Top 10 Most Popular Social Media Platforms
Before launching your social media marketing way for your ecommerce business, you require to first get an overview of the distribution of social media usage. Given the growing penetration and usage of social media these days, you should commence your marketing efforts by focusing on the platforms where you can discover most of your target spectators. To do that, you require to discover out which social media platform has the largest user base.
Social media rankings: key takeaways
- As of October 2024, Facebook tops the list of the most popular social media platforms by user count, with close to 3.1 billion users worldwide.
- Four of the 10 most popular social media platforms are owned by Meta. These are Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Facebook Messenger.
Most popular social media platforms (2024): ranked by number of users
|
10 most popular social media platforms |
No. of global users (as of October 2024) |
|
1. Facebook |
3,070 million |
|
2. YouTube |
2,530 million |
|
3. Instagram |
2,000 million |
|
4. WhatsApp |
2,000 million |
|
5. TikTok |
1,690 million |
|
6. WeChat |
1,370 million |
|
7. Telegram |
950 million |
|
8. Facebook Messenger |
937 million |
|
9. Snapchat |
850 million |
|
10. Douyin |
755 million |
Top social media platforms in 2024
1. Facebook (3.07 billion users)
The latest statistics display that Facebook continues to reign powerful as the king of social media, with 3.07 billion users worldwide. That means that approximately three out of every five of the estimated 5.17 billion social media users across the globe are energetic users of Facebook.
Facebook’s extensive reach and diverse user base make it an essential platform for marketers. Users spend an average of 18 hours and 44 minutes per month on the Facebook app, making it one of the most engaging platforms.
Why it stands out:
- Extensive reach of billions of users across various demographics
- Robust advertising tools and analytics
- Seamless integration with other popular Meta platforms including Instagram and WhatsApp
2. YouTube (2.53 billion users)
YouTube remains a powerhouse in video content, with 2.53 billion users. It’s not just a place for watching videos but also a significant platform for discovering recent products. With one billion hours of video watched daily, it offers immense potential for content creators and brands alike. It’s also the most popular video marketing platform, used by 90% of businesses.
Why it stands out:
- High engagement with long watch times
- powerful influence on purchasing decisions through video ads and product reviews
- A diverse range of visual content catering to all interests
3. Instagram (2 billion users)
Third on this list of the top social media platforms is Instagram. The photo-sharing app’s visual focus attracts 2 billion users who engage with photos, stories, and videos. With more than 60% of its users aged between 18 and 34, it’s a critical platform for influencers and brands looking to visually showcase their products and connect with a younger spectators.
Why it stands out:
- powerful visual appeal and aesthetic content
- Highly effective for influencer marketing
- Diverse content formats including posts, stories, reels, and IGTV
4. WhatsApp (2 billion users)
WhatsApp, with 2 billion users, is a leading messaging app worldwide and is the fourth-most-popular social media platform in 2024. It’s particularly popular for personal communication and has been increasingly used for business purposes through WhatsApp Business. The average WhatsApp user opens the app 930 times a month.
Why it stands out:
- High user engagement and daily activity
- Secure messaging with complete-to-complete encryption
- Growing use in customer service and business communication
5. TikTok (1.69 billion users)
Launched in 2017, TikTok completes the five most popular social media platforms. Its short-form video content has captured the attention of 1.69 billion users, especially younger demographics. Its algorithm promotes viral content, making it a hotbed for trends and creative expression. TikTok is also the social media platform on which users spend the most amount of period—the average TikToker spends 34 hours and 15 minutes on the app every month.
Why it stands out:
- High virality, engagement potential, and period spent
- Especially popular among Gen Z and Millennials
- Innovative ad formats and branded challenges
6. WeChat (1.37 billion users)
WeChat follows close behind, with 1.37 billion users. The multifaceted app is used primarily in China. It combines messaging, social media, and mobile settlement functionalities, making it an integral part of daily life for its users. It’s worth noting that the number of WeChat users has been rising in recent years, adding 44 million alone in the history 12 months.
These six social media networks mentioned thus far are the only ones with over one billion global users.
Why it stands out:
- Comprehensive app combining multiple services
- Essential for businesses targeting the Chinese economy
- powerful integration with ecommerce and settlement systems
7. Telegram (950 million users)
Telegram, with 950 million users, is known for its privacy features and robust messaging capabilities. It’s popular for both personal and throng communications, as well as for broadcasting messages to large audiences.
Telegram is especially popular in Russia, where the average user spends more than 14 hours a month on the app, compared to the global average of four hours and 25 minutes.
Why it stands out:
- powerful focus on privacy and safety
- Versatile messaging options, including channels and bots
- Growing user base with high engagement rates
8. Facebook Messenger (937 million users)
Facebook Messenger, another Meta product, has 937 million users, and ranks eighth on this ranking of the top social media platforms. Like WhatsApp, it’s widely used for personal communication and increasingly for business interactions through features like chatbots.
Why it stands out:
- Seamless integration with Facebook
- Powerful tool for customer service and automated responses
- Extensive reach and high user engagement
9. Snapchat (850 million users)
Snapchat’s distinctive ephemeral content format appeals to 850 million users, particularly younger audiences. This is so much so that youthful adults aged 18 to 24 make up 38% of its entire user base. Snapchat’s features like Stories and AR filters are especially popular as they propose creative ways for users and brands to interact.
Why it stands out:
- Popular among younger demographics
- Innovative AR features and interactive filters
- powerful potential for creative marketing campaigns
10. Douyin (755 million users)
Completing the 10 most popular social media platforms in 2024 is Douyin, the Chinese version of TikTok, with 755 million users. It shares many features with TikTok but is tailored specifically for the Chinese economy, with integrations with local ecommerce and settlement systems.
Why it stands out:
- High engagement with short-form video content
- Integrated with Chinese ecommerce platforms
- Significant influence on buyer behavior in China
desire to discover more?
- How to Write a strategy document in 9 Steps
- How To commence an Online Store in 2023 (Step-by-Step navigator)
- How To Sell Online: A Step-by-Step navigator (2023)
- How To commence a Business in 11 Steps (2023)
Read more
- Free strategy document Template- A Practical Framework for Creating Your strategy document
- The 13 Best Dropshipping Suppliers in 2024
- 29 Best Affiliate Marketing Programs for Beginners
- Global Ecommerce Sales (2020–2025)
- 40+ Best Free stake Photos Sites for Free Images
- When Is the Best period to Post on Instagram? (2022 navigator)
- 15 TikTok Statistics Marketers require To recognize (2024)
- How to Make Money on Snapchat
- Which Social Media Platforms Drive the Most Sales? [Infographic]
- The 12 Best Free Video Editing Software for 2024
Popular Social Media Platforms FAQ
What are the social media trends for 2024?
- Augmented Reality: Augmented reality (AR) will continue to be a major pattern in 2024, with more businesses and organizations utilizing AR to engage with their customers on social media.
- Video Content: Video content will remain a key pattern in 2024, with more businesses creating interactive and engaging videos for their social media accounts.
- Chatbots: Chatbots will become more popular, with more businesses and organizations using chatbots to respond customer questions and provide back.
- Social Shopping: Social shopping will also become increasingly popular, as businesses use social media to showcase their products and services and allow customers to purchase directly from their social media accounts.
- Influencer Marketing: Influencer marketing will continue to be a powerful tool for businesses in 2024, as they borrowing the reach and authority of influencers to promote their products and services.
- Social Advertising: Social media advertising will continue to be an significant part of any social media way in 2024, as businesses target specific audiences with ads tailored to their interests.
Post Comment