Market leader Facebook was the first social network to surpass one billion registered accounts and currently sits at more than three billion monthly active users. Meta Platforms owns four of the biggest social media platforms, all with more than one billion monthly active users each: Facebook (core platform), WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, and Instagram. In the third quarter of 2023, Facebook reported around four billion monthly core Family product users. The United States and China account for the most high-profile social platforms Most top ranked social networks with more than 100 million users originated in the United States, but services like Chinese social networks WeChat, QQ or video sharing app Douyin have also garnered mainstream appeal in their respective regions due to local context and content. Douyin’s popularity has led to the platform releasing an international version of its network: a little app called TikTok. How many people use social media? The leading social networks are usually available in multiple languages and enable users to connect with friends or people across geographical, political, or economic borders. In 2025, social networking sites are estimated to reach 5.42 billion users and these figures are still expected to grow as mobile device usage and mobile social networks increasingly gain traction in previously underserved markets.

Which county has the most Facebook users?

              There are more than 378 million Facebook users in India alone, making it the leading country in terms of Facebook audience size. To put this into context, if India’s Facebook audience were a country then it would be ranked third in terms of largest population worldwide. Apart from India, there are several other markets with more than 100 million Facebook users each: The United States, Indonesia, and Brazil with 193.8 million, 119.05 million, and 112.55 million Facebook users respectively.

              Facebook – the most used social media

              Meta, the company that was previously called Facebook, owns four of the most popular social media platforms worldwide, WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, Facebook, and Instagram. As of the third quarter of 2021, there were around 3,5 billion cumulative monthly users of the company’s products worldwide. With around 2.9 billion monthly active users, Facebook is the most popular social media worldwide. With an audience of this scale, it is no surprise that the vast majority of Facebook’s revenue is generated through advertising.

              Facebook usage by device
              As of July 2021, it was found that 98.5 percent of active users accessed their Facebook account from mobile devices. In fact, almost 81.8 percent of Facebook audiences worldwide access the platform only via mobile phone. Facebook is not only available through mobile browser as the company has published several mobile apps for users to access their products and services. As of the third quarter 2021, the four core Meta products were leading the ranking of most downloaded mobile apps worldwide, with WhatsApp amassing approximately six billion downloads.

The average Facebook user spends about 19.6 per month on Facebook every month. This works out to be about 39 minutes per day.

TikTok comes in 6th position in a list of the world’s most-used social media sites today.

As of April 2024, around 16.5 percent of global active Instagram users were men between the ages of 18 and 24 years. More than half of the global Instagram population worldwide was aged 34 years or younger.

              Teens and social media

              As one of the biggest social networks worldwide, Instagram is especially popular with teenagers. As of fall 2020, the photo-sharing app ranked third in terms of preferred social network among teenagers in the United States, second to Snapchat and TikTok. Instagram was one of the most influential advertising channels among female Gen Z users when making purchasing decisions. Teens report feeling more confident, popular, and better about themselves when using social media, and less lonely, depressed and anxious.
              Social media can have negative effects on teens, which is also much more pronounced on those with low emotional well-being. It was found that 35 percent of teenagers with low social-emotional well-being reported to have experienced cyber bullying when using social media, while in comparison only five percent of teenagers with high social-emotional well-being stated the same. As such, social media can have a big impact on already fragile states of mind.

YouTube gets an average of 14.3 billion total worldwide visits every month.

Facebook is fast approaching 3 billion monthly active users. That’s about 36% of the world’s entire population that log in and use Facebook at least once a month.

Instagram’s most popular post

              As of April 2024, the most popular post on Instagram was Lionel Messi and his teammates after winning the 2022 FIFA World Cup with Argentina, posted by the account @leomessi. Messi's post, which racked up over 61 million likes within a day, knocked off the reigning post, which was 'Photo of an Egg'. Originally posted in January 2021, 'Photo of an Egg' surpassed the world’s most popular Instagram post at that time, which was a photo by Kylie Jenner’s daughter totaling 18 million likes.
              After several cryptic posts published by the account, World Record Egg revealed itself to be a part of a mental health campaign aimed at the pressures of social media use.

              Instagram’s most popular accounts

              As of April 2024, the official Instagram account @instagram had the most followers of any account on the platform, with 672 million followers. Portuguese footballer Cristiano Ronaldo (@cristiano) was the most followed individual with 628 million followers, while Selena Gomez (@selenagomez) was the most followed woman on the platform with 429 million. Additionally, Inter Miami CF striker Lionel Messi (@leomessi) had a total of 502 million. Celebrities such as The Rock, Kylie Jenner, and Ariana Grande all had over 380 million followers each.

