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.

The global social media penetration rate in was forecast to continuously increase between 2024 and 2028 by in total 11.6 (+18.19 percent). After the ninth consecutive increasing year, the penetration rate is estimated to reach 75.31 and therefore a new peak in 2028. Notably, the social media penetration rate of was continuously increasing over the past years.

How much time do people spend on social media? As of 2025, the average daily social media usage of internet users worldwide amounted to 141 minutes per day, down from 143 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 3 hours and 49 minutes on social media each day. In comparison, the daily time spent with social media in the U.S. was just 2 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.

During a January 2024 global survey among marketers, nearly 60 percent reported plans to increase their organic use of YouTube for marketing purposes in the following 12 months. LinkedIn and Instagram followed, respectively mentioned by 57 and 56 percent of the respondents intending to use them more. According to the same survey, Facebook was the most important social media platform for marketers worldwide.

Discover the latest social media statistics and trends for 2025 and how they impact businesses.

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.

Verified dataset of U.S. digital usage in 2025: internet users, social media user identities, mobile connections, and internet connection speeds.

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.

1) Data Introduction • The Social Media Usage Dataset(Applications) features patterns and activity indicators that 1,000 users use seven major social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

2) Data Utilization (1) Social Media Usage Dataset(Applications) has characteristics that: • This dataset provides different social media activity data for each user, including daily usage time, number of posts, number of likes received, and number of new followers. (2) Social Media Usage Dataset(Applications) can be used to: • Analysis of User Participation by Platform: You can analyze participation and popular trends by platform by comparing usage time and activity for each social media. • Establish marketing strategy: Based on user activity data, it can be used for targeted marketing, content production, and user retention strategies.

In 2004, a Harvard student launched a platform that would go on to redefine how humans connect. Fast forward to 2025, social media isn't just a way to stay in touch, it’s where people shop, learn, protest, play, and even find love. From early-morning scrolls to late-night reels, platforms have...

More than 100 social media channels and statistics for the National Archives and Records Administration.

Social media algorithms now shape the information we see. In 2025, over 5.4 billion people will engage with personalized feeds daily, each tailored by complex models that sort, amplify, or bury content based on real-time behavior. These algorithms affect everything from advertising campaigns to political messaging, and even how quickly...

A concise dataset summarizing platform-level social media statistics and benchmarks across Facebook, Google properties, and Twitter (X).

Introduction

Social Media Marketing Statistics: Social media marketing has become a vital tool for businesses seeking to connect with their audience and accelerate brand growth. With platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, and LinkedIn taking the lead, companies are harnessing the potential of social media to build meaningful relationships with their customers.

By using a mix of organic content and paid advertising, brands can effectively target specific audiences, strengthen connections, and boost brand awareness. Beyond just promoting messages, social media marketing also enables businesses to track campaign performance and make real-time adjustments.

As digital advertising continues to evolve, understanding key trends and statistics is crucial for businesses looking to stay ahead of the competition. This introduction delves into the influence of social media marketing, focusing on the strategies that drive success in today’s digital landscape.

According to a survey released in May 2023, B2B marketers considered Facebook the social media channel with the highest return on investment (ROI). The platform was mentioned by 22 percent of respondents. Instagram, TikTok and YouTube tied in second, each cited by 16 percent of the respondents.

I really don’t want to spend time talking about how big social media has become. While some of us are still in denial, the impact of social media platforms is so profound. Thus, it’s not surprising when social media trends and statistics go in sync with societal changes. Understanding these...

Picture a high school hallway during lunch break. Heads down, thumbs scrolling, earbuds in. This isn’t boredom, it’s engagement. For Generation Z, social media isn’t just a way to stay connected; it’s how they navigate identity, find entertainment, and even make purchasing decisions. Born between 1997 and 2012, Gen Z...

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

Introduction

Millennials On Social Media Statistics: Since the lockdown, people who never existed on the internet have created accounts on social media. As stated in these Millennials On Social Media Statistics, more than 50% of millennial users went online. The use of social media is increasing daily. Social media is gaining popularity not only among millennials but also among other generations.

However, the use of these platforms is growing extensively among all generations. These statistics guide recent insights, including the preferences for product research on social media, back-to-school shopping, etc.Â

Internet Usage: Social Media Market Share: All Platforms: Youku data was reported at 0.000 % in 14 Apr 2024. This stayed constant from the previous number of 0.000 % for 13 Apr 2024. Internet Usage: Social Media Market Share: All Platforms: Youku data is updated daily, averaging 0.000 % from Apr 2024 (Median) to 14 Apr 2024, with 9 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 0.430 % in 10 Apr 2024 and a record low of 0.000 % in 14 Apr 2024. Internet Usage: Social Media Market Share: All Platforms: Youku data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Statcounter Global Stats. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Iran – Table IR.SC.IU: Internet Usage: Social Media Market Share.