In March 2025, ******** accounted for ** percent of all social media site visits in the United States, confirming its position as the leading social media website by far. Other social media platforms, despite their popularity, had to make do with smaller shares of visits across desktop, mobile, and tablet devices combined. ********* ranked second with ***** percent of all U.S. social media site visits, while X (previously Twitter) accounted for ***** percent of the total visits in the country. Additionally, the U.S. is home to the third largest social media audience worldwide. Facebook: mobile vs desktop usage At the beginning of 2022, around ** percent of Facebook users across the globe were using the platform’s social networking services exclusively via mobile phone, while only *** percent reported using their desktop or laptop devices. In September 2022, three Facebook Inc. products occupied some of the leading positions as most downloaded social networking apps on the Apple App Store in the United States. WhatsApp’s messaging platform ranked second with more than *** million downloads, while Facebook and the instant-messaging service Messenger followed ranking third and fifth with *** million and **** million downloads respectively. Social media evolution Between 2012 and 2024, the daily time spent on social networks worldwide experienced an almost constant increase, with users reaching an average of *** minutes per day in 2023, with a decrease to *** daily minutes of engagement in 2024. However, users’ favorite platforms have changed since 2019, and the power balance appears to be shifting further from Facebook’s market dominance. Not only Facebook’s user growth rate is estimated to slow down in the next years, but users belonging to Generation Z appear to prefer video-first social platforms like Snapchat, TikTok, and YouTube.

The largest social media IPO seen in the last 15 years was Facebook, which went public in May 2012 with a valuation of 104 billion U.S. dollars. Snapchat ranked second, with a valuation of 24 billion U.S. dollars in March 2017. Twitter – later known as X after its 2023 acquisition and subsequent delisting – went public in with a valuation of 18 billion U.S. dollars. Former U.S president Trump's social media app Truth Social went public on March 26, 2024, after merging with Digital World Acquisition Corp.

Digital IPOs in the U.S. The year 2021 was characterized by the highest number of IPOs recorded in the U.S. since 2000, with over a thousand companies entering the public market. During the first years of the COVD-19 pandemic, the digital and tech sectors enjoyed stellar development thanks to the increase in usage and inflated adoption trends of digital solutions among global users. In comparison, 2022 was characterized by an unusually quiet public market. Snap Inc and Meta, as well as other social media platforms, reported a loss in expected revenue driven by a slowing advertising spending trend.

While social video and streaming platform Rumble filed to go public via SPAC merger in September 2022, market volatility dragged IPO plans for others. At the end of 2023, the market appeared to be in recovery for digital companies. Fast-fashion brand Shein entered the U.S. public market in September, followed by Instacart in November.

Reddit’s IPO Reddit's entrance into the public market is expected to be the largest social media IPO since 2019, when Pinterest became a public company with a valuation of 10 billion U.S. dollars. Reddit, which is expected to go public in March 2024, is reportedly seeking a valuation of 6.5 million U.S. dollars. The company had previously reached a valuation of 10 billion U.S. dollars, after securing 410 million U.S. dollars in its Series F funding in August 2021. In February 2024, Reddit gave potential investors a peek into its financials, by releasing the company’s S1 registration statement: the company was not yet profitable in 2023, with a negative EBITDA of 70 billion U.S. dollars. Despite not having released a planned price for its stocks, Reddit invited some of its users to pre-register and grab the possibility of buying into Reddit.

During a 2024 survey among marketers worldwide, around 86 percent reported using Facebook for marketing purposes. Instagram and LinkedIn followed, respectively mentioned by 79 and 65 percent of the respondents. The global social media marketing segment According to the same study, 59 percent of responding marketers intended to increase their organic use of YouTube for marketing purposes throughout that year. LinkedIn and Instagram followed with similar shares, rounding up the top three social media platforms attracting a planned growth in organic use among global marketers in 2024. Their main driver is increasing brand exposure and traffic, which led the ranking of benefits of social media marketing worldwide. Social media for B2B marketing Social media platform adoption rates among business-to-consumer (B2C) and business-to-business (B2B) marketers vary according to each subsegment's focus. While B2C professionals prioritize Facebook and Instagram – both run by Meta, Inc. – due to their popularity among online audiences, B2B marketers concentrate their endeavors on Microsoft-owned LinkedIn due to its goal to connect people and companies in a corporate context.

