How Many People Use Social Media? Statistics & Facts (2024)

Key statistics and facts on social media usage numbers (Updated March 2024).

Written by
Oskar Mortensen
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April 24, 2024

How Many People Are Using Social Media?

Social media usage has reached a staggering 5.040.000.000 people globally, with an additional 266.000.000 new users joining within the past year.

Showcasing its widespread appeal and influence, social media is now used by over 5.04 billion people, representing 62.3% of the global population.

The article will give you the essential facts and statistics you should know about social media in 2024.

Top Picks: Key Social Media Statistics for 2024

For a quick overview of the digital landscape in 2024, here are the 10 most crucial social media statistics:

  1. Global Social Media Users: 5.04 billion people are using social media worldwide, which is 62.3% of the global population.
  2. Annual User Growth: There has been an addition of 266 million new social media users in the past year alone.
  3. US Social Media Adoption: In the United States, 72.5% of the population, or 246 million people, are active on social media platforms.
  4. Average Platforms Used: The average person now accesses 6.7 social media platforms monthly.
  5. Social Media for Business: Globally, 37.6% of internet users use social media for work, with the US at 28.7%.
  6. Gender Dynamics: On a global scale, social media users are 53.6% male and 46.4% female.
  7. Top Platform by Users: Facebook remains the most popular platform with 3.03 billion monthly active users globally.
  8. Daily Usage Time: The average time spent on social media per day is 2 hours 24 minutes globally.
  9. Mobile Dominance: A staggering 99% of social media users access platforms on a mobile device.
  10. Country-Specific Penetration: The UK leads with an 84.4% social media penetration rate, while India shows a 32.8% rate.

What is Social Media?

Social media is an online platform that allows users to create, share, and interact with content, fostering global connections and facilitating the exchange of information.

It has become an integral part of modern communication, with popular platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn offering diverse features for users to engage with

The History of Social Media

This timeline highlights key social media platforms that have shaped online communication and media consumption:

1997: SixDegrees

SixDegrees, named after the six degrees of separation concept, was one of the earliest social media platforms. It allowed users to create profiles and friend lists, and to send messages.

2002: Friendster

Friendster was launched as a social gaming site but quickly became a social networking platform. It introduced features that influenced future platforms, like connecting with friends and profile customization.

2003: LinkedIn

LinkedIn started as a professional networking site and has remained a staple for career-minded individuals and B2B connections. It allows users to showcase their professional experience and network with others in their industry.

2003: Myspace

Myspace quickly became the most popular social media platform, especially among musicians and creative artists. It allowed for a high level of personalization and became a cultural phenomenon in the mid-2000s.

What Myspace looked like back in the mid 2000's

2004: Facebook

Facebook began as a Harvard-only social network before expanding to other universities and eventually the public. It has since become one of the largest social media platforms in the world, influencing personal and business communications.

2005: YouTube

YouTube revolutionized video sharing by allowing users to upload, share, and view content. It has become the go-to platform for video consumption and a powerful tool for marketers and content creators.

2006: Twitter (Now X)

Twitter introduced a microblogging format with a 140-character limit, fostering real-time news and conversations. It has become a significant platform for public discourse, entertainment, and political communication.

2010: Instagram

Instagram started as a photo-sharing app with a focus on visual content and has since added features like Stories and IGTV. It has become a major platform for influencers, brands, and everyday users.

2011: Snapchat

Snapchat introduced ephemeral messaging with photos and videos that disappear after being viewed. Its Stories feature and AR filters have been widely adopted by other social media platforms.

2011: Google+

Google+ was Google's attempt at a social networking platform, integrating with other Google services. Despite initial interest, it struggled to maintain a user base and was eventually shut down.

2016: TikTok

TikTok, known for its short-form video content, has quickly become one of the fastest-growing social media platforms, especially among younger audiences. It has influenced social media trends and content creation.

