Research Highlights Social Media Usage Trends in 2024

What are the newest social media utilization traits, and extra importantly, has X turn into much less related for U.S. adults?

The workforce from Pew Analysis has revealed its newest overview of social media utilization, which exhibits that YouTube stays the most well-liked social media app by far (although defining it as a social app appears like a stretch), whereas Fb and Instagram are additionally effectively forward of different apps.

The information relies on a survey of 5,626 U.S. adults, performed between February 1st and June tenth this yr. Which, in fact, is just a small fraction of whole social media customers, however it’s a broad sufficient pattern dimension to focus on some indicative traits, which doubtless level to total utilization.

And as you possibly can see on this chart, whereas the platform previously often known as Twitter is in decline, it’s not seeing a large drop-off as but.

As per Pew Analysis:

“YouTube and Fb are the most-widely used on-line platforms. Half of U.S. adults say they use Instagram, and smaller shares use websites or apps similar to TikTok, LinkedIn, X (previously Twitter) and Snapchat.”

Yep, that’s a reasonably succinct abstract, there’s YouTube, Meta’s apps, then everybody else when it comes to common utilization.

The information right here doesn’t measure time spent on every, which might in all probability be a extra indicative determine, as studies recommend that TikTok customers spend for much longer in app than these on, say, Fb. However when it comes to broader utilization, these three stay on high of the heap, as they’ve since 2018.

Apparently, TikTok utilization hasn’t elevated in Pew’s knowledge over the previous yr (darkish inexperienced line), although Pinterest’s has (gentle inexperienced), which is a worthy level of be aware. Linkedin (darkish orange) and WhatsApp (darkish grey) have additionally seen slight jumps, and Reddit as effectively (gentle orange), whereas Snapchat (apricot, I suppose) utilization has remained regular.

And sure, X has seen a slight decline, although solely slight. It’s not falling away like many appear to count on.

The one marker down the underside of the chart is BeReal, which was thrilling for just a few months.

By way of who’s utilizing social platforms, Fb stays standard with older customers, whereas TikTok and Snapchat dominate the youngins.

YouTube dominates everybody, although once more, I’m hesitant to incorporate it as a comparability to social apps, as a result of YouTube’s utilization is primarily video viewing, not partaking with others, thus being the “social” parts.

Then once more, I suppose TikTok is similar, and arguably Instagram, and even Fb as of late too, so perhaps it needs to be held up in opposition to them. However both approach, these are some attention-grabbing insights into broader social app traits, and which age teams are most inquisitive about every.  

That would provide help to form your 2025 technique, and make sure you’re current the place you’re viewers is energetic.

You’ll be able to try Pew Analysis’s full “Social Media Reality Sheet” for 2024 right here.