How many people use social media?

              Social media usage is one of the most popular online activities. In 2024, over five billion people were using social media worldwide, a number projected to increase to over six billion in 2028.

              Who uses social media?
              Social networking is one of the most popular digital activities worldwide and it is no surprise that social networking penetration across all regions is constantly increasing. As of January 2023, the global social media usage rate stood at 59 percent. This figure is anticipated to grow as lesser developed digital markets catch up with other regions
              when it comes to infrastructure development and the availability of cheap mobile devices. In fact, most of social media’s global growth is driven by the increasing usage of mobile devices. Mobile-first market Eastern Asia topped the global ranking of mobile social networking penetration, followed by established digital powerhouses such as the Americas and Northern Europe.

              How much time do people spend on social media?
              Social media is an integral part of daily internet usage. On average, internet users spend 151 minutes per day on social media and messaging apps, an increase of 40 minutes since 2015. On average, internet users in Latin America had the highest average time spent per day on social media.

              What are the most popular social media platforms?
              Market leader Facebook was the first social network to surpass one billion registered accounts and currently boasts approximately 2.9 billion monthly active users, making it the most popular social network worldwide. In June 2023, the top social media apps in the Apple App Store included mobile messaging apps WhatsApp and Telegram Messenger, as well as the ever-popular app version of Facebook.

Survey data collected in Canada, 2019. n = 1539. Using, Age, Facebook use and meme understanding to determine differences between demographics in relation to Instagram use

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

Introduction

Social Media User Statistics: As of January 2025, it is projected that approximately 5.24 billion individuals globally are engaged on social media platforms, which accounts for 63.9% of the total world population. This indicates an annual increase of 206 million users, connecting to a growth rate of 4.1%. On average, users engage with 6.8 different social platforms each month and spend roughly 2 hours and 21 minutes per day on these platforms.

Mobile devices account for 98% of the time allocated to social media, highlighting the dominance of mobile access. Facebook continues to lead with over 3 billion monthly active users, followed by YouTube with around 2.5 billion users. Instagram and WhatsApp each boast approximately 2 billion users, while TikTok has surpassed 1.5 billion users.

According to a 2024 survey, ** percent of social media users in the United States used Facebook, and ** percent of left-leaning users used the social network. Overall, ** percent of social media users who were politically left-leaning used Pinterest, compared to ** percent of right-leaning users.

It started as a playful comment under a photo. Then another one followed, meaner this time, sharper. Before she knew it, Ava, a 14-year-old high schooler in Ohio, found herself the target of a spiraling wave of online hate. Her story isn't unique. In today's hyperconnected world, social media platforms...

The Demographic Reports are produced by the Economic, Demographic and Statistical Research unit within the Countywide Service Integration and Planning Management (CSIPM) Division of the Fairfax County Department of Neighborhood and Community Services. Information produced by the Economic, Demographic and Statistical Research unit is used by every county department, board, authority and the Fairfax County Public Schools.

The dataset encompasses demographic, health, and mental health information of students from 48 different states in the USA, born between 1971 and 2003. It includes data on general health ratings, responses to the PHQ-9 depression screening tool, and the GAD-7 anxiety assessment tool. It details how often students experienced various mental health symptoms over the past two weeks, their depression severity scores, and anxiety severity scores. Also, it covers experiences of feeling overwhelmed, exhausted, and hopeless within the last 12 months, along with diagnoses of depression, therapy, and medication usage. The dataset also includes information on various medical conditions, student status (full-time or international), sex, and race.

According to a May 2024 survey, WhatsApp was the most popular social media platform in Mexico. At that time, ** percent of those interviewed said they had an active account on the messaging app. Also owned by Meta Platforms Inc., Facebook and Instagram ranked second and third, being used by ** and ** percent of respondents, respectively.

Social media penetration and demographics Close to ** percent of the Mexican population was expected to be on Facebook by the end of 2023 (slightly below the estimated ***** percent for the United States during the same period). Its popularity in the North American country relies heavily on young internet users: when it comes to the distribution of Mexican Facebook users by age group, more than ** percent were between 18 and 34 years old. All news just a click away According to a February 2022 survey, half of internet users in Mexico used Facebook for news consumption, while YouTube is used by ** percent of the country's online audiences for the same function. This preference was also observed across all age groups: more than a third of the country's news consumers across all demographics turned to the Meta-owned social network to find, read, watch, share, or comment on the news.

Data recorded during the data collection period 17 October– 11 December 2014.

