Social Media in the United States
The social media landscape in the United States of America can be very different from country to country, but what’s true all over the world is that the number of people using social media platforms has skyrocketed in recent years. This growing trend means that businesses will need to learn how to use social media in order to reach their target audience effectively and on a budget.
The number of social media users in the US is one of the highest in the world. This is due to the country’s high social network penetration rate. For most of the successful social media channels, the US is a huge market with enormous potential. In 2024, there are 246.0 million active social media users in the United States of America. This accounts to 72.5% of the total population of US.
The social media in the United States of America is constantly changing, with new websites and apps emerging every day to keep up with the demands of social media users around the world. Social media platforms have taken the place of traditional channels, such as print and broadcast, in terms of popularity, engagement and influence among users.
Facebook is the most popular social network in the United States, with 221.71 million active users. 74.2% of the users use Facebook, an online social networking service based in Menlo Park, California. Facebook is closely followed by Instagram.
The most popular social network of U.S. teens is Instagram. There are 180.77 million active users in the United States for Instagram, a photo and video sharing social networking service. Facebook Messenger, an instant messaging app and platform developed by Facebook. There are about 180.11 million active users using Facebook Messenger in the US. TikTok are also popular among adults under 30.
Digital Culture at a Glance in United States
| Top Influencer Campaign Platform | |
| Most Important Social Media Marketing Channel | |
| Top 2024 Marketing Trend | TikTok for Business |
Social Media Statistics of the United States of America in 2024
Social media has become an integral part of modern life in the US, with millions of people using platforms such as Facebook, X (Twitter), Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, and YouTube for communication, information sharing, and content consumption. Social media has also had a significant impact on politics and social movements, with many activists and advocacy groups leveraging these platforms to advance their causes and connect with others who share their views.
| Total population of US | 339.1 million |
| Number of Internet users | 311.3 million |
| Active social media users | 246.0 million |
| Number of Mobile Internet users | 282.34 million |
The population of US is 339.1 million. Of that, the number of internet users comes to around 311.3 million. 91.8% of the US population are internet users. The number of active social media in the US is 246.0 million.
As desktop use declines, mobile devices are growing at a rapid rate. It is good for social media users who are accessing social media on their mobile devices. The users are constantly connected to these social media platforms. There are about 282.34 million Mobile Internet users in the US.
| Percentage | Growth in Numbers | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual growth of Internet users | 0.5% | 1,500,000+ |
The annual growth of Internet users is 0.5% with another 1.5 million new users.
| Average daily time spent using Internet | 6 hours 59 mins |
| Average daily time spent using social Media | 2 hours 16 mins |
In the US, the average daily time spent using the Internet is 6 hours 59 mins, of which 2 hours 16 mins of the daily time is spent using social media.
Most Used Social Media Platforms in US in 2024
As mentioned in the beginning, Facebook is the most used social media platform in the United States, with 74.20% of the internet users enrolled. In numbers, it is 221.71 million active users. It saw a statistically significant growth since 2019. This tells that the reach is growing rapidly. US is the biggest market for Facebook, both in terms of views and subscribers. The second most liked Social Media Platform by the Americans is Instagram, with 180.77 million users.
| Most Used Social Network Platforms | Percentage | Active Users (in million) |
|---|---|---|
| 74.20% | 221.71 | |
| 60.50% | 180.77 | |
| Tik Tok | 47.00% | 140.44 |
| X (Twitter) | 42.30% | 126.39 |
| 37.00% | 110.56 | |
| 29.90% | 89.34 | |
| 29.30% | 87.55 | |
| Skype | 15.00% | 44.82 |
| Nextdoor | 13.50% | 40.34 |
After Facebook, Instagram, an American photo and video sharing social networking service founded by Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger, continue to influence the online landscape of the US. 60.50% of the users in the US have profiles on Instagram, and that makes it the second most popular platform. Instagram is the widely used social media site among US adults. Instagram has been used by many big brands in the US to engage with their fans.
TikTok, a video-focused social networking service owned by Chinese company ByteDance Ltd, has 47.00% of internet users in the US. TikTok has 140.44 million active users in the US. TikTok’s users are mainly U.S. teenagers and young adults. ByteDance Ltd. is the parent company of TikTok. It has grown into a source of income for creators in the US and a great sales channel for businesses. According to a report, the most popular video categories on TikTok include: dance challenges, lip-syncing and music videos, comedy skits, educational content and DIY and life hacks. By 2024, TikTok influencer marketing is projected to be worth $3 billion. TikTok’s in-feed advertisements have outperformed industry standards, with an engagement rate of 8% to 10% on average.
A few other social media platforms that are popular in the US are X (formerly Twitter) with 42.30% penetration, Pinterest (37.00% penetration), LinkedIn (29.90% penetration), Reddit (29.30% penetration) and Skype (15.00% penetration). Skype is followed by Nextdoor (13.50% penetration), a hyperlocal social networking service for neighborhoods.
*Note: YouTube was not offered as an answer option in the survey.