              Instagram influencers

              In the United States, the leading content category of Instagram influencers was lifestyle, with 15.25 percent of influencers creating lifestyle content in 2021. Music ranked in second place with 10.96 percent, followed by family with 8.24 percent. Having a large audience can be very lucrative: Instagram influencers in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom with over 90,000 followers made around 1,221 US dollars per post.

              Instagram around the globe

              Instagram’s worldwide popularity continues to grow, and India is the leading country in terms of number of users, with over 362.9 million users as of January 2024. The United States had 169.65 million Instagram users and Brazil had 134.6 million users. The social media platform was also very popular in Indonesia and Turkey, with 100.9 and 57.1, respectively. As of January 2024, Instagram was the fourth most popular social network in the world, behind Facebook, YouTube and WhatsApp.

59% of adults in the united states are using Instagram daily.

As of January 2024, Instagram was slightly more popular with men than women, with men accounting for 50.6 percent of the platform’s global users. Additionally, the social media app was most popular amongst younger audiences, with almost 32 percent of users aged between 18 and 24 years.

              Instagram’s Global Audience

              As of January 2024, Instagram was the fourth most popular social media platform globally, reaching two billion monthly active users (MAU). This number is projected to keep growing with no signs of slowing down, which is not a surprise as the global online social penetration rate across all regions is constantly increasing.
              As of January 2024, the country with the largest Instagram audience was India with 362.9 million users, followed by the United States with 169.7 million users.

              Who is winning over the generations?

              Even though Instagram’s audience is almost twice the size of TikTok’s on a global scale, TikTok has shown itself to be a fierce competitor, particularly amongst younger audiences. TikTok was the most downloaded mobile app globally in 2022, generating 672 million downloads. As of 2022, Generation Z in the United States spent more time on TikTok than on Instagram monthly.

YouTube boasts an average of 23.7 hours per month spent by users.

The global mobile live broadcast software market is experiencing robust growth, driven by the increasing adoption of smartphones, the rise of social media platforms incorporating live streaming features, and the expanding popularity of live e-commerce. The market, estimated at $15 billion in 2025, is projected to witness a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 18% from 2025 to 2033, reaching an estimated $50 billion by 2033. This substantial growth is fueled by several key factors. The proliferation of high-speed internet access, particularly in developing economies, is making live streaming more accessible to a wider audience. Furthermore, advancements in mobile technology, including improved camera quality and bandwidth capabilities, are enhancing the user experience and driving adoption. The integration of live streaming into various applications, from social media and gaming to education and e-commerce, is further expanding the market's reach and potential. The increasing demand for interactive and engaging content is also a significant driver, with users seeking real-time communication and experiences. However, challenges such as bandwidth limitations in certain regions, concerns over data privacy and security, and the need for robust monetization strategies for broadcasters remain. Segmentation analysis reveals that the Android version of mobile live broadcast software holds a larger market share compared to its iOS counterpart, reflecting the greater global penetration of Android devices. The commercial segment dominates application-based segmentation, driven by the utilization of live streaming for marketing, sales, and customer engagement. Key players like Facebook Live, YouTube Live, and TikTok (Douyin) are shaping market dynamics through continuous innovation and aggressive expansion strategies. Geographic analysis indicates significant growth potential in Asia-Pacific and other emerging markets, where smartphone penetration and internet usage are rapidly increasing. North America and Europe, however, continue to hold substantial market shares due to high early adoption and advanced technological infrastructure. The continued innovation in areas like interactive features, augmented reality integration, and advanced analytics will likely further propel market expansion in the coming years.

The vast majority of TikTok users are below 30 years old. Approximately 37 million Gen-Zers used TikTok in the US.

80% of parents say that their children under the age of 11 watch YouTube regularly.

As of January 2024, #love was the most used hashtag on Instagram, being included in over two billion posts on the social media platform. #Instagood and #instagram were used over one billion times as of early 2024.

Users spend an average of 19.6 hours per month on TikTok alone. This works out to be approximately 39 minutes per day.

According to Cognitive Market Research, the global Social Commerce Market size will be USD 769485.2 million in 2024. It will expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 32.20% from 2024 to 2031.

