MORE FACT SHEETS: INTERNET/BROADBAND | MOBILE TECHNOLOGY
Today around seven-in-ten Americans use social media to connect with one another, engage with news content, share information and entertain themselves. Explore the patterns and trends shaping the social media landscape over the past decade below.
Social media use over time
When Pew Research Center began tracking social media adoption in 2005, just 5% of American adults used at least one of these platforms. By 2011 that share had risen to half of all Americans, and today 72% of the public uses some type of social media.
|
U.S. adults |
| 3/21/2005 |
5% |
| 12/8/2005 |
8% |
| 8/31/2006 |
11% |
| 5/11/2008 |
21% |
| 8/10/2008 |
26% |
| 8/31/2008 |
25% |
| 12/4/2008 |
27% |
| 12/20/2008 |
26% |
| 4/19/2009 |
36% |
| 9/14/2009 |
37% |
| 12/27/2009 |
42% |
| 1/19/2010 |
43% |
| 5/30/2010 |
48% |
| 9/13/2010 |
46% |
| 11/24/2010 |
45% |
| 11/28/2010 |
46% |
| 12/21/2010 |
47% |
| 5/22/2011 |
50% |
| 8/26/2011 |
50% |
| 2/19/2012 |
53% |
| 8/7/2012 |
59% |
| 12/9/2012 |
54% |
| 5/19/2013 |
61% |
| 7/14/2013 |
60% |
| 9/30/2013 |
63% |
| 1/26/2014 |
62% |
| 7/12/2015 |
65% |
| 11/6/2016 |
69% |
| 1/10/2018 |
69% |
| 2/7/2019 |
72% |
| 2/8/2021 |
72% |
Pew Research Center
Who uses social media
As more Americans have adopted social media, the social media user base has also grown more representative of the broader population. Young adults were among the earliest social media adopters and continue to use these sites at high levels, but usage by older adults has increased in recent years.
|
18-29 |
30-49 |
50-64 |
65+ |
| 3/21/2005 |
7% |
6% |
4% |
3% |
| 12/8/2005 |
16% |
9% |
5% |
2% |
| 8/31/2006 |
41% |
6% |
3% |
0% |
| 5/11/2008 |
60% |
21% |
7% |
2% |
| 8/10/2008 |
65% |
27% |
10% |
3% |
| 8/31/2008 |
68% |
27% |
9% |
2% |
| 12/4/2008 |
67% |
30% |
12% |
2% |
| 12/20/2008 |
59% |
28% |
8% |
3% |
| 4/19/2009 |
70% |
42% |
20% |
5% |
| 9/14/2009 |
67% |
44% |
21% |
6% |
| 12/27/2009 |
78% |
47% |
25% |
8% |
| 1/19/2010 |
76% |
51% |
26% |
7% |
| 5/30/2010 |
82% |
53% |
37% |
11% |
| 9/13/2010 |
80% |
52% |
31% |
9% |
| 11/24/2010 |
74% |
54% |
33% |
11% |
| 11/28/2010 |
78% |
54% |
33% |
14% |
| 12/21/2010 |
76% |
55% |
36% |
12% |
| 5/22/2011 |
79% |
61% |
38% |
14% |
| 8/26/2011 |
82% |
59% |
36% |
12% |
| 2/19/2012 |
82% |
64% |
39% |
16% |
| 8/7/2012 |
88% |
68% |
48% |
22% |
| 5/19/2013 |
87% |
72% |
50% |
24% |
| 7/14/2013 |
87% |
72% |
49% |
21% |
| 9/30/2013 |
89% |
74% |
54% |
27% |
| 1/26/2014 |
84% |
77% |
52% |
27% |
| 7/12/2015 |
90% |
77% |
51% |
35% |
| 11/6/2016 |
86% |
80% |
64% |
34% |
| 1/10/2018 |
88% |
78% |
64% |
37% |
| 2/7/2019 |
90% |
82% |
69% |
40% |
| 2/8/2021 |
84% |
81% |
73% |
45% |
Pew Research Center
|
White |