Most Used Messenger Apps in the US 2024
FB Messenger is the most popular Messenger App in the US, with 180.18 million active users. Facebook-owned FB Messenger has 60.30% of the country’s total internet users. The second most popular on the list is iMessage, an instant messaging service developed by Apple Inc., with 39.50% penetration. It has 118.03 million active users. The third is Snapchat (111.75 million), which is really popular among teenagers, has 37.40% users. Forth in the list of 2024 social media chat apps is WhatsApp with 27.30% penetration.
| Most Used Messenger Apps in US | Percentage | Active Users (in million) |
|---|---|---|
| Facebook Messenger | 60.30% | 180.18 |
| I Message | 39.50% | 118.03 |
| Snapchat | 37.40% | 111.75 |
| 27.30% | 81.57 | |
| Discord | 15.70% | 46.91 |
| Telegram | 13.50% | 40.34 |
A few other messenger apps that are favored in the US are Discord (15.70% penetration), Telegram, a freeware, cross-platform, cloud-based instant messaging (IM) service with 13.50% penetration.
Share of Web Traffic by Device
In 2024, the most dominant device in the US are Laptop & Desktop, with a share of 48.89%. Equally, in the commanding position is the Mobile Phone, with a share of 48.31%. The next device on the list is Tablet with 2.77%. All other Devices constitute 0.03%.
| Device | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Mobile Phone | 48.31% |
| Laptop & Desktop | 48.89% |
| Tablet | 2.77% |
| Other Devices | 0.03% |
Popular Browser in the US
Chrome is the most popular browser in the US with a share percentage of 50.70% which is closely followed by Safari (34.01%). Microsoft Edge is at the distant third with 6.98% market share, followed by Firefox(3.60%), Samsung Internet(1.69%), Opera(1.09%) and Android (0.80%).
| Browser | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Chrome | 50.70% |
| Safari | 34.01% |
| Microsoft Edge | 6.98% |
| Firefox | 3.60% |
| Samsung Internet | 1.69% |
| Opera | 1.09% |
| Android | 0.80% |
| Others | 1.13% |
Top Websites in the US
The top website in the US is Google.com. Second, on the list is YouTube followed by Facebook, Amazon.com and Yahoo.
| Websites | Developed by |
|---|---|
| Google.com | |
| Youtube.com | |
| Facebook.com | Meta |
| Amazon.com | Amazon |
| Yahoo.com | Yahoo |
Search Engine Market Share in US 2024
| Search Engines | Percentage |
|---|---|
| 86.49% | |
| Bing | 7.82% |
| Yahoo | 2.95% |
| DuckDuckGo | 2.35% |
| Yandex | 0.11% |
| Baidu | 0.03% |
| Others | 0.24% |
In 2024, Google is the most popular search engine in the US. The share of Google is 86.49% which is clearly ruling the market. Bing is second most popular with 7.82%. Other browsers used in the United States are Yahoo (2.95%), DuckDuckGo (2.35%), Yandex (0.11%), Baidu (0.03%), Others (0.24%).
Share of Web Traffic by Mobile OS
The top mobile OS in the US are Apple IOS with a share of 55.72% followed by Android OS (43.90%) and Samsung OS (0.30%).
| Mobile OS | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Apple IOS | 55.72% |
| Android OS | 43.90% |
| Samsung OS | 0.30% |
| Others | 0.07% |
Top Mobile Apps in the US
The top mobile apps in the US are Facebook, followed by Facebook Messenger, Amazon, Instagram and Snapchat.
| Mobile Aps | Parent Company |
|---|---|
| Meta | |
| Facebook Messenger | Meta |
| Amazon | Amazon |
| Meta | |
| TikTok | ByteDance Ltd. |
Internet & Mobile User Statistics of the United States 2024
| Total Population | 339.1 million |
| Active Internet Users | 311.3 million |
| Mobile Internet Users | 282.34 million |
| Active Social Media Users | 246.00 million |
| Avg Daily Time Spent using Internet on Mobile Devices | 3H 28M |
Internet Connection Speed in the US
The average broadband internet speed in the US is 189.48 Mbps, which is a 41.3% increase when compared with the previous year. The average speed of mobile internet connection is 74.83 Mbps. When compared to the previous year, there is a growth rate of 40.5%.
| Avg Broadband Internet Speed | 189.48 Mbps |
| Avg Speed of Mobile Internet Connection | 74.83 Mbps |
Top Mobile App by Number of Downloads
The top mobile app by number of downloads in the US is ByteDance owned TikTok, followed by YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, Facebook Messenger and Zoom Cloud Meetings. Then comes Cashapp followed by Netflix, HBO MAX and Snapchat.
| Mobile Apps | Parent Company |
|---|---|
| TikTok | Bytedance |
| Meta | |
| Meta | |
| Meta | |
| Cashapp | Square Inc. |
| Youtube | |
| Facebook Messenger | Meta |
| Amazon | Amazon |
| Disney+ | Disney |
| Snapchat | Snap |
(Source: Data Reportal)
READ: Canada Social Media Statistics
Disclaimer: The data research report we present here is based on information found from various sources. We are not liable for any financial loss, errors, or damages of any kind that may result from the use of the information herein. We acknowledge that though we try to report accurately, we cannot verify the absolute facts of everything that has been represented.