Dark social refers to web traffic from internet users who share content with each other instead of sharing it publicly. Based a February 2019 survey, 63 percent of internet users from the United States and the UK stated that they were likely to share content and information to their peers through private messaging apps.

Snapshot img

Stock Video Market Size 2025-2029

The stock video market size is forecast to increase by USD 369.6 million at a CAGR of 7.7% between 2024 and 2029.

The market is experiencing significant growth, driven by the increasing adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) technologies in visual content creation. This trend is transforming the way businesses and media organizations produce engaging and high-quality content for their audiences. However, the high price point of stock videos remains a challenge for some, particularly smaller businesses and independent content creators. Despite this, the market's potential is vast, with opportunities in various sectors such as advertising, marketing, social media, and education. The integration of AI and ML in stock videos enables more personalized and targeted content, enhancing user experience and engagement. Companies seeking to capitalize on this market's opportunities should focus on offering affordable yet high-quality stock videos and exploring collaborations with AI and ML technology providers. Navigating the challenges effectively requires a deep of the market dynamics and staying updated on the latest trends and advancements.

What will be the Size of the Stock Video Market during the forecast period?

Request Free SampleThe market encompasses various elements, including image branding, visual marketing, and footage libraries. Businesses increasingly rely on video storytelling and content distribution to engage audiences. Post-production and production companies offer video animation, looping animations, and 360 degree videos, among other services. Image copyright and metadata management are crucial for effective visual search. Creative Commons images and video licensing agreements facilitate content usage. Product demos, wedding videography, and video branding are popular applications. Stock photography trends influence video content marketing, with high-quality footage and animated explainer videos being in demand. Virtual reality videos and video are emerging areas of interest. Video content strategy and distribution are essential for effective video advertising. Image search optimization and usage guidelines ensure legal and ethical use of visual content. Corporate and professional video production services provide customized solutions for businesses. Drone photography and motion graphics add depth to video content. The marketplace continues to evolve, offering a vast array of options for businesses seeking to enhance their visual content strategy.

How is this Stock Video Industry segmented?

The stock video industry research report provides comprehensive data (region-wise segment analysis), with forecasts and estimates in 'USD million' for the period 2025-2029, as well as historical data from 2019-2023 for the following segments. ApplicationEditorialCommercialImage SourceMacrostockMicrostockLicense ModelRMRFTypeSubscriptionPay per downloadEnterprise licensingDistribution ChannelStock video platformsSocial media and creator platformsDirect sales and agenciesCloud-based video librariesGeographyNorth AmericaUSCanadaEuropeFranceGermanyItalyUKAPACIndiaJapanSouth KoreaMiddle East and AfricaSouth AmericaBrazil

By Application Insights

The editorial segment is estimated to witness significant growth during the forecast period.Stock videos play a significant role in various commercial applications, including advertising campaigns, television and film productions, branding and promotional videos, social media content, and website introductions. For stock videos used in commercial contexts, it's essential to obtain a model release from the videographer or artist for each person featured in the video. Model releases are legal documents granting permission for the likeness of individuals to be used commercially. The escalating spending on advertising and digital marketing has fueled the demand for stock videos. In addition to commercial applications, stock videos are also utilized in educational movies, corporate communications, and documentaries for non-commercial purposes. The use of stock footage in media production has become increasingly popular due to advancements in video production technology and the availability of high-quality, ultra-high resolution videos. Digital media platforms, such as social media, have revolutionized the way content is created, shared, and consumed. Stock video agencies, filmmakers, and individual creators offer their content on various platforms, including Adobe Stock, Getty Images, and Pexel. However, copyright infringement issues can arise when using unlicensed content, making it crucial to ensure proper licensing and attribution. Blockchain technology and AI are transforming the stock video industry by providing secure, decentralized platforms for content distribution and licensing. Drones and vertical formats, such as 4k and virtual r

Snapshot img

Stock Images Market Size 2025-2029

The stock images market size is forecast to increase by USD 1.28 billion at a CAGR of 5.3% between 2024 and 2029. The market is experiencing significant growth due to the increasing use of visual content in digital and social media marketing.

Major Market Trends & Insights

North America dominated the market and accounted for a 43% share in 2023.
The market is expected to grow significantly in Europe region as well over the forecast period.
Based on the Application, the editorial segment led the market and was valued at USD 2.14 billion of the global revenue in 2023.
Based on the Product, the still images segment accounted for the largest market revenue share in 2023.

