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.

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.

I’ve compiled a list of the latest social media user statistics showing just how big social media has become and where it’s likely to go in the future.

Global ad spend were expected to reach over $134 billion in 2022. This means that it has increased by over 17% yearly.

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.

Which countries spent the most and least time on social media?

These are the key social media statistics that you need to know.

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.

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

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, although there is rapid uptake among older age groups. 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 last few years, becoming the most downloaded app between 2020 and 2022, according to Apptopia. The short-form video platform reported that it averaged revenue growth of over 450% between 2019 and 2022. 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 have 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. Revenue is expected to grow by 14.3% in 2024-25, constrained by a slowdown in user growth for most major social media platforms. Over the five years through 2024-25, revenue is forecast to expand at a compound annual rate of 32.8% to reach £9.8 billion. Looking forward, 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 rising prominence of AI will require the introduction of adequate regulations. The Online Safety Bill sets out new guidelines for social media platforms to abide by, with hefty fines in store for those who do not. Operating costs will swell as platforms look to meet consumers’ expectations, weighing on profit. Over the five years through 2029-30, social media platforms' revenue is projected to climb at an estimated 9.4% to reach £15.4 billion.

Metaverse Social Media Platforms Market Outlook

The global metaverse social media platforms market size was valued at approximately $69.9 billion in 2023 and is projected to grow to a massive $1,527.4 billion by 2032, reflecting a staggering CAGR of 41.9% over the forecast period. The remarkable growth of this market is primarily driven by the increasing adoption of advanced technologies such as Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR), and Mixed Reality (MR), coupled with the rising demand for immersive social experiences. The continued technological advancements in these areas, along with the proliferation of high-speed internet and growing investments by leading tech companies, are expected to further fuel market expansion over the coming years.

One of the key growth factors of the metaverse social media platforms market is the technological advancements that have led to the development of more sophisticated and accessible VR and AR devices. These technologies have significantly improved user experiences by providing immersive and interactive environments that replicate real-world social interactions. Companies are heavily investing in R&D to innovate and launch new products and services that cater to the ever-evolving needs of consumers. This has created a fertile ground for the adoption of metaverse platforms, especially among the tech-savvy younger generation.

Another critical factor propelling the market's growth is the increasing consumer inclination towards digital and virtual spaces due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic has accelerated the shift towards remote interactions, with people seeking alternative ways to socialize, work, and entertain themselves. As a result, there has been a substantial rise in the adoption of metaverse social media platforms, which offer unique and engaging ways to connect with others virtually. This trend is expected to continue post-pandemic, as people have grown accustomed to the convenience and novelty of virtual interactions.

Furthermore, the growing popularity of virtual events and online gaming is significantly contributing to the market's expansion. Metaverse platforms are increasingly being used to host virtual concerts, conferences, and other events, providing users with novel and immersive experiences. The gaming industry, in particular, has been quick to adopt metaverse technologies, with numerous game developers integrating social features into their games to enhance user engagement and retention. This convergence of gaming and social media is creating a vibrant ecosystem that is poised for substantial growth.

From a regional perspective, North America currently holds the largest share of the metaverse social media platforms market, driven by the presence of major tech giants and high consumer adoption rates. However, Asia Pacific is expected to witness the highest growth rate during the forecast period, owing to the rapid technological advancements, increasing internet penetration, and growing investments in the region. Europe and Latin America are also anticipated to experience steady growth, supported by the rising demand for innovative social media platforms and growing consumer awareness.

The Metaverse In Entertainment is revolutionizing how audiences engage with content, offering immersive experiences that transcend traditional media boundaries. As entertainment companies explore the metaverse, they are creating virtual worlds where users can interact with their favorite shows, movies, and music in unprecedented ways. This new frontier allows for personalized experiences, where fans can become part of the story, attend virtual concerts, or explore digital theme parks. The integration of entertainment into the metaverse is not only enhancing user engagement but also opening up new revenue streams through virtual merchandise and exclusive content offerings. As the technology continues to evolve, the potential for storytelling and audience interaction in the metaverse is limitless, promising a future where entertainment is more interactive and immersive than ever before.

Platform Type Analysis

The metaverse social media platforms market can be segmented by platform type into Virtual Reality (VR) Platforms, Augmented Reality (AR) Platforms, and Mixed Reality (MR) Platforms. VR platforms have been increasingly adopted for their ability t

The average Twitter user spends 5.1 hours per month on the platform.

Social media addiction statistics show that over 210 million people worldwide suffer from social media addiction.

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.

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.

