According to a survey about internet usage in Saudi Arabia, WhatsApp was the most used social media platform, with **** percent of internet users reporting using it as of the third quarter of 2024. In comparison, Instagram listed second in terms of usage, with **** percent. Saudi Arabia, happier with social media The social media landscape in Saudi Arabia can be characterized by the popularity of WhatsApp, the growing number of social media users, the dominance of Facebook in web traffic referrals, and the high percentage of internet users who watch online video content. Given the latter, it should come as no surprise that potential ad reach on social media is led by platforms like YouTube and TikTok. Consumers primarily use the platforms to keep in touch with their loved ones or to make the most out of their spare time. The majority of the social media users in Saudi Arabia have reported positive sentiments by saying that social media makes them happier. Social media and internet freedom Saudi Arabia has a high internet penetration rate and many young, active social media users. Nevertheless, Saudi Arabia ranks relatively low when it comes to internet freedom. However, internet users in the kingdom generally support necessary social media restrictions.

How much time do people spend on social media? As of 2024, the average daily social media usage of internet users worldwide amounted to 143 minutes per day, down from 151 minutes in the previous year. Currently, the country with the most time spent on social media per day is Brazil, with online users spending an average of three hours and 49 minutes on social media each day. In comparison, the daily time spent with social media in the U.S. was just two hours and 16 minutes. Global social media usageCurrently, the global social network penetration rate is 62.3 percent. Northern Europe had an 81.7 percent social media penetration rate, topping the ranking of global social media usage by region. Eastern and Middle Africa closed the ranking with 10.1 and 9.6 percent usage reach, respectively. People access social media for a variety of reasons. Users like to find funny or entertaining content and enjoy sharing photos and videos with friends, but mainly use social media to stay in touch with current events friends. Global impact of social mediaSocial media has a wide-reaching and significant impact on not only online activities but also offline behavior and life in general. During a global online user survey in February 2019, a significant share of respondents stated that social media had increased their access to information, ease of communication, and freedom of expression. On the flip side, respondents also felt that social media had worsened their personal privacy, increased a polarization in politics and heightened everyday distractions.

With an **** percent user share in 2022, Whatsapp was the most popular social media platform in Saudi Arabia. For that year, the total number of social media users in the country was approximately **** million.  Social media usage in Saudi Arabia In Saudi Arabia, WhatsApp was the most popular social media platform, followed by Instagram and Twitter. The number of WhatsApp users in Saudi Arabia is expected to grow steadily between 2023 and 2028. After the fifth consecutive year of growth, the WhatsApp user base is expected to reach ***** million users, a new high in 2028. Notably, the number of WhatsApp users has been steadily increasing in recent years. In 2022, the primary reason for using social media in Saudi Arabia was to stay in touch with friends and family, followed by filling spare time.   Social media usage during Ramadan       In 2022, Muslim respondents in Saudi Arabia indicated they used social media to learn about new things they were interested in and to send greetings during Ramadan. During Ramadan, a lower percentage fewer respondents used social media to watch live videos by celebrities and publishers. Furthermore, during the same year, Muslim respondents in Saudi Arabia reported using social media to find shopping deals and promotions during Ramadan. In comparison, a lower proportion of respondents used social media to seek shopping advice from others during Ramadan.

As of the third quarter of 2024, according to a survey about internet usage in Saudi Arabia, around 46.1 percent of the respondents stated that they used social media primarily to keep in touch with friends and family. Filling spare time was the second most cited reason for social media usage at 40.1 percent.

The number of Twitter users in Saudi Arabia was forecast to continuously increase between 2024 and 2028 by in total 0.8 million users (+5.29 percent). After the ninth consecutive increasing year, the Twitter user base is estimated to reach 15.93 million users and therefore a new peak in 2028. Notably, the number of Twitter users of was continuously increasing over the past years.User figures, shown here regarding the platform twitter, have been estimated by taking into account company filings or press material, secondary research, app downloads and traffic data. They refer to the average monthly active users over the period.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 Twitter users in countries like Iraq and Bahrain.

The number of Facebook users in Saudi Arabia was forecast to continuously decrease between 2024 and 2028 by in total 1.4 million users (-5.93 percent). According to this forecast, in 2028, the Facebook user base will have decreased for the seventh consecutive year to 22.17 million users. User figures, shown here regarding the platform facebook, have been estimated by taking into account company filings or press material, secondary research, app downloads and traffic data. They refer to the average monthly active users over the period and count multiple accounts by persons only once.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 Facebook users in countries like Israel and Iraq.

The social media penetration rate in Saudi Arabia was forecast to continuously increase between 2024 and 2028 by in total 5.6 (+6.33 percent). After the ninth consecutive increasing year, the penetration rate is estimated to reach 94.08 and therefore a new peak in 2028. Notably, the social media penetration rate of was continuously increasing over the past years.

According to a survey about internet usage in Saudi Arabia, about 81 percent of the respondents in the kingdom used social media for brand research purposes in the third quarter of 2024. Social networks were used for brand research by around 57 percent of the respondents that quarter.

