Since its beginning at the beginning of 1996, social media has been able to reach half of the 7.7 billion people around the world. Social networks have nearly tripled their user base over the past decade, growing from the 970 million of users in 2010, to the number surpassing 4.48 billion users in July 2021.
The soaring year-on-year growth of new users of the platforms is however slowing. The current trend is based on the constant growth of the number of users with access to the internet and smartphones, especially in the developing regions.
What is social media? And how is it evolving today?
In this amazing statistic roundup, you'll find the most recent social network data through numbers and important demographics. Here's a brief summary of what you'll find below:
Social Information Usage Statistic (Top Picks)
How many people are using social media?
The growth rate of social media in the world
The penetration of social media by country
The social media industry in the US by number of users
The growth of social media in the US
Most popular social media platforms
Time used on social media
Social Media Use by Device
Without further delay we'll take a look at the top 12 facts that you should not miss in one of the most rapidly adopted technologies of the past century.
Social Information Usage Statistic (Top Picks)
4.48 billion users currently use social media in the world, which is more than a third from 2.07 billion in 2015.
The typical social media user uses an average of 6.6 different social media platforms
The growth rate of social media since 2015 has been at an average 12.5 percent year-over-year. However, the growth rate has been declining with 2019-2020 data showing an 9.2 percent growth rate.
In terms of region, social media growth for 2019-2020 is driven by Asia: +16.98%, Africa +13.92 percent, South America +8.00%, North America +6.96%, Europe +4.32%, and Australasia +4.9 percent
60.99 percent of the 7.87 billion people around the world are using social media. Of the eligible users aged 13+, there are 63% who are active users
93.33 percent of internet users are using social media. However an astounding 85percent of internet users on mobile devices are active on social media networks
Of 4.48 billion users on social networks, 91% use apps or websites on the mobile device, while just 1.32 percent accessing the platforms through desktops
The average amount of amount of time spent using social media per day is 2 hours and 24 minutes If someone joined at the age of 16 and lived to 70, they'd spend 5.7 decades of their lives using it
Facebook is the most popular social network with 2.9 billion active monthly users and is closely followed by YouTube (2.3 billion), WhatsApp (2 billion), FB Messenger (1.3 billion), as well as WeChat (1.2 billion)
72.3 percent of the US people use social media, resulting in around more than 240 million users
In the US, 54 percent of users on social media are female. The remaining 46% are males in comparison to an average worldwide of 45.6 percent for females, and 54.4 percent for male.
How many people are using social media?
In 2021, the amount of people who use social media has surpassed 4.48 billion across the globe and the average user using 6.6 social media sites per month. The most popular platforms such as Facebook have more than 65.86 percent of their monthly users who log into social media on a daily basis.
4.48 billion users currently use social media in the world.
Every social network reports statistics on growth, based on the number of active users per month or MAU's, rather than the number of accounts, since this is more reliable in determining actual usage and penetration into territories.
What is the percentage of people who are on social media?
The present percentage of users who use the social network is 56.8 percent of the total population. But, when we examine the usage rates of people with the eligible audience, 93.33% of 4.8 billion internet users worldwide and 83% from 5.27 billion users of mobile phones are using social media.
What is the percentage of people who use social media?
Key Statistics:
4.48 billion people are using social media in the world according to reports from platforms about the number of active users
56.8 percent of the world's population are engaged on social media when considering the age-appropriate audience of 13+, and this percentage is rising to 82 percent in North America
Of the 7.87 billion people around all over the globe, 56.8 percent of people use social media, regardless of age or access to the internet.
Of 4.8 billion Internet users 93.33 percent are actively using the internet.
Of 5.27 billion unique mobile phone users 85 percent are active users
Of 4.48 billion users on social networks, the majority use the apps or websites via mobile devices
How many accounts on social media do the average user have?
Based on the Global Web Index, the average number of social media accounts that a Gen Z or millennial has is 8.4 globally, which is up 75 percent over 4.8 accounts as of 2014. The research of 46 countries that have internet users between the ages of 16 and 64 revealed that Japan was the least amount of social media accounts at 3.8 and, in comparison, India was the most popular with 11.5 for each person.
How many accounts on social media do the average user have?
Key Statistics:
The number of accounts on social media is 8.4 per person in 2020.
