Meta Platforms, formerly known as Facebook Inc., continues to dominate the digital landscape with impressive financial growth. In 2024, the company's annual revenue reached a staggering 164.5 billion U.S. dollars, marking a significant increase from 134.9 billion U.S. dollars in the previous year. This upward trajectory reflects Meta's ability to monetize its vast user base across multiple platforms, solidifying its position as a tech giant. Advertising remains the primary revenue driver The bulk of Meta's revenue stems from its advertising operations, particularly within its Family of Apps segment. In 2024, this segment, which includes Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, and WhatsApp, generated 162 billion U.S. dollars. Despite a slight dip in 2022, Meta's advertising revenue has shown remarkable resilience and growth potential. User engagement and global reach The company's global influence is further illustrated by the fact that every minute, 138.9 million Reels are played on Facebook and Instagram, showcasing the ongoing evolution of user engagement within the Meta ecosystem.

Facebook probably needs no introduction; nonetheless, here is a quick history of the company. The world’s biggest and most-famous social network was launched by Mark Zuckerberg while he was a...

In 2024, Meta Platforms generated a revenue of over 164 billion U.S. dollars, up from 134 billion USD in 2023. The majority of Meta’s profits come from its advertising revenue.Meta’s total Family of Apps revenue for 2022 amounted to 114 billion U.S. dollars. Additionally, Meta’s Reality Labs, the company’s VR division, generated around 2.1 billion dollars. Meta’s marketing expenditure for 2022 amounted to just over 15 billion U.S. dollars, up from 14 billion U.S. dollars in the previous year. Increasing audience base despite privacy misgivings Meta’s user numbers have continued to grow steadily throughout past years. In the fourth quarter of 2022, there was a total of 3.74 billion worldwide users across all of Meta’s platforms. For this same time frame, the company recorded 407 million monthly active users across Europe. Downloads of Meta’s app Oculus, for which virtual reality headsets are required, increased greatly from 2020 to 2021, reaching a total of 10.62 million downloads by the end of last year. Up until 2021, downloads had grown in a steady manner but from 2020 to 2021, they more than doubled.User numbers have increased despite data security issues and past controversy such as the Cambridge Analytica scandal in 2018. There remains skepticism surrounding the idea of the metaverse in which Meta aims to immerse itself. Of surveyed adults in the United States, the majority said that they were concerned about their privacy if Meta were to succeed in creating the metaverse.

Facebook’s efforts to monetize its users have vastly differing results across global regions. In the fourth quarter of 2023, Facebook's average revenue per user (ARPU) in the Asia Pacific region was 5.52 U.S. dollars. This result pales in comparison to the combined U.S. and Canada market, where Facebook’s APRU amounted to 68.44 U.S. dollars. Facebook revenue Facebook accumulated an impressive 69.66 billion U.S. dollars in annual ad revenues in 2019. The social network generates the majority of its revenues via social media marketing and advertising. Almost all of Facebook's ad revenue is generated via mobile – a staggering 92 percent in 2018. Facebook is the biggest social media platform worldwide and the platform’s annual revenue in 2019 amounted to 70.7 billion U.S. dollars. Despite Facebook’s impressive growth, the company still lags behind other online companies in terms of total revenue. The company stated in its 2018 10K filing that it was dependent on the retention and engagement of its users, which has become increasingly difficult in the North American market. Facebook usage concerns in North America With various user data controversies such as the Cambridge Analytics scandal in early spring, Facebook had a tumultuous 2018. A significant portion of U.S. Facebook users have come to rethink their Facebook usage. An April 2018 survey of adults in the United States that almost a third of respondents planned on using Facebook much less in the future. It is estimated that the average daily time spent on Facebook will stagnate at around 38 to 37 minutes per day. In comparison, Facebook-owned photo sharing app Instagram is projected to increase daily user engagement to 29 daily minutes in 2021.

In 2023, Facebook was projected to generate an estimated ** billion U.S. dollars in revenue in the United States. The social platform’s revenue is set to increase to ** billion U.S. dollars in 2025. The CAGR of Facebook's revenue was estimated to reach six percent during the measured period.

Meta Platforms continues to dominate the digital landscape, with its Family of Apps segment generating a remarkable 162.4 billion U.S. dollars in revenue for 2024. This figure underscores the company's ability to monetize its vast user base across platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, and WhatsApp, despite facing challenges in recent years. Advertising fuels growth amid market fluctuations Despite experiencing its first-ever year-on-year decline in 2022, Meta rebounded strongly in 2024, with total annual revenue reaching 164.5 billion U.S. dollars. This resilience showcases Meta's adaptability in the face of market changes and its continued appeal to advertisers seeking to reach a global audience. Expanding reach and engagement Facebook was the first social network to surpass one billion registered accounts and currently sits at more than three billion monthly active users. Additionally, 2024 saw an astounding 138.9 million Reels played on Facebook and Instagram every 60 seconds.

