A survey conducted in January 2022 revealed that 18 to 25-year-olds constituted the largest share of social media users in India, with ** percent using six to nine social media platforms at a time. Contrariwise, nearly *********** of the respondents aged 56 and above claimed to not having used social media platforms. The source noticed that people residing in urban areas were using more social media platforms than those in rural areas.

The number of Instagram users in India was forecast to continuously increase between 2024 and 2028 by in total 46.1 million users (+13.89 percent). After the ninth consecutive increasing year, the Instagram user base is estimated to reach 377.99 million users and therefore a new peak in 2028. Notably, the number of Instagram users of was continuously increasing over the past years.User figures, shown here with regards to the platform instagram, 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 Instagram users in countries like Pakistan and Nepal.

Internet Usage: Social Media Market Share: All Platforms: Youku data was reported at 0.040 % in 02 May 2024. This records an increase from the previous number of 0.010 % for 01 May 2024. Internet Usage: Social Media Market Share: All Platforms: Youku data is updated daily, averaging 0.000 % from Jan 2024 (Median) to 02 May 2024, with 111 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 0.200 % in 26 Mar 2024 and a record low of 0.000 % in 30 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 India – Table IN.SC.IU: Internet Usage: Social Media Market Share.

Social media users were the highest across India as of February 2021 for messaging app Whatsapp, at *** million. YouTube followed during the same time, with Facebook ranking third. The government in the country introduced new rules under its IT-law earlier that year with the aim of social media platforms self-regulating by focusing on stronger guidelines.

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

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.

According to a survey conducted on digital payments in India as of August 2020, majority of Generation Z spent their time on social media for content. About 63 percent of teenagers spent time on social media apps to chat with other people.

Facebook had the largest market share among social media platforms across India, at roughly ** percent as of October 2024. The Meta-owned social network site has consistently led the country's social media market since 2019. Instagram was the second leading social media platform during that period with a market share of over ** percent, reflecting a fluctuating trend that emerged in the previous year. Commercial social media usage in India Apart from creating user-generated content, Indians have leveraged social media to grow their businesses. As consumption via online channels increased, social media began playing an important role in stimulating the Indian economy. Among the most popularly used social media platforms in India, Facebook was increasingly used for digital marketing. On the other hand, Instagram emerged as the country’s leading platform for influencer collaboration. Meta Platforms Since its launch in 2004, Facebook has quickly gone on to become the social media giant it is today. Having acquired leading social media platforms Instagram and WhatsApp, the company rebranded itself as Meta Platforms Inc. in 2021. The following year, Meta generated a revenue of nearly *** billion U.S. dollars. The company has further set its sights on bringing the metaverse to life to enhance the online experience of over ***** billion Facebook users across the world.

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

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

In this post, I'll give you all the social media addiction statistics you need to be aware of to moderate your social media use.

Growing digitalization efforts combined with low data prices enabled a significant number of people to use the internet actively across India. Of these, about *** million were active social media users. WhatsApp and Instagram accounted for the largest penetration, at over ** percent and over nearly ** percent respectively in the third quarter of 2024. The rise of Facebook in India  Hyderabad became the first Asian Facebook office registered under “Facebook India Online Services Private Limited” in 2010. The steady growth of the social network did not come without controversies. One of the most opposed collaborations that Facebook founded was internet.org, especially in India. The partnership with Reliance communications in 2015 caused controversy and was banned later that year. In recent years, the rise of fake news and its impact on politics has brought responsibility and content moderation to the forefront.   YouTube – the video-sharing social platform counterpart  YouTube was largely inspired by two events according to one of its founders – one of which was the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. The idea was the make sharing and finding videos easily available. YouTube consumption in India sky-rocketed with the Indian Premier League match streaming in 2010 with over *** billion views per day. Of course, this doubled with each season of the IPL thereafter. Furthermore, music videos were highly popular in the country. The evidence lies in the subscription growth of the music record label T-Series’ YouTube channel.

Social Networking Market Outlook

The global social networking market size is anticipated to expand significantly from USD 88.8 billion in 2023 to USD 177.3 billion by 2032, reflecting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.0% over the forecast period. This remarkable growth trajectory is propelled by the ever-increasing penetration of smartphones, the proliferation of internet access, and a heightened focus on digital social interactions. The integration of advanced technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Augmented Reality (AR) into social networking platforms is also enhancing user engagement levels, thus fostering market expansion. As the world becomes more digital, individuals and enterprises alike are increasingly seeking platforms that offer seamless communication, real-time updates, and personalized experiences.

A key growth factor of the social networking market is the continuous rise in internet adoption rates across the globe. As more regions gain access to the internet, the potential user base for social networking platforms expands correspondingly. Internet penetration has especially surged in developing countries, fueled by affordable smartphone availability and government initiatives aimed at improving digital infrastructure. This has allowed social networking platforms to tap into previously inaccessible markets, thereby driving user growth and engagement. Furthermore, as the digital economy grows, social networking sites are increasingly seen as essential tools for marketing, branding, and customer engagement, prompting businesses to invest heavily in these platforms to reach their target audiences effectively.