Social Media User Statistics

Social media's reach extending to a significant portion of the global population. Lets look into the statistics that showcase the extent of social media usage:

Global Social Media Reach

  • 62.3% of the global population uses social media.
  • 93.5% of internet users and 88.4% of mobile phone users are active on social media platforms.
  • There are 5.04 billion social media users globally.
  • 80.8% of adults over 18 are active on social media.

Average Social Media Platforms Used

  • The average person accesses 6.7 social media platforms monthly.
  • Young adults aged 16-24 use 7.5 platforms on average.

Social Media for Business Use

Social media is not just for personal use; it's increasingly utilized for professional purposes worldwide. Here's how different countries stack up in terms of social media use for work:

  • Globally, 37.6% of internet users utilize social media for work.
  • In the U.S., 28.7% of people use social media professionally.

National Averages for Social Media Use in Business

When it comes to using social media for work purposes, the percentage of people varies across different countries. Here are the national averages for the percentage of people using social media for work in select countries:

Tools For Small Businesses Table

Country

Percentage of People Using Social Media for Work

Brazil

48.9%

India

43.6%

USA

28.7%

UK

26.8%

Japan

9.1%

Gender Dynamics in Social Media Usage

Exploring the gender dynamics in social media reveals intriguing patterns and preferences. Below is a detailed breakdown of gender distribution across regions and platforms:

Global Gender Distribution on Social Networks

  • 53.6% males
  • 46.4% females

Regional Gender Usage Patterns in Social Media

Tools For Small Businesses Table

Region

Male Users

Female Users

North America

49%

51%

South America

47%

53%

Western Europe

50%

50%

Southern Africa

50%

50%

Southern Asia

67%

33%

Oceania

50%

50%

Gender Preferences Across Social Media Platforms

Tools For Small Businesses Table

Social Network

Male Users (US)

Female Users (US)

Facebook

45.3%

54.7%

YouTube

48.6%

51.4%

Instagram

44%

56%

TikTok

44.4%

55.6%

LinkedIn

50.6%

49.4%

Snapchat

44.9%

54.9%

X (Twitter)

62.9%

37.1%

Pinterest

21.6%

78.4%

Source: Datareportal

The table showcases the varying gender preferences across major social networks in the U.S., with platforms like Pinterest showing a strong female user base, possibly due to its focus on visual content and topics that traditionally interest women.

Conversely, LinkedIn and Twitter have a higher male presence, which may be attributed to their professional networking and information-sharing nature. These trends are valuable for advertisers and content creators to consider when targeting their messages.

Eight-Year Social Media User Growth

Tools For Small Businesses Table

Year

Active Users

Growth Rate

2015

2.078 billion

2016

2.307 billion

+11%

2017

2.796 billion

+21%

2018

3.196 billion

+9.0%

2019

3.484 billion

+9.2%

2020

3.960 billion

+13.7%

2021

4.480 billion

+13.13%

2022

4.623 billion

+3.19%

2023

4.950 billion

+7.07%

Social Media Penetration by Country

Social media has become a ubiquitous part of daily life across the globe, with varying levels of penetration in different countries. Here's a snapshot of social media usage by nation:

Tools For Small Businesses Table

Country

Overall Penetration

Adult Penetration (18+)

Global

61.4%

80.8%

USA

72.5%

88.6%

UK

84.4%

92.4%

Canada

85.7%

90.8%

Australia

81%

91.5%

India

32.8%

40.2%

Social Media in the United States

In the United States, social media has permeated the fabric of society, with 72.5% of the population, amounting to 246 million users, actively engaging on various platforms.

Demographics of US Social Media Users By Gender and Ethnicity

Tools For Small Businesses Table

Gender/Ethnicity

Percentage

Female

78%

Male

66%

Hispanic

80%

Black

77%

White

69%

Age Distribution of US Social Media Users

Tools For Small Businesses Table

Age Group

Percentage

18-29 years

84%

30-49 years

81%

50-64 years

73%

65+ years

45%

Source: Pewresearch

Leading Social Media Platforms

The digital realm is ruled by a few key players, with Facebook at the forefront, boasting billions of users around the world.

