As of the third quarter of 2024, WhatsApp was the most active social network among internet users in the United Kingdom (UK), with 79.9 percent of internet users reporting use of the service. Facebook was very close behind, with a rate of 72.3 percent, followed by Facebook Messenger with 56.6 percent. YouTube’s broad audience in the United Kingdom YouTube reaches a broad audience in the UK, making it an attractive partner for advertisers of almost any product. More than 75 percent of individuals of every income bracket watch YouTube, with the likelihood of watching increasing with the pay-grade. Whether advertising basic items or luxury products, marketers should be able to connect with UK audiences through YouTube. There are almost no people in the UK to not use YouTube at least monthly. According to a survey conducted in the third quarter of 2020, 46 percent of respondents went on YouTube on a daily basis. Facebook in the United Kingdom  Facebook enjoys a healthy market position in the UK, holding an estimated  55 percent share of the market. The service attracted  50.6 million UK users during May 2021, and Facebook UK Limited  generated 1.1 billion British pounds in revenue  during 2019. The UK division of the company  posted an operating profit of 121.9 million British pounds that year. 

In November 2024, Meta's Facebook held approximately ** percent of the social network market in the United Kingdom, while Instagram accounted for approximately ***** percent. Overall, X held ***** percent of the social network market in the UK.

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.

According to a 2020 survey run in the United Kingdom (UK), Facebook-owned messaging service WhatsApp was the most popular social media platform among those aged 26 to 35. Out of all the respondents, 85 percent had an account on the social networking site. Facebook came in second place, with 80 percent of respondents claiming they used the service while YouTube and Instagram featured third and fourth respectively.

Facebook as a leading digital ad platform

Facebook continues to dominate the social media market in the UK, its penetration rate having been on the rise since 2015. By 2022, the social media platform’s share of monthly active users is forecast to reach 62.44 percent of the United Kingdom’s population. As a platform with such widespread reach not just within the UK but around the world, Facebook is perfectly poised to become a leading online advertising tool. In fact, the social network giant brought in nearly 23 percent of all digital advertising revenue in the United Kingdom in 2018, the highest among all social media platforms. This is forecasted to reach 28 percent by 2021, narrowing the gap with market leader Google.

The news and social media

Facebook remains, albeit to a lesser extent, a news source for nearly 30 percent in the United Kingdom according to figures until 2018. Although this number is significantly lower than in countries such as Italy and Spain where around half of the surveyed population turned to Facebook for news, it is no small figure and one would think that such numbers would reflect a positive perception of social media as a news source. A 2019 survey demonstrated however, that this was not the case with social media ranking lowest in terms of level of trust against other sources such as traditional media, online media, and owned media.

The most-used social media site among teenagers and young adults in the United Kingdom (UK) in 2020 was YouTube. A survey carried out by AudienceProject revealed that 82 percent of 15 to 25-year-olds said they used the video-sharing platform, making it more popular than Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram.

YouTube stars

The leading celebrity YouTube channel in the UK in terms of the number of subscribers is Ed Sheeran. The pop singer had a 42.8 million subscribers as of December 2019. Other popular celebrity channels were One Direction and Adele, although Ed Sheeran had more subscribers than both of these combined.

Social media and generational differences

Comparing the social media sites most used by other age groups reveals some interesting differences. In the 26 to 35 age group, Facebook was the most popular social media platform with 82.5 percent. Of those aged 36 to 45, less than 30 percent used Facebook, and just 13.2 percent used YouTube.

According to data from February 2025, Facebook was the most popular social network for news access in the United Kingdom, with ** percent of respondents using the service. YouTube and X (formerly Twitter) ranked second and third, with ** and ** percent of users respectively using the networks for news content.

Facebook and YouTube are still the most used social media platforms today.

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.

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Social Networking Market Size 2025-2029

The social networking market size is forecast to increase by USD 312.3 billion, at a CAGR of 21.6% between 2024 and 2029.

The market is experiencing significant growth, driven by the increasing internet penetration worldwide. This expansion is fueled by the rising number of active social media users, enabling businesses to reach a larger audience through digital platforms. However, the market's growth is not without challenges. Privacy concerns are increasingly obstructing market expansion, as users become more conscious of their online data and demand greater control over their information. Social media advertisements, a major revenue source for social networking companies, are gaining traction, creating intense competition among market players. Companies must navigate these challenges by addressing privacy concerns through transparent data handling policies and effective user data protection measures.
Additionally, innovation in advertising formats and targeting strategies will be crucial for businesses to differentiate themselves and maintain a competitive edge. In summary, the market presents both opportunities and challenges, with increasing internet penetration driving growth while privacy concerns and intense competition shaping the strategic landscape. Companies must effectively address these challenges to capitalize on the market's potential and stay ahead of the competition.

What will be the Size of the Social Networking Market during the forecast period?