Market Size & Forecast

Market Opportunities: USD 4.34 Billion
Future Opportunities: USD 1.28 Billion
CAGR (2024-2029): 5.3%
North America: Largest market in 2023

Understanding Image Market Dynamics and Trends Image search relevance and accuracy play a crucial role in the business world, as companies strive to optimize their online presence. Image usage statistics indicate a significant increase in the demand for high-quality, licensed images. Image search optimization, compression, and usage guidelines are essential for businesses to effectively utilize images in their digital marketing strategies. Image licensing fees, recognition, rights management, and content moderation are key aspects of image market trends. The importance of image authentication, security, and intellectual property protection cannot be overstated. Image segmentation, analysis, and performance metrics are vital for businesses seeking to enhance their brand image.

What will be the Size of the Stock Images Market during the forecast period?

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In the realm of advanced technology, AI-powered image generation, 3D rendering, and image management systems are revolutionizing the way businesses handle their visual content. Image classification, filtering, and analytics offer valuable insights for businesses to make informed decisions. Image copyright infringement, pricing models, and watermarking are essential considerations when it comes to image usage. Image search algorithm and filters enable businesses to efficiently find and use relevant images. Image content filtering and image workflow optimization streamline the process of managing vast image libraries. Stock videos and digital art are also gaining popularity in the business world, offering unique opportunities for creative expression and storytelling. The commercial segment is the second largest segment of the application and was valued at USD 1.99 billion in 2023. 
Image search results and image content moderation ensure that businesses maintain a professional image online. Image recognition, image rights management, and image performance metrics are essential for businesses to navigate the complex image market landscape. By staying informed about these trends and best practices, businesses can effectively leverage images to enhance their brand image and online presence.

This trend is driven by the rising investments in related business portfolios, as companies recognize the value of engaging visuals in their marketing strategies. However, this market is not without challenges. Declining profit margins due to increasing competition and the availability of free or low-cost alternatives are putting pressure on market players. To capitalize on opportunities and navigate these challenges effectively, companies must focus on offering high-quality, unique, and exclusive images that differentiate them from competitors. Additionally, exploring new revenue streams, such as licensing models or subscription services, can help mitigate the impact of declining profit margins.

Overall, the market presents both opportunities and challenges for businesses seeking to leverage the power of visual content in their marketing efforts. Companies that can effectively address these challenges and offer unique value propositions are well-positioned for success.

How is this Stock Images Industry segmented?

The stock images industry research report provides comprehensive data (region-wise segment analysis), with forecasts and estimates in 'USD million' for the period 2025-2029, as well as historical data from 2019-2023 for the following segments.

Application

  Editorial
  Commercial


Product

  Still images
  Footage


Type

  Free
  Paid
  Free
  Paid


Geography

  North America

    US
    Canada


  Europe

    France
    Germany
    Italy
    UK


  APAC

    China
    India
    Japan
    South Korea

By Application Insights

The editorial segment is estimated to witness significant growth during the forecast period. The segment was valued at USD 2.14 billion in 2023. It continued to the largest segment at a CAGR of 4.01%.