In 2022, the number of social media users in Saudi Arabia amounted to **** million users, up from **** million users in the previous year. On average, Saudi Arabians spent ***** hours and ** minutes a day on social media for that year.

In 2022, the main reason for social media usage in the UAE was to keep in touch with friends and family accounting for **** percent, followed by filling spare time accounting for **** percent. The total number of social media users in the country for that year was about **** million.

The ad spending in the 'Social Media Advertising' segment of the advertising market in Saudi Arabia was forecast to continuously increase between 2024 and 2030 by in total ***** million U.S. dollars (+***** percent). After the eleventh consecutive increasing year, the ad spending is estimated to reach ****** million U.S. dollars and therefore a new peak in 2030. Notably, the ad spending of the 'Social Media Advertising' segment of the advertising market was continuously increasing over the past years.Find further information concerning the ad spending change in the 'Direct Mail Advertising' segment of the advertising market in the United States and the ad spending in the 'Influencer Advertising' segment of the advertising market in the Philippines.The Statista Market Insights cover a broad range of additional markets.

In 2022, Whatsapp was the most popular social media platform in Saudi Arabia, at around ***** million users. The total number of social media users in the country for that year was about **** million.

In 2022, the largest share of social media advertising audience in Saudi Arabia was between 25 to 34 years old at about 16.6 percent females, and 30.4 percent males. The total number of social media users in the country for that year was about 29.5 million.

As of December 2024, Facebook had the largest share of web traffic referrals from social media in Saudi Arabia, at 52.5 percent. In comparison, the platform X had a 26.5 percent share of web traffic referrals that month.

This statistic presents the social network penetration in Saudi Arabia. As of third quarter 2017, the most popular social network was mobile messenger WhatsApp with a ** percent penetration rate. During the same period, ** percent of the total population were active social media users.

As of January 2017, approximately half the world population has access to the internet, while the number of worldwide social media users is expected to exceed * billion in 2016. Although North America is the leading region in terms of internet penetration, the Middle East is also increasingly connected, with an internet penetration above the world average – ** percent of the total population. Notwithstanding this increase in access to internet services, largely supported by increasing access to mobile devices and decreasing costs of internet packages, international observers attract attention to censorship practices in various countries in the region. According to the 2016 Freedom House Index regarding the internet freedom in selected Middle East and North African countries, Syria and Iran jointly occupied the penultimate place in internet freedom with ** index points. With a ** index, Saudi Arabia received a “not free” status from the International organization.

In Saudi Arabia, social media and technology is increasingly popular, mostly due to the low average age of the country’s population.

In 2020, the social network with the highest number of users in Saudi Arabia was Youtube at about ***** million users. It was followed by Instagram at about ***** million users.

In 2022, Facebook had the highest share of web traffic referrals from social media in Saudi Arabia, with a share of around **** percent. The total number of social media users in the country for that year was about **** million.

In a survey conducted during the third quarter of 2024, respondents in Saudi Arabia reported visual digital media accounted for most of their internet usage. On the other hand, respondents spent the least amount of time per day engaging with printed press and radio broadcasts. Media consumption in Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia has a growing digital media market. This is aided by strong internet penetration, modern and reliable telecommunication infrastructure, and a large young tech-savvy population. Social media usage, which survey respondents said occupied around three hours of their time each day, was topped by Meta-owned companies. The number of YouTube users in the country has also risen significantly in recent years. Such online ad-based social media platforms provide a significant opportunity for advertisers and companies to engage with potential customers. Saudi Arabia has also invested heavily in media and entertainment. In 2014, the state-owned MBC Group launched an ad-free version of its streaming service called Shahid Plus . The total digital revenue of the Shahid platform has consistently increased each year since its launch and has been well-received in other Gulf Cooperation Countries like Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and the wider MENA region. Gaming in Saudi Arabia Gaming is widely popular among Saudis; Saudi Arabia has one of the highest shares of internet users who play video games worldwide.The country is home to both professional and non-professional gamers, who generate revenue through streaming on platforms such as Twitch, participating in competitions, and monetizing their gameplay. In recent years, the industry has witnessed drastic growth. As part of its larger quest to expand the media and entertainment landscape, Saudi Arabia has injected billions of dollars into the gaming industry. Investments are primarily managed through Savvy Games Group, which is a subsidiary of the country’s Public Investment Fund (PIF).

According to a survey about internet usage in Saudi Arabia, as of the third quarter of 2024, **** of the surveyed individuals followed social media accounts of friends, family, and people they knew. Restaurants, chefs, or food personalities were followed by **** percent of the respondents in the country as of that quarter.

In the United Arab Emirates (UAE), ** percent of the population were active on social media in 2019, while ** percent were mobile social media users. In that year, only ** percent of the population of Saudi Arabia were active social media users. Consumer behaviors are highly affected by social media platforms in the e-commerce market.