Global Social Media market size is expected to reach $466.56 billion by 2029 at 13%, segmented as by type, social media advertisement, social media subscription

Despite a tumultuous 2018, Facebook is still the top social network in the United States, with 169.76 million mobile users accessing the Facebook app in September 2019. The company’s other properties Instagram and Facebook Messenger ranked second and third with 121 and 106 million users respectively. Cambridge Analytica scandal 2018 The biggest social media company in the world had a difficult 2018. The platform has long been accused of enabling the spread of fake news during the 2016 election and beyond. One of the first and biggest negative Facebook stories of 2018 was the Cambridge Analytica scandal, which unfolded from March 2018. The Guardian, The Observer, and The New York Times simultaneously reported on political data firm Cambridge Analytica harvesting data of millions of Facebook users worldwide without their knowledge before the 2016 election, which led to Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg having to testify before Congress in April 2018. Facebook usage behavior changes Due to the revelations about Facebook and the company’s treatment of private user data, many U.S. users are planning to use the social network much less and to be much more careful about what they post . During an April 2018 survey, only 20 percent of respondents stated that their Facebook usage has not changed, and they were planning on continuing to use the social platform as much as they always had in the past.

Social Media Platforms Market Outlook

The global social media platforms market size was valued at approximately USD 180 billion in 2023 and is projected to reach around USD 400 billion by 2032, exhibiting a robust CAGR of 9.1% over the forecast period. This impressive growth is primarily driven by the increasing penetration of smartphones, the expansion of internet connectivity, and the rising demand for digital advertising.

Several key factors are driving the growth of the social media platforms market. First and foremost, the increasing availability and affordability of smartphones and internet services globally have significantly expanded the user base of social media platforms. With the proliferation of affordable smartphones and widespread network coverage, even users in developing regions are now able to access social media, contributing to the market's expansion. Furthermore, mobile internet speeds have improved significantly, enabling richer media experiences on social platforms, which in turn attract more users and advertisers.

Another critical growth factor is the rising importance of digital marketing and advertising. Businesses of all sizes are leveraging social media platforms to reach their target audiences more effectively and efficiently. Given the advanced targeting capabilities and analytics offered by these platforms, advertisers can optimize their campaigns for better performance, thus funneling a significant portion of their advertising budgets to social media. Additionally, the integration of e-commerce features within social media platforms has created new revenue streams and engagement opportunities, further propelling market growth.

Content creation and user engagement are also key drivers in the social media platforms market. User-generated content (UGC) plays a vital role in keeping platforms vibrant and engaging. Social media platforms provide various tools and features, such as live streaming, stories, and reels, which encourage users to create and share content. This not only enhances user engagement but also attracts more users to join the platforms. Influencer marketing is another growing trend, where influencers with large followings collaborate with brands to promote products and services, thereby driving sales and brand awareness.

From a regional perspective, North America and Asia Pacific are the dominant players in the social media platforms market. North America, with mature markets in the U.S. and Canada, has a high penetration rate of social media usage and significant digital advertising expenditure. Conversely, the Asia Pacific region is witnessing rapid growth due to its large population, increasing internet penetration, and the rising popularity of regional social media platforms. Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East & Africa also present substantial growth opportunities due to expanding internet access and increasing smartphone adoption.

Platform Type Analysis

The social media platforms market can be segmented by platform type into social networking, media sharing, blogging & microblogging, discussion forums, and others. Social networking platforms, such as Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter, are among the most popular and widely used types. These platforms enable users to create profiles, connect with friends and colleagues, and share various forms of content. Social networking platforms are particularly popular due to their diverse feature sets, including messaging, multimedia sharing, and online communities, which cater to a broad range of user needs.

Media sharing platforms like YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok focus primarily on the sharing of videos and images. These platforms have gained massive popularity, especially among younger demographics, due to their focus on visual content and ease of use. The rise of short-form video content has been a significant trend, with platforms like TikTok leading the way. Media sharing platforms attract a large number of content creators and influencers, who generate engaging content that drives user engagement and retention.

Blogging and microblogging platforms, such as WordPress and Tumblr, provide users with a space to share their thoughts, ideas, and opinions through longer-form text content. Microblogging platforms like Twitter allow for shorter, more frequent updates, which can be particularly effective for real-time communication and news

A global survey conducted in the third quarter of 2024 found that the main reason for using social media was to keep in touch with friends and family, with over 50.8 percent of social media users saying this was their main reason for using online networks. Overall, 39 percent of social media users said that filling spare time was their main reason for using social media platforms, whilst 34.5 percent of respondents said they used it to read news stories. Less than one in five users were on social platforms for the reason of following celebrities and influencers. The most popular social network Facebook dominates the social media landscape. The world's most popular social media platform turned 20 in February 2024, and it continues to lead the way in terms of user numbers. As of February 2025, the social network had over three billion global users. YouTube, Instagram, and WhatsApp follow, but none of these well-known brands can surpass Facebook’s audience size. Moreover, as of the final quarter of 2023, there were almost four billion Meta product users. Ever-evolving social media usage The utilization of social media remains largely gratuitous; however, companies have been encouraging users to become paid subscribers to reduce dependence on advertising profits. Meta Verified entices users by offering a blue verification badge and proactive account protection, among other things. X (formerly Twitter), Snapchat, and Reddit also offer users the chance to upgrade their social media accounts for a monthly free.

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