Snapshot img

Social Media Listening Market Size 2025-2029

The social media listening market size is forecast to increase by USD 4.87 billion at a CAGR of 8.9% between 2024 and 2029.

The market is experiencing significant growth, driven primarily by the increasing usage of social media platforms worldwide. With over 4.3 billion users as of 2021, social media has become a powerful tool for businesses to engage with their customers and gain valuable insights into consumer behavior and preferences. A key trend in this market is the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) technologies in social media listening solutions, enabling more accurate and efficient data analysis. However, this market is not without challenges. Data privacy and regulatory compliance are becoming increasingly important, with stricter regulations being implemented to protect user data.
Companies must ensure they have strong data security measures in place to comply with these regulations and maintain consumer trust. Additionally, the vast amount of data generated on social media requires sophisticated analytics tools to extract meaningful insights. As such, businesses seeking to capitalize on the opportunities presented by the market must invest in advanced analytics solutions and prioritize data security and privacy. By doing so, they can effectively navigate the challenges and stay ahead of the competition.

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

Request Free Sample

Social media listening has emerged as a crucial business tool, enabling organizations to gain valuable insights from the vast amount of data generated through social media activity. This data is analyzed using techniques such as topic modeling and sentiment scoring to understand consumer behavior, preferences, and trends. Social media geographics and demographics provide essential context, while social media reach and volume measure the scope and impact of conversations. Social media pulse and sentiment reflect the current sentiment and buzz surrounding specific topics, offering real-time insights into market dynamics and trends.
Social media listening software is a vital component of the global market for social media analytics. Social media influence is assessed through the size and engagement of an audience, providing valuable information for marketing and brand management strategies. The social media landscape and heatmap offer a comprehensive view of the social media ecosystem, helping businesses stay informed and adapt to evolving patterns.

How is this Social Media Listening Industry segmented?

The social media listening 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.

Type

  Software
  Services


End-user

  Retail and e-commerce
  IT and telecom
  BFSI
  Media and entertainment
  Others


Geography

  North America

    US
    Canada


  Europe

    France
    Germany
    UK


  Middle East and Africa



  APAC

    China
    India
    Japan
    South Korea


  South America

    Brazil


  Rest of World (ROW)

By Type Insights

The software segment is estimated to witness significant growth during the forecast period. This segment encompasses platforms and tools that offer real-time, automated, and scalable capabilities to monitor and analyze social media conversations across various channels such as Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, and Reddit. Real-time monitoring is a key feature of these solutions, empowering brands to identify mentions, trends, and sentiment as they emerge. By staying abreast of evolving topics, businesses can respond promptly to customer concerns, capitalize on viral events, and maintain a strong online presence. Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) technologies are integral to social media listening software, enabling advanced topic identification, sentiment analysis, and trend recognition.

These technologies enable businesses to gain valuable customer insights, inform product development, and enhance customer experience. Social media listening platforms also offer data visualization and reporting features, allowing businesses to analyze and present their findings in a clear and actionable manner. Additionally, they provide social media dashboards, alerts, and governance tools to ensure compliance with social media policies and ethical standards. In summary, social media listening software plays a pivotal role in the global market for social media analytics, offering real-time insights and advanced capabilities to help businesses navigate the complex social media landscape and engage effectively with their audience.

Get a glance at the market report of share of v

Premium B2C Consumer Database - 269+ Million US Records

Supercharge your B2C marketing campaigns with comprehensive consumer database, featuring over 269 million verified US consumer records. Our 20+ year data expertise delivers higher quality and more extensive coverage than competitors.

Core Database Statistics

Consumer Records: Over 269 million

Email Addresses: Over 160 million (verified and deliverable)

Phone Numbers: Over 76 million (mobile and landline)

Mailing Addresses: Over 116,000,000 (NCOA processed)

Geographic Coverage: Complete US (all 50 states)

Compliance Status: CCPA compliant with consent management

Targeting Categories Available

Demographics: Age ranges, education levels, occupation types, household composition, marital status, presence of children, income brackets, and gender (where legally permitted)

Geographic: Nationwide, state-level, MSA (Metropolitan Service Area), zip code radius, city, county, and SCF range targeting options

Property & Dwelling: Home ownership status, estimated home value, years in residence, property type (single-family, condo, apartment), and dwelling characteristics

Financial Indicators: Income levels, investment activity, mortgage information, credit indicators, and wealth markers for premium audience targeting

Lifestyle & Interests: Purchase history, donation patterns, political preferences, health interests, recreational activities, and hobby-based targeting

Behavioral Data: Shopping preferences, brand affinities, online activity patterns, and purchase timing behaviors

