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Home  Research Topics  Internet & Technology  Platforms & Services  Social Media

FACT S H E E T JANU A R Y 3 1, 2024

Social Media Fact Sheet

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Which social media

platforms are most
common?

Who uses each social media

platform?

Find out more

FACT SHEETS: TECH ADOPTION TRENDS

Internet/Broadband Mobile Social Media

Many Americans use social media to connect with one another, engage with news content,
share information and entertain themselves. Explore the patterns and trends shaping the
social media landscape.

How we did this

Which social media platforms are most common?

YouTube and Facebook are the most-widely used online platforms. About half of U.S.
adults say they use Instagram, and smaller shares use sites or apps such as TikTok,
LinkedIn, Twitter (X) and BeReal.

Which social media platforms are most popular

% of U.S. adults who say they ever use …

100%
Change in survey mode ---

80% YouTube
Facebook
Instagram
Pinterest
60% TikTok
LinkedIn
WhatsApp
Snapchat
40%
Twitter (X)
Reddit
BeReal
Nextdoor
20%

0%
2014 2016 2018 2020 2023

Note: The vertical line indicates a change in mode. Polls from 2012-2021 were conducted via phone. In 2023, the poll was
conducted via web and mail. For more details on this shift, please read our Q&A. Refer to the topline for more information on
how question wording varied over the years. Pre-2018 data is not available for YouTube, Snapchat or WhatsApp; pre-2019
data is not available for Reddit; pre-2021 data is not available for TikTok; pre-2023 data is not available for BeReal.
Respondents who did not give an answer are not shown.
Source: Surveys of U.S. adults conducted 2012-2023.
PEW RESEARCH CENTER

Chart Data Share

 Who uses each social media platform?
Usage of the major online platforms varies by factors such as age, gender and level of
formal education.

% of U.S. adults who say they ever use __ by …

RACE & POLITICAL

AGE GENDER ETHNICITY INCOME EDUCATION COMMUNITY AFFILIATION

Ages 18-29 30-49 50-64 65+

Facebook 67 75 69 58

Instagram 78 59 35 15

LinkedIn 32 40 31 12

Twitter (X) 42 27 17 6

Pinterest 45 40 33 21

Snapchat 65 30 13 4

YouTube 93 92 83 60

WhatsApp 32 38 29 16

Reddit 44 31 11 3

TikTok 62 39 24 10

BeReal 12 3 1 <1

Note: Respondents who did not give an answer are not shown.

Source: Survey of U.S. adults conducted May 19-Sept. 5, 2023.

Find out more

This fact sheet was compiled by Research Assistant Olivia Sidoti, with help from Research
Analyst Risa Gelles-Watnick, Research Analyst Michelle Faverio, Digital Producer Sara
Atske, Associate Information Graphics Designer Kaitlyn Radde and Temporary
Researcher Eugenie Park.

Follow these links for more in-depth analysis of the impact of social media on American
life.

Americans’ Social Media Use Jan. 31, 2024

Americans’ Use of Mobile Technology and Home Broadband Jan. 31 2024

Q&A: How and why we’re changing the way we study tech adoption Jan. 31,
2024

Find more reports and blog posts related to internet and technology.

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