The editorial segment represents a significant

Stocks of video game retailer GameStop exploded in January 2021, effectively doubling in value on a daily basis. At the close of trading on January 27, GameStop Corporation's stock price reaching 86.88 U.S. dollars per share - or +134 percent compared to the day before. On December 30, 2020, the price was valued at 4.82 U.S. dollars per share. The cause of this dramatic increase is a concerted effort via social media to raise the value of the company's stock, intended to negatively affect professional investors planning to ‘short sell’ GameStop shares. As professional investors started moving away from GameStop the stock price began to fall, stabilizing at around 11-13 U.S. dollars in mid-February. However, stock prices unexpectedly doubled again on February 24, and continued to rise, reaching 66.25 U.S. dollars at the close of trade on March 10. The reasons for this second increase are not fully clear. At the close of trade on January 29, 2025, GameStop shares were trading at nearly 27.5 U.S. dollars. Who are GameStop? GameStop are a retailer of video games and associated merchandise headquartered in a suburbs of Dallas, Texas, but with stores throughout North America, Europe, Australia and New Zealand. As of February 2020 the group maintained just over 5,500 stores, variously under the GameStop, EB Games, ThinkGeek, and Micromania-Zing brands. The company's main revenue source in 2020 was hardware and accessories - a change from 2019, when software sales were the main source of revenue. While the company saw success in the decade up to 2016 (owing to the constant growth of the video game industry), GameStop experienced declining sales since because consumers increasingly purchased video games digitally. It is this continual decline, combined with the effect of the global coronavirus pandemic on traditional retail outlets, that led many institutional investors to see GameStop as a good opportunity for short selling. What is short selling? Short selling is where an investor effectively bets on a the price of a financial asset falling. To do this, an investor borrows shares (or some other asset) via an agreement that the same number of shares be returned at a future date. They can then sell the borrowed shares, and purchase the same number back once the price has fallen to make a profit. Obviously, this strategy only works when the share price does fall – otherwise the borrowed stocks need to be repurchased at a higher price, causing a loss. In the case of GameStop, a deliberate campaign was arranged via social media (particularly Reddit) for individuals to purchase GameStop shares, thus driving the price higher. As a result, some estimates place the loss to institutional investors in January 2021 alone at around 20 billion U.S. dollars. However, once many of these investors had 'closed out' their position by returning the shares they borrowed, demand for GameStop stock fell, leading to the price reduction seen early in early February. A similar dynamic was seen at the same time with the share price of U.S. cinema operator AMC.

With approximately 1.6 billion video views in March 2019, LADbible was ranked first among the most watched Facebook video publishers. Second-ranked UNILAD generated 1.6 billion video views. Both social news and entertainment publishers are owned by the British media company The LADbible Group Ltd.

Social video consumption Watching a video on the likes of Facebook or Instagram is now part of everyday social media usage. Whilst YouTube is as popular as ever, it is no longer the only source out there for online video viewers. With companies and influencers utilizing video for marketing purposes on Instagram, concertgoers broadcasting the event to their friends via Facebook Live and Twitter users endlessly retweeting their favorite vlogs, video content on social is here to stay. Social media is an important channel for video producers and many traditional media brands have started to generate content specifically to be distributed and discussed on social platforms. News, ads, viral moments, celebrity vlogs, sporting clips – the variety of video clips on social media is seemingly endless and users are highly engaged with video content on Facebook. As of February 2018, Facebook ranked first among social video platforms, accounting for a significant share of social media video posts across all tiers of influencers. The network accounted for 50 percent of social video posts by celebrity influencers with more than 20 million followers.

Mobile social video
A significant chunk of social video is consumed via mobile. One of the most popular mobile video apps is TikTok, which has over 3.7 million monthly active users in the United States. TikTok is a mobile app for creating and sharing short videos, which also can be edited in-app. The app merged with Musical.ly in August 2018, thus gaining access to the teenage online user market in the United States. Popular types of TikTok videos include dances, comedy sketches or lip-synchs to songs. The platform is frequently considered the spiritual successor to the now-defunct mobile video app Vine, and popular TikTok videos are frequently shared across other social networks.

As of the latest reported period, WhatsApp had more than half a billion daily active Status users worldwide, up from 450 million global DAU in the second quarter of 2018. WhatsApp Status is similar to the Stories feature of other social apps such as Snapchat and Instagram, allowing users to share photos, videos and text that disappear after 24 hours. WhatsApp usage in the United States With over 1.5 billion monthly active users, WhatsApp is the most popular mobile messenger app worldwide. As of 2019, the chat app had an estimated 68 million users in the United States, with forecasts projecting an audience size of almost 86 million users in 2023. Despite a sizable app audience, WhatsApp still lags behind competitors Facebook Messenger and Snapchat in terms of U.S. mobile reach and brand awareness. However, according to recent industry data, user engagement with WhatsApp grew 44 percent year-over-year, putting it ahead of other social networks including Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. WhatsApp and Facebook In February 2014, WhatsApp was acquired by Facebook for a then unheard-of figure for such a purchase – 19 billion U.S. dollars. The mobile messenger is one of Facebook’s four billion-user properties, along with the core Facebook platform, Facebook Messenger and Instagram. During the first quarter of 2019, Facebook stated that 2.7 billion people were using at least one of the company's core products (Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram or Messenger) each month.

Despite considerable fluctuations, the market capitalization of the Italian Juventus Football Club on the Milan Stock Exchange experienced a twofold increase from July 2017 to September 2020 (the data refer to the last trading day of the month). Starting at around 593 million euros as of July 2017, Juventus market capitalization peaked at over 1.53 billion euros as of January 2020, before dropping to 1.12 billion euros in September 2020.