Black |
Hispanic |
| 3/21/2005 |
5% |
4% |
|
| 12/8/2005 |
8% |
7% |
|
| 8/31/2006 |
9% |
11% |
|
| 5/11/2008 |
19% |
21% |
|
| 8/10/2008 |
21% |
32% |
|
| 8/31/2008 |
22% |
25% |
|
| 12/4/2008 |
26% |
25% |
|
| 12/20/2008 |
24% |
27% |
|
| 4/19/2009 |
35% |
33% |
|
| 9/14/2009 |
39% |
33% |
|
| 12/27/2009 |
42% |
42% |
|
| 1/19/2010 |
41% |
44% |
|
| 5/30/2010 |
46% |
51% |
|
| 9/13/2010 |
47% |
41% |
40% |
| 11/24/2010 |
45% |
43% |
39% |
| 11/28/2010 |
47% |
40% |
44% |
| 12/21/2010 |
48% |
41% |
44% |
| 5/22/2011 |
50% |
46% |
51% |
| 8/26/2011 |
51% |
49% |
45% |
| 2/19/2012 |
53% |
48% |
51% |
| 8/7/2012 |
59% |
58% |
58% |
| 12/9/2012 |
54% |
50% |
53% |
| 5/19/2013 |
60% |
64% |
61% |
| 7/14/2013 |
56% |
57% |
|
| 9/30/2013 |
62% |
58% |
66% |
| 1/26/2014 |
59% |
61% |
66% |
| 7/12/2015 |
65% |
56% |
65% |
| 11/6/2016 |
69% |
63% |
74% |
| 1/10/2018 |
68% |
69% |
72% |
| 2/7/2019 |
73% |
69% |
70% |
| 2/8/2021 |
69% |
77% |
80% |
Pew Research Center
|
Men |
Women |
| 3/21/2005 |
6% |
4% |
| 12/8/2005 |
10% |
8% |
| 8/31/2006 |
13% |
10% |
| 5/11/2008 |
21% |
22% |
| 8/10/2008 |
25% |
27% |
| 8/31/2008 |
25% |
24% |
| 12/4/2008 |
26% |
29% |
| 12/20/2008 |
25% |
26% |
| 4/19/2009 |
33% |
38% |
| 9/14/2009 |
36% |
37% |
| 12/27/2009 |
38% |
45% |
| 1/19/2010 |
39% |
46% |
| 5/30/2010 |
44% |
52% |
| 9/13/2010 |
42% |
49% |
| 11/24/2010 |
39% |
50% |
| 11/28/2010 |
42% |
50% |
| 12/21/2010 |
44% |
50% |
| 5/22/2011 |
47% |
54% |
| 8/26/2011 |
50% |
50% |
| 2/19/2012 |
50% |
56% |
| 8/7/2012 |
54% |
64% |
| 12/9/2012 |
50% |
58% |
| 5/19/2013 |
59% |
63% |
| 7/14/2013 |
57% |
62% |
| 9/30/2013 |
60% |
66% |
| 1/26/2014 |
60% |
63% |
| 7/12/2015 |
62% |
68% |
| 11/6/2016 |
66% |
72% |
| 1/10/2018 |
65% |
73% |
| 2/7/2019 |
65% |
78% |
| 2/8/2021 |
66% |
78% |
Pew Research Center
|
Less than $30,000 |
$30,000-$49,999 |
$50,000-$74,999 |
$75,000+ |
| 3/21/2005 |
3% |
6% |
8% |
7% |
| 12/8/2005 |
5% |
9% |
9% |
15% |
| 8/31/2006 |
8% |
16% |
9% |
10% |
| 5/11/2008 |
23% |
23% |
19% |
25% |
| 8/10/2008 |
27% |
28% |
28% |
30% |
| 8/31/2008 |
22% |
26% |
33% |
28% |
| 12/4/2008 |
24% |
34% |
27% |
35% |
| 12/20/2008 |
26% |
29% |
27% |
32% |
| 4/19/2009 |
30% |
39% |
43% |
47% |
| 9/14/2009 |
32% |
40% |
43% |
50% |
| 12/27/2009 |
37% |
43% |
47% |
53% |
| 1/19/2010 |
39% |
43% |
48% |
49% |
| 5/30/2010 |
42% |
54% |
50% |
60% |
| 9/13/2010 |
38% |
48% |
54% |
63% |
| 11/24/2010 |
39% |
46% |
53% |
57% |
| 11/28/2010 |
40% |
50% |
50% |
58% |
| 12/21/2010 |
39% |
52% |
59% |
60% |
| 5/22/2011 |
42% |
60% |
56% |
66% |
| 8/26/2011 |
42% |
54% |
55% |
64% |
| 2/19/2012 |
46% |
58% |
57% |
68% |
| 8/7/2012 |
55% |
59% |
61% |
73% |
| 12/9/2012 |
48% |
56% |
60% |
65% |
| 5/19/2013 |
57% |
63% |