The increase in the amount of accounts per person is 75% higher from 4.8 people per account in 2014, to 8.4 in 2020.
First of all, the rise of multi-networking is due to the expansion of the options for platforms. In addition, it's due to the specialization of specific platforms, e.g., Instagram (photos), YouTube (video) and LinkedIn (work)
Five Highlights for Backlinko's viewers:
India: Averages 11.4 accounts per person
USA: Averages 7.1 accounts per person
UK Averages 6.9 account per individual.
Canada: Average of 6.8 account per individual
Japan: Averages 3.8 accounts per person
How many people are using social media for business?
40% of all internet users around the world utilize social media for work reasons. For the U.S., only 27 percent of users actively use social media for work as compared to the highest percentage of countries in Indonesia with 65% or the lowest , at 13 percent in Israel.
Five Highlights for Backlinko's viewers:
India: 47% of the population uses it to work
Canada: 31% of Canadians use it to work
Australia 30 percent of the population uses it for work
USA: 27% of Americans use it to work
UK: 27% of the population uses it to work
How many people are using social media for business?
The use of social media by gender
The global average gender ratio of the users of social networks is 54% male and 46% women. In the US women make up the most frequent users; 76% of all female internet users have social media accounts, compared to 72% of men.
Which gender is more active on social media the most according to region?
North America: 54% female vs. 46% male users
South America: 52% female vs. 48% male users
Western Europe: 50% female vs. 50% male users
Southern Africa: 52% females against. 48 percent male users
Southern Asia: 27% females in comparison to. 73 percent male users
Oceania: 53% females vs. 47 percent male users
Which gender is influenced more based on the platform?
As you can see from the information above, the use of social networks differs for males and women across the globe when looking at the location. The most noticeable gap in gender is when we examine the usage of the platform.
Which gender is influenced more based on the platform?
If you look at the top social platforms with the highest number of monthly active users, YouTube, LinkedIn, Twitter, and TikTok have higher indexes for male users. Websites such as Facebook and Instagram tend to be more female-oriented particularly Pinterest which is the most popular among female users.
The top social networks for use by gender split ( percent from the US population) - Data Sources: Statista, Brandwatch, Statista, Statista, Worldometers, OurWorldInData, Data Portal Social media platforms Kepio's Analysis
The growth rate of social media in the world
How much do social networks increase year over year?
By 2021 there will be 4.48 billion active users of social media around the globe This represents an improvement of 13.13 percent year-on-year, compared to 3.69 billion in 2020. In 2015, there were just 2.07 billion people using social media - which is an increase of 115.59 percent in just six years.
Six-Year Social Media Growth Statistic:
2021: 4.480 billion active users (+13.13 percent)
2020: 3.960 billion active users (+13.7 percent)
2019: 3.484 billion active users (+9.2 percent)
3.196 million active users (+9.0 percent)
2.796 million active users (+21 percent)
2.307 billion users active (+11 percent)
2.078 million active users
How much do social networks increase year over year?
Top 10: The growth of users on social media by country
Based on Keipo's analysis the nation with the highest social media growth between 2019 and 2020 was India with 13 million users joining social media platforms which is equivalent to 9.6 percent of their total population. Second place was China (15 meters), Indonesia (12 m), Brazil (11 m), Iran (9.4 m), and the USA sixth place having 6.9 millions of new members.
Below, we present the top 20 ranking of growth by nation, which represent the most users, not the percentage of growth:
The growth of users on social media according to the region
The number of users who use social media increased by 9.2 percent from April to January 2020. If we look at the percentage of users growing according to the region of their residence, Europe had the slowest activity of active users, at 4.9 percent. While Asia was the largest social media user base increase at 16.98 percent, followed by Africa growing by 13.92 percent.
Growth in social media by the region 2019-2020:
North America: +6.96%
South America: +8.00%
Europe: +4.32%
Africa: +13.92%
Asia: +16.98%
Australasia: +4.9%
Day One What year did social media first begin?
The popularity of social media started in 1996, with the launch of the social networking site Bolt (now shut down). In 1997, shortly after, Six Degrees was released which allowed users to add friends and create profiles. Then, apps like AOL Instant Messenger, Live Journal, and Friendster were launched, paving the way for the market leader, Facebook, in 2004.
