Pew surveyed 5,022 U.S. adults to understand current social media use trends. The results confirm that YouTube and Facebook continue to offer the widest reach.
Key usage findings include:
- YouTube: Used by 84% of U.S. adults
- Facebook: Used by 71% of U.S. adults
- Instagram: Used by 50%, the only other platform to cross half of all adults
- TikTok: Used by 37%, nearly double its 2021 usage
- WhatsApp: Used by 32%, showing strong growth
- Reddit: Used by 26%, up steadily over four years
Daily usage also remains strong:
- 48% of adults use YouTube daily
- 52% visit Facebook every day
- 24% of adults use TikTok daily
Newer platforms remain limited in reach:
- Threads: 8%
- Bluesky: 4%
- Truth Social: 3%
This shows that while innovation continues, most users stay with familiar platforms.
Audience Differences Shape Platform Growth
The report shows that age is the biggest factor in platform choice.
Age-based trends include:
- 95% of adults aged 18–29 use YouTube
- Only 64% of adults aged 65+ use YouTube
- Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, and Reddit are far more popular with younger users
- Facebook remains strong among older adults
Gender and education trends:
- Women use Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok more
- Men prefer Reddit and X
- College-educated adults are more active on Reddit, WhatsApp, and Instagram
These differences explain why growth is uneven across platforms.
Also read about: Social Media Statistics 2026
Why This Matters For Brands And Creators
The data shows that YouTube social media usage remains unmatched for reach.
Facebook still matters for daily engagement. Growth platforms like TikTok, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Reddit serve more specific audiences.
Brands and creators should not post the same content everywhere.
Platform choice should match audience age and behavior. Broad reach works best on YouTube and Facebook. Targeted content performs better on growing platforms.
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