Meta Platforms's annual revenue was $164.50 B in fiscal year 2024. The annual revenue increased $29.60 B from $134.90 B (in 2023) to $164.50 B (in 2024), representing a 21.94% year-over-year growth.

During the fourth quarter of 2023, the number of daily active users on Facebook reached 2.1 billion, a minor increase on the previous quarter. When compared with the number of daily active users in the final quarter of 2022, the platform has gained around 100 million users. Facebook’s penetration rate for the United States in 2023 was 72.13 percent, up from 71.43 percent in 2022. The social network’s audience reach is projected to stand at 75.79 percent by 2027.

Most popular social media websites

As of May 2021, Facebook was the most used social media site in the United States, accounting for 71.8 percent of all social media visits. Ranking in second place was Pinterest with 12.4 percent, followed by Twitter and Instagram, with 9.15 percent and 3.82 percent, respectively. Although other sites remain popular, Facebook’s number of visits made it undoubtably the leading social media platform in terms of social media site visits.

For Generation Z and Millennials in the United States, Facebook was one of the least popular platforms used to connect with others. Gen Z and Millennials preferred video sharing platforms, specifically Snapchat, TikTok and YouTube.

Meta’s revenue

Facebook Inc was renamed as Meta in 2021, in a strategic step toward the metaverse. Meta Platforms is now the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp amongst others, together being known as Meta’s Family of Apps.

Meta’s annual revenue for 2021 was 117.92 billion U.S. dollars, up from 85.97 billion in 2020. Within a decade, the company has increased its annual revenue by approximately 114 billion U.S. dollars. In the most recent fiscal year, Meta’s Family of Apps were responsible for over 115 billion U.S. dollars’ worth of Meta’s revenue.

In the third quarter of 2025, Meta's net income amounted to 2.7 billion U.S. dollars, down from 18.3 billion when compared to the previous quarter. Facebook company information Facebook is the biggest social network worldwide. The platform generates the vast majority of its revenues through advertising—as of March 2020, 98 percent of Facebook’s revenues were derived from ad sales, making the company highly dependent on market regulations regarding digital ad sales. In 2019, Facebook was second only to Google in terms of digital advertising revenues. The company’s ad revenue during this period amounted to 69.7 billion U.S. dollars. Facebook is still among the fastest-growing tech companies in the world. In 2024, the company increased its revenue to 164.5 billion U.S. dollars compared to the previous year. Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg also ranks among the richest internet billionaires with a personal net worth of roughly 64 billion U.S. dollars.

In 2024, Facebook Messenger generated a global revenue of approximately **** million U.S. dollars, marking a decline of ** percent compared to the **** million U.S. dollars recorded in the previous year. Despite the decrease in revenue, Facebook Messenger remained among the most popular social networks worldwide, with over *** million monthly active users (MAU) as of February 2025.

In 2024, Meta's annual net income was 62 billion U.S. dollars, up from 39 billion USD in 2023. Meta's net income increased from 18.4 billion U.S. dollars in 2018 to 29.1 billion U.S. dollars in 2020, following the COVID-19 pandemic, subsequent lockdowns, and increased social media and internet usage. Overall, Meta's 2022 net income was closer to pre-pandemic figures.

Over the five years through 2025-26, industry revenue is forecast to expand at a compound annual rate of 20.3% to reach £12.5 billion. Social media platforms are integral to people's lives, offering ways to communicate, create and view content and share information. According to Ofcom, approximately 89% of UK internet users in 2023 used social media apps or sites. Teenagers and young adults are the biggest users. Advertising is the primary revenue source for social media platforms, although subscription-based services are gaining momentum as platforms seek to diversify their incomes. TikTok is the success story of the past five years, becoming the most downloaded app between 2020 and 2022, according to Apptopia. The short-form video platform has over 30 million monthly users in the UK in 2025. After Musk's takeover, X, formerly known as Twitter, adjusted its content moderation and allowed previously banned accounts to return. As a result, over 600 advertisers pulled their ads from the site because of fears their brand may be associated with malcontent. In response to falling ad revenue, X has introduced a subscription-based service which enables users to verify themselves and boosts the number of people who view their tweets. Meta-owned Facebook and Instagram have responded by introducing a similar service. In 2025, more social media platforms are using AI to boost user engagement. This improves click-through rates and drives higher advertising revenue. Industry revenue is expected to grow by 6.3% in 2025-26. Over the five years through 2030-31, social media platforms' revenue is projected to climb at an estimated 9.2% to reach £19.4 billion. Regulations relating to how data is collected, stored, and shared will force advertisers and platforms to rethink how they can target their desired demographics. The tightening of regulations will raise industry compliance costs, weighing on profit margin. Older age groups present a new revenue opportunity for social media platforms if they can bridge the gap between passive TV consumption and interactive digital engagement. Augmented Reality (AR) technology will move beyond filters to become standard for immersive product trials, interactive ads, and virtual meetups