69% |
68% |
| 7/14/2013 |
52% |
59% |
63% |
71% |
| 9/30/2013 |
58% |
64% |
70% |
73% |
| 1/26/2014 |
58% |
64% |
67% |
74% |
| 7/12/2015 |
56% |
69% |
72% |
78% |
| 11/6/2016 |
60% |
71% |
73% |
78% |
| 1/10/2018 |
63% |
74% |
74% |
77% |
| 2/7/2019 |
68% |
70% |
83% |
78% |
| 2/8/2021 |
69% |
76% |
65% |
78% |
Pew Research Center
|
High school or less |
Some college |
College graduate |
| 3/21/2005 |
3% |
5% |
10% |
| 12/8/2005 |
5% |
10% |
13% |
| 8/31/2006 |
9% |
17% |
9% |
| 5/11/2008 |
18% |
29% |
21% |
| 8/10/2008 |
22% |
32% |
29% |
| 8/31/2008 |
19% |
28% |
32% |
| 12/4/2008 |
20% |
38% |
33% |
| 12/20/2008 |
19% |
35% |
32% |
| 4/19/2009 |
27% |
44% |
44% |
| 9/14/2009 |
27% |
44% |
48% |
| 12/27/2009 |
29% |
53% |
55% |
| 1/19/2010 |
32% |
54% |
50% |
| 5/30/2010 |
37% |
58% |
59% |
| 9/13/2010 |
34% |
55% |
57% |
| 11/24/2010 |
33% |
55% |
56% |
| 11/28/2010 |
36% |
54% |
56% |
| 12/21/2010 |
35% |
56% |
60% |
| 5/22/2011 |
39% |
58% |
63% |
| 8/26/2011 |
39% |
64% |
59% |
| 2/19/2012 |
41% |
65% |
64% |
| 8/7/2012 |
48% |
68% |
69% |
| 12/9/2012 |
44% |
62% |
62% |
| 5/19/2013 |
52% |
67% |
69% |
| 7/14/2013 |
47% |
67% |
71% |
| 9/30/2013 |
51% |
70% |
73% |
| 1/26/2014 |
50% |
71% |
69% |
| 7/12/2015 |
54% |
70% |
76% |
| 11/6/2016 |
59% |
73% |
78% |
| 1/10/2018 |
60% |
72% |
79% |
| 2/7/2019 |
64% |
74% |
79% |
| 2/8/2021 |
64% |
76% |
77% |
Pew Research Center
|
Urban |
Suburban |
Rural |
| 3/21/2005 |
6% |
5% |
3% |
| 12/8/2005 |
10% |
8% |
6% |
| 8/31/2006 |
14% |
10% |
10% |
| 5/11/2008 |
24% |
22% |
16% |
| 8/10/2008 |
30% |
25% |
19% |
| 8/31/2008 |
29% |
24% |
18% |
| 12/4/2008 |
30% |
28% |
21% |
| 12/20/2008 |
24% |
19% |
14% |
| 4/19/2009 |
29% |
33% |
21% |
| 9/14/2009 |
33% |
31% |
28% |
| 12/27/2009 |
45% |
43% |
34% |
| 1/19/2010 |
45% |
43% |
35% |
| 5/30/2010 |
53% |
50% |
39% |
| 9/13/2010 |
48% |
50% |
32% |
| 11/24/2010 |
48% |
46% |
40% |
| 11/28/2010 |
50% |
46% |
41% |
| 12/21/2010 |
51% |
49% |
39% |
| 5/22/2011 |
53% |
52% |
44% |
| 8/26/2011 |
53% |
51% |
42% |
| 2/19/2012 |
56% |
54% |
45% |
| 8/7/2012 |
60% |
61% |
50% |
| 12/9/2012 |
56% |
55% |
47% |
| 5/19/2013 |
64% |
61% |
56% |
| 7/14/2013 |
64% |
60% |
49% |
| 9/30/2013 |
66% |
63% |
55% |
| 1/26/2014 |
63% |
64% |
53% |
| 7/12/2015 |
64% |
68% |
58% |
| 11/6/2016 |
69% |
71% |
60% |
| 1/10/2018 |
75% |
69% |
59% |
| 2/7/2019 |
76% |
72% |
66% |
| 2/8/2021 |
76% |
71% |
66% |
Pew Research Center
Which social media platforms are most common
YouTube and Facebook are the most-widely used online platforms, and its user base is most broadly representative of the population as a whole. Smaller shares of Americans use sites such as Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram and LinkedIn.