The peoples favorite is Instagram, but what is biggest?

Top 15 Social Media Platforms by Global User Base

YouTube, WhatsApp, and Instagram trail closely behind Facebook, each with a user count in the billions, while other platforms also show impressive figures:

  1. Facebook: 3,030,000,000 global monthly active users
  2. YouTube: 2,491,000,000 global monthly active users
  3. WhatsApp: 2,000,000,000 global monthly active users
  4. Instagram: 2,000,000,000 global monthly active users
  5. WeChat: 1,327,000,000 global monthly active users
  6. TikTok: 1,218,000,000 global monthly active users
  7. FB Messenger: 1,036,000,000 global monthly active users
  8. Telegram: 800,000,000 global monthly active users
  9. Snapchat: 750,000,000 global monthly active users
  10. Douyin: 743,000,000 global monthly active users
  11. Kuaishou: 673,000,000 global monthly active users
  12. X (Twitter): 666,000,000 global monthly active users
  13. Sina Weibo: 599,000,000 global monthly active users
  14. QQ: 571,000,000 global monthly active users
  15. Pinterest: 465,000,000 global monthly active usersSource: Statista

Monthly Active Users in the US by Social Network

Tools For Small Businesses Table

Social Network

US Monthly Active Users (in millions)

Facebook

177.5

Instagram

138.5

TikTok

107.8

Snapchat

90.5

Pinterest

86.8

X (Twitter)

50.5

Source: Insiderintelligence

Daily Social Media Usage Time

On a global scale, individuals allocate a considerable chunk of their day to social media, with the average daily time exceeding two hours.

Vital Time Usage Statistics

From a global perspective, the average duration spent on social media varies, with some countries logging in more hours than others.

Social Media Daily Engagement by Country

The following table provides a glimpse into the daily social media usage across a selection of countries, offering a perspective on global digital habits.

Tools For Small Businesses Table

Country

Daily Social Media Usage

Nigeria

3 hours 49 minutes

Brazil

3 hours 44 minutes

Philippines

3 hours 36 minutes

Indonesia

3 hours 10 minutes

Canada

1 hour 54 minutes

Spain

1 hour 53 minutes

France

1 hour 45 minutes

Italy

1 hour 41 minutes

Germany

1 hour 39 minutes

Japan

49 minutes

Trends in Daily Social Media Time

The following graph charts the evolution of time spent on social media, showcasing incremental changes over the past quarters.

Tools For Small Businesses Table

Quarter

Time Spent (in minutes)

Q2 2021

147

Q3 2021

147

Q4 2021

149

Q1 2022

149

Q2 2022

148

Q3 2022

151

Q4 2022

144

Q1 2023

146

Q2 2023

144

Source: Datareportal

Social Media Site Visit Frequency in the US

The pattern of social media visits by Americans shows a strong daily presence on most platforms, with Twitter being the exception.

Visit Patterns to Social Media Platforms

The data below reveals how frequently Americans log onto their favorite social media sites, with a clear preference for daily visits.

Tools For Small Businesses Table

Platform

“Less Often” Usage (%)

Weekly Usage (%)

Daily Usage (%)

Facebook

9

17

74

Snapchat

22

17

61

Instagram

16

21

63

Twitter

29

29

42

YouTube

17

32

51

Device Preference for Social Media

Mobile vs. Desktop Social Media Access

The trend is clear: mobile reigns supreme in the realm of social media, with a vast majority of users accessing platforms through handheld devices.

Internet Access: Mobile vs. Tablet Market Share

The current statistics on device usage for internet access show a strong leaning towards mobile, emphasizing the mobile-centric nature of social media.

Sources: Statcounter

How Many People Use Social Media? Statistics & Facts (2024)

This is an article written by:

Oskar is highly driven and dedicated to his editorial SEO role. With a passion for AI and SEO, he excels in creating and optimizing content for top rankings, ensuring content excellence at SEO.AI.