In the third quarter of 2025, social company Meta's total revenue amounted to 51.24 billion U.S. dollars, the majority of which was generated through advertising. Facebook company information It is difficult to imagine the internet without social media and social media without Facebook. With over three billion monthly active users, Facebook is the biggest social network worldwide. In fact, over two billion users access Facebook on a daily basis. Due to its immense reach, Facebook is a highly influential publisher and one of the leading platforms for influencer marketing worldwide, surpassed only by Instagram and YouTube. Brands value social media marketing for increased exposure, traffic, and leads, and it is no surprise that Facebook can deliver on these metrics in vast quantities.

In 2024, Facebook was the leading social media platform in most of the Southeast Asian countries in terms of traffic generation to other websites, with the highest share in Timor-Leste at around 97 percent. YouTube, X (Twitter), Instagram, and Pinterest were other platforms that had significant social media traffic shares in Southeast Asian markets that year. Social media advertising and web traffic referrals Traffic referrals from social media are crucial in social media advertising. Links shared on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter help direct potential customers to a brand’s website or landing page. This increases exposure, website visits, and conversions, such as sales or leads, which are key benefits of social media marketing according to marketers. Traffic referrals also serve as an important tool for advertisers to measure the effectiveness of their campaigns. Furthermore, by analyzing which platforms and content generate the most traffic, businesses can refine their strategies to focus on the highest-performing channels. Social media advertising – a multibillion-dollar business Revenue from social media advertising has continued to rise rapidly. This growth was driven by the ability to track user behavior, refine ad targeting, and deliver highly personalized content. Social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok generate billions of dollars of ad revenue annually. The owner of Facebook and Instagram, Meta Platforms’s annual advertising revenue exceeded 160 billion U.S. dollars in 2024. Countries such as China, Japan, and Australia are among the largest social media advertising markets in the Asia-Pacific region, with China’s projected social media ad spend reaching nearly 97 billion U.S. dollars in 2025.

In 2022, Facebook generated nearly *** billion U.S. dollars in advertising revenue. This figure is expected to further grow to exceed *** billion U.S. dollars by 2027. The social platform is responsible for roughly ** percent of the global ad revenue.

According to Cognitive Market Research, the global Online Advertising market size was USD 236.90 billion in 2024 and will expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 15.7% from 2024 to 2031. Market Dynamics of Online Advertising Market

Key Drivers for Online Advertising Market

Increasing internet and smartphone penetration is driving growth in the online advertising market

One of the most significant drivers of growth in the online advertising market is increasing internet penetration and the rising usage of mobile phones, due to growing digital dependency. With over 7 billion people worldwide using mobile phones, smartphones have become an essential part of daily life. This surge in mobile connectivity has transformed consumer behavior with individuals increasingly relying on smartphones for daily activities like shopping, entertainment and financial transactions. The convenience and portability of mobile devices have them a preferred medium for tapping into digital services which has led businesses to adopt mobile-first strategies to engage with consumers. This shift has led to an increase in mobile ad spending. Advertisers are no focusing on campaigns designed for smaller screens and shorter attention spans to reach a wider audience.

Advertisers are responding to this trend with mobile-first strategies, using vertical format videos, personalized in-app ads and location-based targeting to maximize engagement. The combination of high-screen time, constant connectivity, and real time data access makes mobile advertising one of the most effective tools in the global online advertising market.

Social Media Influence is fueling growth for online advertising

Social media platforms have become prominent channels of advertising, allowing business to reach specific target audiences and promote their products and services. Social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter have become major hubs for online advertising.

The rise of in-app advertising across these platforms with the growing popularity of video and interactive ad formats has further fueled the market growth. Such advertising also leverages data to optimize targeting and engagement, leading to more effective campaigns. Paid ads now dominate social feeds.

Key Restraints in the Market

Data privacy concerns to hinder growth in online advertising market

Mobile phones and other internet using devices have become a personal hub for information. With the increasing amount of sensitive data stored on these devices, privacy concerns have emerged as one of the most pressing issues. These concerns significantly hinder online advertising by leading to consumer distrust, ad avoidance and increased regulations that impact the effectiveness and reach of ad campaigns.

