Social media is a big part of life for billions of people across the world. Here are some key statistics and data about social media trends in 2024.
- Gender Distribution: 46.6% of social media users are female, and 53.4% are male.
- Global Reach: As of July 2024, there are 5.17 billion social media users, making up 63.7% of the global population. The number of users has grown by 5.8% (282 million new users) over the past year.
- Internet Users: 94.9% of internet users have social media identities.
- User Engagement: People spend an average of 2 hours and 20 minutes daily on social media and engage with an average of 6.7 platforms each month.
- Top Platforms: YouTube leads in active users, followed by WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. YouTube also has the largest advertising reach, followed by Facebook and Instagram.
- Growth Drivers: Africa leads in social media growth, with user numbers increasing by over 13% in the past year due to improved internet access.
- Gender Distribution: The gender split in global social media usage is relatively balanced, though some regions such as the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) have higher female engagement on Instagram and Snapchat.
- Younger Age: Instagram and TikTok are favored among younger audiences, especially in Western countries. Snapchat is also popular among teenagers and young adults.
- Older Age: Facebook and WhatsApp are more popular among older age groups, including Generation X and Baby Boomers.
- High Platform Overlap: People who use platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube frequently use multiple other platforms. For instance, 76.8% of Instagram users also use YouTube.
- Reddit and Discord: These platforms have notably high overlaps with other niche platforms, reflecting more specialized communities.
Here’s a breakdown of social media usage by gender, age, and platform in 2024:
