May 19, 2021
A recent Pew Research study found that while social media usage can vary greatly by platform and age, overall, seven in 10 Americans say they use social media — a figure that has remained consistent over the past five years.
The survey found that YouTube and Facebook are the most popular social platforms among U.S. adults. YouTube dominates the online market with 81% of usage, while Facebook earned 69% usage. YouTube and Reddit were the two platforms that experienced growth since the last survey in 2019. Facebook’s growth leveled off over the last five years, but remains the most widely used social media site among U.S. adults.
Social platforms such as Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok were particularly popular among younger adults. The majority of 18 to 29 year-olds stated using Instagram (71%), Snapchat (65%), and TikTok (50%). These shares stand in stark contrast to those over 65, where just 13% reported use of Instagram, 2% Snapchat, and 4% TikTok.
Source: Pew Research