Multi-Channel Campaign Applications

Deploy across all major marketing channels:

Email marketing and automation

Social media advertising

Search and display advertising (Google, YouTube)

Direct mail and print campaigns

Telemarketing and SMS campaigns

Programmatic advertising platforms

Data Quality & Sources

Our consumer data aggregates from multiple verified sources:

Public records and government databases

Opt-in subscription services and registrations

Purchase transaction data from retail partners

Survey participation and research studies

Online behavioral data (privacy compliant)

Technical Delivery Options

File Formats: CSV, Excel, JSON, XML formats available

Delivery Methods: Secure FTP, API integration, direct download

Processing: Real-time NCOA, email validation, phone verification

Custom Selections: 1,000+ selectable demographic and behavioral attributes

Minimum Orders: Flexible based on targeting complexity

Unique Value Propositions

Dual Spouse Targeting: Reach both household decision-makers for maximum impact

Cross-Platform Integration: Seamless deployment to major ad platforms

Real-Time Updates: Monthly data refreshes ensure maximum accuracy

Advanced Segmentation: Combine multiple targeting criteria for precision campaigns

Compliance Management: Built-in opt-out and suppression list management

Ideal Customer Profiles

E-commerce retailers seeking customer acquisition

Financial services companies targeting specific demographics

Healthcare organizations with compliant marketing needs

Automotive dealers and service providers

Home improvement and real estate professionals

Insurance companies and agents

Subscription services and SaaS providers

Performance Optimization Features

Lookalike Modeling: Create audiences similar to your best customers

Predictive Scoring: Identify high-value prospects using AI algorithms

Campaign Attribution: Track performance across multiple touchpoints

A/B Testing Support: Split audiences for campaign optimization

Suppression Management: Automatic opt-out and DNC compliance

Pricing & Volume Options

Flexible pricing structures accommodate businesses of all sizes:

Pay-per-record for small campaigns

Volume discounts for large deployments

Subscription models for ongoing campaigns

Custom enterprise pricing for high-volume users

Data Compliance & Privacy

VIA.tools maintains industry-leading compliance standards:

CCPA (California Consumer Privacy Act) compliant

CAN-SPAM Act adherence for email marketing

TCPA compliance for phone and SMS campaigns

Regular privacy audits and data governance reviews

Transparent opt-out and data deletion processes

Getting Started

Our data specialists work with you to:

1. Define your target audience criteria

2. Recommend optimal data selections

3. Provide sample data for testing

4. Configure delivery methods and formats

5. Implement ongoing campaign optimization

Why We Lead the Industry

With over two decades of data industry experience, we combine extensive database coverage with advanced targeting capabilities. Our commitment to data quality, compliance, and customer success has made us the preferred choice for businesses seeking superior B2C marketing performance.

Contact our team to discuss your specific ta...

During a 2025 survey among marketers worldwide, around 83 percent reported using Facebook for marketing purposes. Instagram and LinkedIn followed, respectively mentioned by 78 and 69 percent of the respondents. The global social media marketing segment According to the same study, 60 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 2025. 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.

The global Social Media Analytics Market is estimated to reach USD 9,633.6 million by 2026, growing at a CAGR of 27.1% from 2022 to 2026. The market is driven by the increasing adoption of social media platforms by businesses to connect with their target audience and gain insights into their behavior. The benefits of social media analytics include improved customer engagement, increased brand awareness, and optimized marketing campaigns. Social media analytics refers to the process of drawing conclusions from social platforms for business and organizational purposes. It involves analyzing likes, shares, comments, and trends to understand audience reactions and tendencies. Through these measures, firms and organisations can fine-tune promotional tactics, improve customer relations, and gauge brand image. Social media monitoring tools such as sentiment analysis and demographic profiling also assist in data interpretation to establish who and what is popular. Real-time monitoring and tracking allow the necessary changes in strategies to be made, which can be highly beneficial in competitive environments. Other key considerations are the right to privacy and protection of user data, which makes it imperative to uphold responsible use of user data.

The number of social media users in Central & Western Europe was forecast to continuously increase between 2024 and 2029 by in total **** million users (+***** percent). After the ninth consecutive increasing year, the social media user base is estimated to reach ****** million users and therefore a new peak in 2029. Notably, the number of social media users of was continuously increasing over the past years.The shown figures regarding social media users have been derived from survey data that has been processed to estimate missing demographics.The shown data are an excerpt of Statista's Key Market Indicators (KMI). The KMI are a collection of primary and secondary indicators on the macro-economic, demographic and technological environment in up to *** countries and regions worldwide. All indicators are sourced from international and national statistical offices, trade associations and the trade press and they are processed to generate comparable data sets (see supplementary notes under details for more information).Find more key insights for the number of social media users in countries like Russia and Northern Europe.

The number of social media users in France was forecast to continuously increase between 2024 and 2029 by in total 11.5 million users (+34.36 percent). After the ninth consecutive increasing year, the social media user base is estimated to reach 44.93 million users and therefore a new peak in 2029. Notably, the number of social media users of was continuously increasing over the past years.The shown figures regarding social media users have been derived from survey data that has been processed to estimate missing demographics.The shown data are an excerpt of Statista's Key Market Indicators (KMI). The KMI are a collection of primary and secondary indicators on the macro-economic, demographic and technological environment in up to 150 countries and regions worldwide. All indicators are sourced from international and national statistical offices, trade associations and the trade press and they are processed to generate comparable data sets (see supplementary notes under details for more information).Find more key insights for the number of social media users in countries like Luxembourg and Netherlands.

As of February 2025, it was found that men between the ages of 25 and 34 years made up Facebook's largest audience, accounting for 18.5 percent of global users. Additionally, Facebook's second-largest audience base could be found with men aged 18 to 24 years. Facebook connects the world Founded in 2004 and going public in 2012, Facebook is one of the biggest internet companies in the world with influence that goes beyond social media. It is widely considered as one of the Big Four tech companies, along with Google, Apple, and Amazon (all together known under the acronym GAFA). Facebook is the most popular social network worldwide and the company also owns three other billion-user properties: mobile messaging apps WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger, as well as photo-sharing app Instagram. Facebook usersThe vast majority of Facebook users connect to the social network via mobile devices. This is unsurprising, as Facebook has many users in mobile-first online markets. Currently, India ranks first in terms of Facebook audience size with 378 million users. The United States, Brazil, and Indonesia also all have more than 100 million Facebook users each.

As of April 2025, almost 32 percent of global Instagram audiences were aged between 25 and 34 years, and 29.5 percent of users were aged between 25 and 34 years. Overall, 16.3 percent of users belonged to the 35 to 44 year age group. Instagram users With roughly one billion monthly active users, Instagram belongs to the most popular social networks worldwide. The social photo sharing app is especially popular in India and in the United States, which have respectively 413.85 million and 171.7 million Instagram users each. Instagram features One of the most popular features of Instagram is Stories. Users can post photos and videos to their Stories stream and the content is live for others to view for 24 hours before it disappears. In January 2019, the company reported that there were 500 million daily active Instagram Stories users. Instagram Stories directly competes with Snapchat, another photo sharing app that initially became famous due to it’s “vanishing photos” feature. As of the first quarter of 2025, Snapchat had 460 million daily active users.

As of February 2025, Snap Inc's social media platform Snapchat had a penetration rate of 34.4 percent in the United Kingdom compared to the country's total population, down from 34.9 percent in 2024. Overall, WhatsApp was the social network with the highest reach in the UK in 2025, while Snapchat was the tenth.

As of October 2025, 6.04 billion individuals worldwide were internet users, which amounted to 73.2 percent of the global population. Of this total, 5.66 billion, or 68.7 percent of the world's population, were social media users. Global internet usage Connecting billions of people worldwide, the internet is a core pillar of the modern information society. Northern Europe ranked first among worldwide regions by the share of the population using the internet in 2025. In the Netherlands, Norway, and Saudi Arabia, 99 percent of the population used the internet as of February 2025. North Korea was at the opposite end of the spectrum, with virtually no internet usage penetration among the general population, ranking last worldwide. Eastern Asia was home to the largest number of online users worldwide—over 1.34 billion at the latest count. Southern Asia ranked second, with around 1.2 billion internet users. China, India, and the United States rank ahead of other countries worldwide by the number of internet users. Worldwide internet user demographics As of 2024, the share of female internet users worldwide was 65 percent, five percent less than that of men. Gender disparity in internet usage was bigger in African countries, with around a 10-percent difference. Worldwide regions, like the Commonwealth of Independent States and Europe, showed a smaller usage gap between these two genders. As of 2024, global internet usage was higher among individuals between 15 and 24 years old across all regions, with young people in Europe representing the most significant usage penetration, 98 percent. In comparison, the worldwide average for the age group of 15 to 24 years was 79 percent. The income level of the countries was also an essential factor for internet access, as 93 percent of the population of the countries with high income reportedly used the internet, as opposed to only 27 percent of the low-income markets.