|
Facebook |
Pinterest |
Instagram |
LinkedIn |
Twitter |
Snapchat |
YouTube |
WhatsApp |
Reddit |
TikTok |
Nextdoor |
| 8/5/2012 |
54% |
10% |
9% |
16% |
13% |
|
|
|
| 8/7/2012 |
|
|
|
|
14% |
|
|
|
| 12/9/2012 |
|
13% |
11% |
|
13% |
|
|
|
| 12/16/2012 |
57% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 5/19/2013 |
|
|
|
|
15% |
|
|
|
| 7/14/2013 |
|
|
|
|
16% |
|
|
|
| 9/16/2013 |
57% |
17% |
14% |
17% |
14% |
|
|
|
| 9/30/2013 |
|
|
|
|
16% |
|
|
|
| 1/26/2014 |
|
|
|
|
16% |
|
|
|
| 9/21/2014 |
58% |
22% |
21% |
23% |
19% |
|
|
|
| 4/12/2015 |
62% |
26% |
24% |
22% |
20% |
|
|
|
| 4/4/2016 |
68% |
26% |
28% |
25% |
21% |
|
|
|
| 1/10/2018 |
68% |
29% |
35% |
25% |
24% |
27% |
73% |
22% |
| 2/7/2019 |
69% |
28% |
37% |
27% |
22% |
24% |
73% |
20% |
11% |
| 2/8/2021 |
69% |
31% |
40% |
28% |
23% |
25% |
81% |
23% |
18% |
21% |
13% |
Pew Research Center
Who uses each social media platform
Usage of the major social media platforms varies by factors such as age, gender and educational attainment.
% of U.S. adults in each demographic group who say they ever use …
|
Facebook |
Instagram |
LinkedIn |
| Total |
69% |
40% |
28% |
| Men |
61% |
36% |
31% |
| Women |
77% |
44% |
26% |
| Ages 18-29 |
70% |
71% |
30% |
| 30-49 |
77% |
48% |
36% |
| 50-64 |
73% |
29% |
33% |
| 65+ |
50% |
13% |
11% |
| White |
67% |
35% |
29% |
| Black |
74% |
49% |
27% |
| Hispanic |
72% |
52% |
19% |
| Less than $30K |
70% |
35% |
12% |
| $30K-$49,999 |
76% |
45% |
21% |
| $50K-$74,999 |
61% |
39% |
21% |
| More than $75K |
70% |
47% |
50% |
| High school or less |
64% |
30% |
10% |
| Some college |
71% |
44% |
28% |
| College graduate |
73% |
49% |
51% |
| Urban |
70% |
45% |
30% |
| Suburban |
70% |
41% |
33% |
| Rural |
67% |
25% |
15% |
Note: Respondents who did not give an answer are not shown. White and Black adults include those who report being only one race and are not Hispanic. Hispanics are of any race.
Source: Survey of U.S. adults conducted Jan. 25-Feb. 8, 2021.
Pew Research Center
% of U.S. adults in each demographic group who say they ever use …
|
Twitter |
Pinterest |
Snapchat |
| Total |
23% |
31% |
25% |
| Men |
25% |
16% |
22% |
| Women |
22% |
46% |
28% |
| Ages 18-29 |
42% |
32% |
65% |
| 30-49 |
27% |
34% |
24% |
| 50-64 |
18% |
38% |
12% |
| 65+ |
7% |
18% |
2% |
| White |
22% |
34% |
23% |
| Black |
29% |
35% |
26% |
| Hispanic |
23% |
18% |
31% |
| Less than $30K |
12% |
21% |
25% |
| $30K-$49,999 |
29% |
33% |
27% |
| $50K-$74,999 |
22% |
29% |
29% |
| More than $75K |
34% |
40% |
28% |
| High school or less |
14% |
22% |
21% |
| Some college |
26% |
36% |
32% |
| College graduate |
33% |
37% |
23% |
| Urban |
27% |
30% |
28% |
| Suburban |
23% |
32% |
25% |
| Rural |
18% |
34% |
18% |
Note: Respondents who did not give an answer are not shown. White and Black adults include those who report being only one race and are not Hispanic. Hispanics are of any race.