North America held the major market share for more than 40% of the global revenue with a market size of USD 307794.08 million in 2024 and will grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 30.4% from 2024 to 2031.
Europe accounted for a market share of over 30% of the global revenue with a market size of USD 230845.56 million.
Asia Pacific held a market share of around 23% of the global revenue with a market size of USD 176981.60 million in 2024 and will grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 34.2% from 2024 to 2031.
Latin America had a market share of more than 5% of the global revenue with a market size of USD 38474.26 million in 2024 and will grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 31.6% from 2024 to 2031.
Middle East and Africa had a market share of around 2% of the global revenue and was estimated at a market size of USD 15389.70 million in 2024 and will grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 31.9% from 2024 to 2031.
The business to consumer (B2C) held the highest Social Commerce Market revenue share in 2024.

Market Dynamics of Social Commerce Market

Key Drivers for Social Commerce Market

The rise of social media is driving the growth of social commerce: The growth of social commerce is heavily influenced by the rise of social media and its increased usage on mobile devices. Social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and WhatsApp have become major hubs for online shoppers. Customers are more likely to find and buy products directly from social media platforms than from traditional e-commerce websites since they spend more time on these channels.

For instance,

 5.24 billion use social media worldwide, as of January, 2025.Facebook remains to be the leading social media platform with over 3 billion monthly active users, followed by YouTube with 2.5 billion and Instagram with 2 billion monthly active users.
90% of consumers rely on social media to keep up with trends and cultural moments and nearly half of them interact with brands more often on social media platforms. 

(Source: https://backlinko.com/social-media-users)

https://sproutsocial.com/insights/social-media-statistics/#social-media-usage-statistics)

Advancements in Technology to Propel Market Growth: The Social Commerce Market has witnessed steady growth, driven by advancements in technology. Mobile technology has advanced significantly over the last ten years, and smartphones are now an essential part of people's everyday lives. Users are increasingly choosing to shop straight from their smartphones because to improved smartphone capabilities and internet connectivity, which has expanded mobile commerce. Additionally, more people are using smartphones due to rising disposable incomes, which ultimately enhances the social commerce market value environment.

Key Restraint for the Social Commerce Market

Growing concerns around data privacy restrict market growth: Concerns regarding privacy are hindering the expansion of social commerce, as individuals are reluctant to disclose financial or personal information on various platforms. The apprehension surrounding data breaches and potential misuse diminishes trust and affects transaction volumes. It is imperative for companies to implement secure and transparent practices in order to maintain user confidence and adhere to the growing data protection regulations globally.

Key Trends for the Social Commerce Market

The Emergence of Live Shopping and Influencer Commerce: Live shopping and promotions led by influencers are revolutionizing social media platforms into dynamic marketplaces. Consumers are increasingly placing their trust in the product reviews and recommendations provided by creators, which enhances both engagement and conversion rates. This phenomenon is particularly evident on TikTok and Instagram, where influencers conduct interactive shopping events that are directly connected to in-app purchasing.

AI-Enhanced Personalization and Intelligent Chatbots: Social commerce platforms are utilizing artificial intelligence to offer tailored product suggestions and efficient customer support. Intelligent chatbots deliver immediate assistance, thereby e...

As of September 2023, YouTube as the most popular social media platform for global users, with 97 percent of respondents reporting to use the popular video platform. YouTube was also the most popular social media among Gen Z users, with 96 percent of respondents in this age group reporting to have used the video platform as of the examined period. Facebook's usage kept steady among among the general digital population, with around eight in 10 reporting to have used the platform. In comparison, the social media's popularity was in free fall among gen Z users with only four in 10 among those surveyed reporting to engage with the Meta-powered platform.

There are over 2 billion registered users on Instagram in 2025.

Cristiano Ronaldo has one of the most popular Instagram accounts as of April 2024.

              The Portuguese footballer is the most-followed person on the photo sharing app platform with 628 million followers. Instagram's own account was ranked first with roughly 672 million followers.

              How popular is Instagram?

              Instagram is a photo-sharing social networking service that enables users to take pictures and edit them with filters. The platform allows users to post and share their images online and directly with their friends and followers on the social network. The cross-platform app reached one billion monthly active users in mid-2018. In 2020, there were over 114 million Instagram users in the United States and experts project this figure to surpass 127 million users in 2023.

              Who uses Instagram?

              Instagram audiences are predominantly young – recent data states that almost 60 percent of U.S. Instagram users are aged 34 years or younger. Fall 2020 data reveals that Instagram is also one of the most popular social media for teens and one of the social networks with the biggest reach among teens in the United States.

              Celebrity influencers on Instagram
              Many celebrities and athletes are brand spokespeople and generate additional income with social media advertising and sponsored content. Unsurprisingly, Ronaldo ranked first again, as the average media value of one of his Instagram posts was 985,441 U.S. dollars.