Timeline: The beginning of social media
1996: The very first social network and video site was Bolt that was in operation between 1996 and 2007.
1997: A website named Six Degrees was launched in 1997, where users could upload their profiles and communicate to other users through friends.
1997: AOL launched its Instant Messenger service. They purchased the service from an Israeli founded company. It was initially referred to as ICQ and was launched in the year 1996.
1999 The year 1999 marked the beginning of LiveJournal the first well-known blogging platform.
2001: Habbo was a gaming network site was launched in
2002: Friendster launched, where users created profiles, became connected and shared content
2003: LinkedIn launched the first business-oriented social network site in 2003.
2004: Facebook, the most well-known platform, is launched
The sources: GlobalWebIndex, Pew Research, Wikipedia, Social media platforms and Kepio's Analysis
The penetration of social media by country
Which country has the highest number of active users of social media around the globe?
Social media penetration = active users vs. total population.
Based on Statista's data for 2020 the country with the highest engagement was the U.A.E., with 99 percent of its inhabitants using social media. The global average for penetration is 49 percent. If you limit the data to users who are eligible, aged 13plus, the mean social media penetration rate is 63%..
Key Statistics for the entire population
On average 49% of people in the population of the world are active social media users, regardless of age.
In the average 63% of the people in the world who are 13+ are engaged on social media
USA has 70% of people regardless of age, and 83 percent for those 13+ years
UK has 66% of people regardless of age, and 79 percent for those 13+ years
Canada boasts 67% of its population regardless of age, and 77 percent for those 13+ years
Australia has 71% of the population regardless of age, and 85 percent for those 13+ years old.
India has 29% of its population regardless of age, and 38% only for those who are 13+ years
Which countries should network operators look to expand?
Social media offers the greatest potential to grow in emerging countries and has a huge number of users who have not yet signed up. Data company from the think tank Pew Research Center noted a constant increase in internet and smartphone usage that is directly related to the rise of social media in specific developing regions or countries.
In 2014, there was an average of 42% of the population who used the internet at least once and now that figure should be in excess of 65percent that was the most recent figure recorded by the Pew study in 2017. The same story was reported regarding the growth of smartphones increasing to nearly 42% during the same time frame.
Revenue from advertising will not increase at the same rate.
Unfortunately, social media platforms that are looking to expand into these areas will earn a lesser amount from advertising revenue per user, which is why the number of users is crucial to their profits.
For instance, Facebook reports the average earnings per user of $41.41 to sign up someone in the US However, for the Asia-Pacific region, the amount is $3.57.
Sources: Statista, Statista, Data Reportal, Social media platforms and Kepio's Analysis
The social media industry in the US by number of users
What proportion of Americans are using social media?
According to statements from platforms according to platform statements, the total number of users on social media within the US is 240 million by 2020, which means that 72.3 percent of Americans are active users of social media regularly. The most popular social media platforms in the United States are YouTube at 81.9 percent and Facebook with 73.4 percent of people aged between 16 and 64.
What proportion of Americans are using social media?
The number of Americans using social media
It is the US use of social media is determined by the total amount of active social media users in comparison to the population , or the people aged 13or older.
72.3 percent of the US people have social media accounts regardless of age, which is 231.47 million users
US social media usage according to gender:
In America Social media is more popular among women, specifically, Snapchat and Pinterest while men use sites such as YouTube as well as Twitter more.
78 percent of females
66 percent of males
US social media usage according to ethnicity
The proportion of use of social media versus the total population of people by race for the total US the population is:
80 % Hispanic
77 percent Black
69 percent White
US social media usage by age
It is not surprising that the proportion of Americans who use social media at age 25 is mostly Gen Z and Millennials.
84% of the population aged between the ages of 18 and 29.
81% of the population aged 30-49
73% of people aged 50-64
45percent of people aged 65or older
The sources are: Pew Research, Data Reportal, Brandwatch, Social media platforms and Kepio's Analysis
The growth of social media in the US
How is it going? What's the rate of growth for social media platforms in the US?
70 percent of the US people have active social media accounts, and an annual growth rate of 3.1 percent from 2019 to 2020. The first record of US number of users was 5percent in 2005. growing in the US was just 6 years to reach 50 percent of the population in 2011.