Consumers are becoming more aware of how their data is being collected and used under the context of online advertising, making them actively avoid interacting with ads and uninstalling apps they believe violate their privacy. This has also led to widespread adoption of ad-blocking technologies. This trend is largely driven by the growing desire to protect personal data. However, the same has had implications on advertisers. Regulatory development, such as the California Consumer Privacy Act, amid these concerns further add to the challenges faced by the mobile industry market. Strict data privacy laws have been implemented worldwide against the collection and use of consumer data for targeted advertising.

Opportunity

Adoption of AI as an opportunity in the mobile advertising industry

The adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) presents an opportunity for the online advertising segment by enhancing various tasks such as, campaign optimization audience targeting, creative component generation and so much more. AI-powered tools are automating tasks, enabling precise targeting and more personalized user experience, ultimately leading to effective and efficient advertising

For instance, AI powered creatives and copy ideation and generation are a game-changer in the mobile advertising landscape. The integration of AI into ad creation helps streamline the process along with enabling advertisers to conduct thorough testing. Introduction of the Online Advertising Market

Online advertising, otherwise known as digital marketing is a form of marketing that uses internet or online channels to promote products and services. It involves the creation ...

The global Self-media Platform market is poised for significant expansion, projected to reach an estimated USD 150 billion by 2025, and is anticipated to grow at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 18% over the forecast period from 2025 to 2033. This robust growth is underpinned by the increasing democratization of content creation and consumption, driven by the widespread availability of smartphones, affordable internet access, and intuitive user-friendly platforms. Key market drivers include the surging demand for personalized and authentic content, the rise of influencer marketing as a powerful advertising channel, and the continuous innovation in content formats, such as short-form videos and live streaming. Platforms like TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts have revolutionized how users engage with media, fostering a dynamic ecosystem where individuals can build substantial audiences and monetize their creativity. The market's segmentation reveals a broad appeal across age demographics, with users aged 20-60 years representing the largest consumer base, actively engaging with a diverse range of content from news and educational videos to entertainment and lifestyle. However, the younger demographic (less than 20 years old) is a crucial growth segment, rapidly adopting new platforms and shaping emerging trends. The competitive landscape is dominated by tech giants like Meta (Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp), Google (YouTube), and ByteDance (TikTok), who are constantly investing in new features and user acquisition strategies. Emerging platforms and niche communities on Reddit and Pinterest also contribute to the market's dynamism, catering to specific interests and fostering deeper engagement. Despite the strong growth trajectory, potential restraints include increasing regulatory scrutiny regarding content moderation and data privacy, as well as market saturation in certain niches, which may lead to intensified competition for user attention and advertising revenue. This report offers an in-depth analysis of the global Self-media Platform market, projecting a market size of over $1,200 million by 2033. The study encompasses a comprehensive examination of the market from the historical period of 2019-2024, with a base year of 2025 and a forecast period extending to 2033. The report leverages advanced analytical methodologies to provide actionable insights into market dynamics, key trends, and future growth trajectories.

The photo-sharing market is experiencing robust growth, driven by the increasing penetration of smartphones, the rise of social media platforms, and the growing demand for convenient and visually appealing ways to share personal experiences. The market size in 2025 is estimated at $15 billion, demonstrating significant expansion from previous years. While precise historical data is absent, a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 15% is projected for the forecast period (2025-2033), indicating a substantial increase in market value. This growth is fueled by several key trends, including the increasing popularity of user-generated content, the development of advanced photo editing tools within the apps themselves, and the integration of photo-sharing capabilities into other digital platforms. The market is segmented by service type (free and paid memberships) and application (mobile devices and personal computers), with mobile devices dominating due to their ubiquitous nature and ease of use. Competition among key players like Facebook, Instagram, Google Photos, and dedicated photo-sharing platforms is fierce, prompting continuous innovation in features and functionality. Factors restraining growth include concerns over data privacy and security, as well as the potential for copyright infringement. The geographic distribution of the photo-sharing market mirrors global internet penetration, with North America and Europe currently holding the largest market shares. However, rapid growth is anticipated in Asia-Pacific regions like India and China, driven by increasing smartphone adoption and internet connectivity. The continued evolution of artificial intelligence (AI) in image recognition and organization is expected to further enhance user experience and drive market expansion. Furthermore, the increasing integration of photo sharing with other services, like e-commerce platforms, opens up new avenues for growth and monetization. Despite the competitive landscape, the overall trajectory for the photo-sharing market indicates a bright future, driven by its integration into daily life and ongoing technological advancements.