date, more than 35 million people all over the world are Wattpadders and they connect with each other while discovering and sharing millions of free stories.

 On Wattpad, readers can interact with the written word by leaving comments or messages or embedding images and videos for the authors. There are tens of thousands of stories generated and being revised each and every day. Wattpad stories are available in more than 50 languages and can be read or written from any phone, tablet, or computer.  Writers no longer have to stay stuck to their desk, brainstorming for creative story ideas. Writing stories are made easier now that authors can share their stories chapter-by-chapter in a supportive and positive community.

 Allen Lau recently presented on a panel called, “Wattpad: Redefining what it means to be a reader” at the SMX stage area. 

 “Having writers like Ariesa Domingo, Louisse Carreon, Sic Santos, Freesia Lockheart and their fans at MIBF sharing their support of a mobile, social storytelling means a lot to all of us at Wattpad,” added Lau. “Moving forward, we hope to convince more of the Philippines and the world to join us in spreading the love for reading and writing on the go.”