Explore in-depth regional segment analysis with market size data - historical 2019-2023 and forecasts 2025-2029 - in the full report.
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The market continues to evolve, with dynamic patterns emerging across various sectors. Customer acquisition and sales conversion are key areas of focus, as social CRM and mobile marketing strategies gain traction. User engagement remains a priority, with social listening and social network analysis providing valuable insights. Big data and data analytics play a crucial role in informing business decisions, while media relations and crisis communication strategies adapt to the digital landscape. Influencer marketing and viral marketing campaigns continue to shape consumer behavior, with conversion optimization and organic reach driving growth. Live streaming and user-generated content offer new opportunities for brands to engage with audiences.

Data visualization and machine learning are transforming how businesses analyze and respond to market trends. E-commerce platforms and social commerce are disrupting traditional retail models, with advertising platforms and social media marketing becoming essential tools for businesses. Algorithm updates and link building strategies impact search engine optimization and content strategy. Privacy concerns and network externalities are shaping the platform economics, while network effects drive user growth. Content creation tools and search engine optimization are essential for effective brand building, with public relations and sentiment analysis playing a critical role in reputation management. Video marketing and customer satisfaction are key drivers of brand loyalty, with data security and competitor analysis essential for maintaining a competitive edge.Social media platforms continue to evolve, offering new opportunities for businesses to connect with their audiences and build strong brands.

How is this Social Networking Industry segmented?

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

Type

  Advertising
  In-app purchase
  Paid apps


Distribution Channel

  Google
  Apple
  App Store Distribution


Service

  Communication
  Entertainment
  Socialization
  Marketing
  Customer service


Platform

  Website-based
  Mobile apps
  Hybrid platforms


Geography

  North America

    US
    Canada


  Europe

    France
    Germany
    Italy
    Spain
    UK


  Middle East and Africa

    UAE


  APAC

    China
    India
    Japan
    South Korea


  South America

    Brazil


  Rest of World (ROW)

By Type Insights

The advertising segment is estimated to witness significant growth during the forecast period.

In the dynamic landscape of the market, various entities intertwine to shape its evolution. Big data and machine learning fuel social media analytics, enabling targeted advertising, conversion optimization, and customer satisfaction. Social listening and sentiment analysis inform brand monitoring, reputation management, and crisis communication. Social crm and community management foster customer loyalty and engagement. Mobile marketing, including user-generated content and live streaming, e

The results might surprise you when looking at internet users that are active on social media in each country.

56.8% of the world’s total population is active on social media.

Gen Z and Millennials are the biggest social media users of all age groups.

Facebook ranked as the leading social media platform driving personal care brand shoppers to retailers in the United Kingdom in 2024. Facebook accounted for around 88 percent of the share of purchase intent clicks. TikTok ranked second, with a 7.9 percent share of clicks. Purchase intent clicks refer to the amount of times a consumer has clicked through to a minimum of one retailer during one session.

In the fourth quarter of 2022, TikTok was the most popular social media platform for Gen Z consumers to buy products from in the United Kingdom. Meanwhile, Facebook continued to be the preferred choice for older generations. Additionally, millennials displayed an equal preference for TikTok and Instagram, with 45 percent of respondents stating that they had shopped through each platform.

Regional use of social media has a significant effect on the male and female social media statistics.

According to a survey of internet users conducted in June 2023 in the United Kingdom, 80 percent of men reported using YouTube at least monthly, while 70 percent of women reported similar consumption trends. Among women, Facebook was the most used social media platform to consume video content - as approximately 74 percent of women in the UK reported engaging with the platform monthly.

"Sent private messages" and "Liked posts by other users or followed people" are the top two answers among UK consumers in our survey on the subject of "Most common social media activities".The survey was conducted online among 25,038 respondents in the UK, in 2025.

Over 210 million people worldwide suffer from social media addiction.

As of November 2023, ****** was the most popular online platforms among children and teens aged between three and 17 years in the United Kingdom. ******** followed, with ** percent of respondents reporting to use the chat app. ********* ranked third, with around ** percent of young users engaging with the popular social video platform as of November 2022. What do UK kids do on their mobiles? Apart from homework, research, and conducting school projects, kids look for entertainment on their phones. In 2022, YouTube was the most popular video app for younger audiences, with almost ***** in ** kids in the UK engaging with the popular social video platform. Despite YouTube’s popularity, downloads of the YouTube Kids app have experienced a decrease recently, going from **** million downloads in 2020 to approximately *** million downloads in 2022. Gaming was also a popular activity for the younger app usage generation, with ***** in ** UK kids reporting to use Roblox on their smartphones. Tech for parents: helping children using apps in the best way While institutions agree that kids’ online safety cannot be left to individuals alone, UK parents have been deeply concerned with what can be done with their personal forces to ensure online safety and privacy are respected. As of November 2022, ** percent of parents of boys and ** percent of parents of girls were aware of the possibility of asking their mobile phone networks to block access to adult or inappropriate content. Over ****in ** parents of kids aged between eight and 11 used parental control apps, but only about ****in ** parents of kids between three and 17 years of age reported doing the same.

Twitter is ranked as the 12h most popular social media site in the world. The platform currently has 611 million active monthly users.