Key Statistics:
The rate of growth in social media in America between 2020 to 2021 was 4.3 percent
The total amount of people using the internet in America has increased by 10 million between 2020 and 2021.
US increase in social media users based on platform
A collection of studies carried out by the Pew Research Center 2012-2019 shows the proportion of US adults who say they utilize the following apps on their phones or computer.
The most important US Network Growth Statistics 2020-2021:
TikTok has risen 18.3 percent.
The sources: Statista, Pew Research, OurWorldInData, Data Reportal, eMarketer, Social media platforms and Kepio's Analysis
Most popular social media platforms
What are the most popular social media websites?
By 2020 Facebook will be the most popular social network , with 2.85 billion out of 4.48 billion users on social media around the world. YouTube and WhatsApp are next with more than 2 billion users, followed by Messenger, WeChat, and Instagram each with 1 billion or more users.
The most popular social media according to the number of active users Source: (Statista), (FB In-Reach Q1 2020)
Time used on social media
How many hours do people spend on social media every day?
The 2020 average amount of time spent on social media each day is 2 hours and 25 minutes for all users between 16 and 64 years old using any device.
The amount of time spent on networks for an average user in US averages 2 hours 7 mins which is 18 minutes shorter than the average for all of the world.
The World Health Organization estimates global life expectancy at around 73 years. If the average person continued using the same social media use, they'd be spending 5.7 years or 2,080 days on social media platforms during their lifetime of eligibility.
Key Statistics:
The average amount of amount of time spent on social media per day is 2 hours and 25 minutes or 145 minutes
The average user will spend 5.7 years using social media between the ages of 16+ until the age of 70.
The average person will be spending 36.5 days per year on platforms starting at when they are 16 years old and over.
Of the 46 countries that were surveyed, the Philippines have the longest time on social media, averaging 4h15m.
The people of Japan have the lowest amount of time in networking, at 51 minutes
Social media time by the country
Below, we present the daily average time that social networks are used in minutes and hours from 46 countries. The source of the data comes from that of the Global Web Index 2020 report.
Five Highlights for Backlinko's viewers:
Brazil - 3 hours 42 mins
U.S.A. - 2 hours and 7 minutes
U.K. - 1 hour 49 mins
Australia - 1h 45 mins
South Korea - 1 hour 8 mins
Daily time on social media increases figures
Below, we see the increase in the amount of time spent on social media in mere minutes The data comes from all internet users in 47 countries between the ages of 16 and 64 and from any device.
What percentage of Americans make use of social media websites?
Below is the number of visits Americans are receiving from these popular social media websites, and all platforms besides Twitter have at the very least 50% of their users using the site every day.
The frequency of use of social media in Americans (by per cent) - Sources: GlobalWebIndex,
Social Media Use by Device
What is the proportion of social media use on mobile devices vs. desktop?
Regarding the use of social media by devices the majority of users around the globe access social networks via mobile devices (tablet or mobile phone). About 78% of them are using platforms via their smartphone, as opposed to just 1.32 percent of people accessing their social media accounts via their desktop.
99percent of the people around the world use networks solely via mobile devices
What's the internet's mobile market share vs. tablets market share?
According to StatCounter that the mobile and. the market for desktop worldwide is a lot more mobile-centric and mobile devices, with 55.89 percent of users accessing the internet via a device or mobile. The figure is 41.36 percent of users use the internet via desktop (leaving 2.74 percent on tablets).
In contrast, this shows just the extent to which "mobile" the social web can be.
Key Statistics:
99percent or 4.43 billion social media users connect to networks via mobile devices
78 percent or 2.97 billion people access networks solely through their mobile phones
1.32 percent or 50 million users exclusively access networks via desktops
20%, or 759 million people use both mobile and desktop phones
The number of smartphones is 3.50 billion smartphones around the world, that's 84.85 percent of smartphone owners use social media on their smartphones
The world has 5.27 billion unique mobile phone users around the world.
The Sources are: Data Reportal, BankMyCell, Statcounter
Conclusion
Here's my social media's rise statistics summary.
In terms of the adoption rate of technology It's amazing to observe how fast a social network can grow. For instance, TikTok was on one of five devices connected to the internet within 24 months.
Now , I'd like to get in touch with you:
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In either case, jump into the water and leave a comment below.
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