Italian clubs struggling in Europe

As of 2019, Juventus FC was the club with the highest turnover in Italy with 460 million euros. Juventus is also the club that has appeared in the Champions League more times than any other Italian club. On the other hand, AC Milan has won the greatest number of Champions League trophies, ahead of Juventus 7 to 2. However, Italian teams today play a less prominent role in Europe, as the last Italian club to lift the UEFA Champions League trophy was FC Internazionale in 2010.

Social media presence

Despite not reaching the popularity of clubs such as Real Madrid, Barcelona and Manchester United, Juventus was among the top ten leading clubs by size of digital following on social media in 2019. Moreover, the purchase of Cristiano Ronaldo in the summer of 2018 played a big role in the increase in popularity of the club on social media. Indeed, the Portuguese football player boasted the most followed account on Instagram as of October 2020 after Instagram itself.

It is forecast that the global online trading market will increase at a global compound annual growth rate of *** percent per year, increasing to an estimated **** billion U.S. dollars in 2026. This is from a base of around ***** billion U.S. dollars in 2022. Following the coronavirus pandemic beginning in 2020, online trading activity increased among millennial investors. Many online brokers, including Robinhood, experienced notable growth in the number of platform users from the second quarter of 2020 through to 2021. A low-cost business model, paired with technological integration and social media promotion were contributing factors to the popularity of online trading. What is an online trading platform? The online trading market is typically accessed through an online market broker, providing a platform for users to track market prices and execute buy and sell orders on financial securities. The user typically holds their portfolio through an online broker. The number of monthly downloads for leading online trading apps spiked in early 2021. While this was influenced by media attention to popular news stories such as the increase in the price of GameStop shares, online trading is expected to continue as an alternative to traditional investment methods. Factors driving online trading The integration of technology has improved investing activities. From a global survey, most respondents stated technology made investing easier, cheaper, and more efficient. The use of technology allowed information such as real-time data, industry and firm reports, and trading notifications to be more accessible directly to the investor. Online platforms had experienced an increase in the number of trades placed per day, in 2019, interactive brokers had an average of 1,380 trades placed per day. This number steadily increased to 3,905 trades per day in 2021. Technological integration allowed trading via online platforms to be an alternative to traditional methods of relying on an in-person full-service broker.

This statistic presents the share of of social media users in the United States who have have modified their views about a political or social issue because of something they saw on social media. During the June 2018 survey period, 14 percent of respondents stated that they had changed their view on a political or social issue due to something they had seen on social networks in the past year.

This statistic presents the share of reasons that Facebook users in the United States are sharing less content with friends and followers on social media as of April 2018. According to the findings, 47 percent of surveyed Facebook users reported that the main reason as to why they were sharing less content with friends and followers on the social media platform was due to their privacy concerns revolving around Facebook itself.

This statistic presents the percentage of adults in the United States who have unfollowed a social media connection due to disagreeing with an opinion piece the account shared as of November 2018. According to the findings, 36 percent of respondents reported to having unfollowed a social media connection because they disagreed with an opinion piece that the account shared.

This statistic presents the average number of vloggers watched by adult vlog viewers in the United States on a weekly basis as of November 2018. According to the findings, 20 percent of respondents reported that they watched on average five or more vloggers each week on various social media platforms, while in comparison only eight percent of respondents stated that they watched on average four vloggers each week.

This statistic presents the percentage of adults in the United States who have shared an opinion piece they agreed with on social media as of November 2018, by age. During the reported period, 60 percent of respondents between the ages of 18 to 29 years stated that they have shared an opinion piece they agreed with on social media.

This statistic presents the percentage of adults in the United States who have shared an opinion piece they agreed with on social media as of November 2018. During the reported period, 45 percent of respondents stated that they have shared an opinion piece they agreed with on social media.

This statistic presents the most popular video content categories on YouTube worldwide, ranked by market share. As of December 2018, people and blogs were the most popular YouTube content category based on share of available videos. The category accounted for 32 percent of public videos on the platform.

This statistic presents the leading reasons for Facebook users in the United States to access the social network. During the April 2018 survey period, 51 percent of respondents stated that one of their reasons for using Facebook was to keep in contact with friends. Additionally, 45 percent of respondents reported to using Facebook as a way to keep in contact with family.