The evolution of user preferences towards visual and real-time content is another significant growth driver. Platforms that offer video sharing, live streaming, and ephemeral content have seen substantial increases in user engagement. This shift is largely driven by younger demographics who favor interactive and dynamic content over static text-based updates. Social networking platforms are capitalizing on this trend by incorporating features such as stories, reels, and live broadcasts, which not only enhance the user experience but also open up new revenue streams through advertising and partnerships. The ability of these platforms to innovate and adapt to changing user preferences is pivotal in maintaining user interest and ensuring long-term growth.

The increasing importance of data analytics and targeted advertising also plays a vital role in market growth. Social networking platforms provide businesses with unprecedented access to consumer data, allowing for highly personalized advertising strategies. This capability for precise targeting makes social networking advertising an attractive option for companies looking to maximize their marketing ROI. Moreover, advancements in AI and machine learning are further refining these targeting capabilities, enabling platforms to offer even more sophisticated and effective advertising solutions. As a result, advertising revenues for social networking platforms continue to rise, contributing significantly to overall market growth.

Regionally, North America and Asia Pacific are leading the charge in social networking market expansion. North America, with its technology-savvy population and high internet penetration rates, remains a dominant force, driven by continuous innovation and strategic partnerships within the industry. Meanwhile, Asia Pacific is witnessing rapid growth, fueled by the increasing number of internet users and the widespread adoption of smartphones. Emerging economies in this region, particularly China and India, are becoming key markets for social networking platforms looking to capitalize on vast, untapped user bases. Europe also presents substantial opportunities, with a focus on privacy and data protection driving innovation and compliance in social networking applications. In contrast, the Middle East & Africa and Latin America are gradually catching up, with improvements in digital infrastructure and connectivity.

Platform Type Analysis

The social networking market is segmented into various platform types, including social media, professional networking, dating, and others. Each platform type plays a crucial role in the overall market landscape, catering to different user needs and preferences. Social media platforms remain the most popular segment, driven by their ability to connect people across the globe and facilitate the sharing of personal experiences through text, photos, and videos. These platforms have evolved significantly over the years, incorporating features such as live streamin

Social media platforms have become integral tools in the conduct of foreign policy for many nations, including India. This dataset serves as a resource for analyzing ‘Social Media and India’s Foreign Policy: The Case Study of ‘X’ Diplomacy during the Covid-19 Pandemic.’ The data were collected through a web-based questionnaire distributed primarily to people aged 18 – 61 and above in India. A total of 171 valid data were collected from 17 states offering extensive geographic coverage and stored in Mendeley. The 15 contributor states are Goa, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Delhi, Assam, Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir, Karnataka, Kerala, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal. It encompasses diverse question formats, including single-choice, multiple-choice, quizzes, and open-ended. The study underscores the opportunities and challenges of employing 'X' diplomacy in India's foreign policy. Thus, there were two hypotheses. First, India's effective use of 'X' diplomacy positively impacts public perception of India's foreign policy effectiveness. Second, India's adept use of 'X' diplomacy during the COVID-19 pandemic enhances its ability to manage and respond to the crisis effectively. This data shows public perception of the effective use of social media by the Government of India, particularly in the crisis situation. Data also highlight the significant change in India’s narrative through its ‘X’ diplomacy, effectively setting the narratives, public perceptions, and diplomatic strategies. This data can be fully utilized in the study of the significance of social media in India’s foreign policy, the role of social media like ‘X’ in the making of India’s foreign policy, how effective social media like ‘X’ was during the Covid-19 pandemic and how Indian government utilized social media like ‘X’ to delivered messages and to set the narrative in the international politics.

The results of which gender uses which platforms are in.

A large portion of young India with access to the internet constituted Facebook usage in the country. About 74 million men and over 23 million women between ages 18 and 24 were users of the social media platform.

Social media and young India 

 With over 1.3 billion people, India was estimated to be home to a population with a median age of 28.2 years in 2020. No other country has that many young people. This was also reflected in internet penetration and therefore, social media usage. Almost 71 percent of Indians between 18 and 34 years old used Facebook alone. Most young adults spent between one and two hours on social media, which means it was a significant part of their day.

  The world’s largest election and its social media impact  

In April and May 2019, India held a general election which had between 80 and 100 million first-time voters, i.e. between 18 and 21 years old, as part of the 900 million registered voters. The connection between politics and social media use has become crystal clear in the time leading up to the election. Social media campaigns aside, the impact of fake news, not just via Facebook but also with WhatsApp, were and continue to be discussed with some hope for effective solutions to combat it. The composition of the population along with the regional, socio-economic and communal or cultural challenges make this a problem incredibly vast and complex, requiring some amount of accountability on all levels.

The social media user penetration in India was forecast to continuously increase between 2023 and 2028 by 22.4 percentage points. According to this forecast in 2028, the penetration rate will have increased for the fifth consecutive year to 83.16 percent. Notably, the social media user penetration was continuously increasing over the past years.

Teenagers are the 2nd largest group of people affected by social media addiction. Teens ages 13 to 18 years old spend a significant amount of their free time on social media with an average of 3 hours a day.