Source: Survey of U.S. adults conducted Jan. 25-Feb. 8, 2021.
Pew Research Center
% of U.S. adults in each demographic group who say they ever use …
|
YouTube |
WhatsApp |
Reddit |
| Total |
81% |
23% |
18% |
| Men |
82% |
26% |
23% |
| Women |
80% |
21% |
12% |
| Ages 18-29 |
95% |
24% |
36% |
| 30-49 |
91% |
30% |
22% |
| 50-64 |
83% |
23% |
10% |
| 65+ |
49% |
10% |
3% |
| White |
79% |
16% |
17% |
| Black |
84% |
23% |
17% |
| Hispanic |
85% |
46% |
14% |
| Less than $30K |
75% |
23% |
10% |
| $30K-$49,999 |
83% |
20% |
17% |
| $50K-$74,999 |
79% |
19% |
20% |
| More than $75K |
90% |
29% |
26% |
| High school or less |
70% |
20% |
9% |
| Some college |
86% |
16% |
20% |
| College graduate |
89% |
33% |
26% |
| Urban |
84% |
28% |
18% |
| Suburban |
81% |
23% |
21% |
| Rural |
74% |
9% |
10% |
Note: Respondents who did not give an answer are not shown. White and Black adults include those who report being only one race and are not Hispanic. Hispanics are of any race.
Source: Survey of U.S. adults conducted Jan. 25-Feb. 8, 2021.
Pew Research Center
% of U.S. adults in each demographic group who say they ever use …
|
TikTok |
Nextdoor |
| Total |
21% |
13% |
| Men |
17% |
10% |
| Women |
24% |
16% |
| Ages 18-29 |
48% |
5% |
| 30-49 |
22% |
17% |
| 50-64 |
14% |
16% |
| 65+ |
4% |
8% |
| White |
18% |
15% |
| Black |
30% |
10% |
| Hispanic |
31% |
8% |
| Less than $30K |
22% |
6% |
| $30K-$49,999 |
29% |
11% |
| $50K-$74,999 |
20% |
12% |
| More than $75K |
20% |
20% |
| High school or less |
21% |
4% |
| Some college |
24% |
12% |
| College graduate |
19% |
24% |
| Urban |
24% |
17% |
| Suburban |
20% |
14% |
| Rural |
16% |
2% |
Note: Respondents who did not give an answer are not shown. White and Black adults include those who report being only one race and are not Hispanic. Hispanics are of any race.
Source: Survey of U.S. adults conducted Jan. 25-Feb. 8, 2021.
Pew Research Center
Today around seven-in-ten Americans use social media to connect with one another, engage with news content, share information and entertain themselves. Explore the patterns and trends shaping the social media landscape over the past decade below.
How often Americans use social media sites
For many users, social media is part of their daily routine. Seven-in-ten Facebook users – and around six-in-ten Instagram and Snapchat users – visit these sites at least once a day.
| Platform |
Less frequently |
Weekly |
Daily |
| Facebook |
12% |
17% |
70% |
| Snapchat |
19% |
21% |
59% |
| Instagram |
20% |
21% |
59% |
| Twitter |
27% |
27% |
46% |
| YouTube |
16% |
29% |
54% |
Pew Research Center
Find out more
Follow these links for more in-depth analysis of the impact of social media on American life.
Social Media Use in 2021 April 7, 2021
10 facts about Americans and Facebook May 16, 2019
Social media usage in the U.S. in 2019 April 10, 2019
Millennials stand out for their technology use, but older generations also embrace digital life May 2, 2018
Americans’ complicated feelings about social media in an era of privacy concerns March 27, 2018
Social Media Use in 2018 March 1, 2018
All reports and blog posts related to social media.
