What to Know:
– A recent survey conducted by Pew Research Center found that YouTube and Facebook continue to be the most widely used social media platforms among US adults.
– The survey also revealed that TikTok has seen substantial growth in its user base, particularly among younger adults.
– Instagram, Snapchat, and Twitter are also popular platforms, but their usage rates have remained relatively stable compared to previous years.
– The survey also explored the reasons why people use social media, with entertainment and staying connected with family and friends being the top motivations.
The Full Story:
According to a recent survey conducted by Pew Research Center, YouTube and Facebook remain the most widely used social media platforms among US adults. The survey, which was conducted in January 2021, found that 81% of US adults use YouTube, while 69% use Facebook.
While YouTube and Facebook continue to dominate the social media landscape, the survey also revealed that TikTok has seen significant growth in its user base. Around 21% of US adults reported using TikTok, a substantial increase from the 9% who reported using the platform in 2019. This growth is particularly prominent among younger adults, with 48% of those aged 18 to 29 using TikTok.
Instagram, Snapchat, and Twitter are also popular social media platforms, but their usage rates have remained relatively stable compared to previous years. Around 40% of US adults reported using Instagram, 31% reported using Snapchat, and 23% reported using Twitter.
The survey also explored the reasons why people use social media. The top motivations reported by respondents were entertainment and staying connected with family and friends. Around 94% of social media users said they use these platforms to entertain themselves, while 78% said they use them to stay connected with loved ones.
Other motivations for using social media included keeping up with news and current events (49%), finding funny or entertaining content (48%), and filling up spare time (45%). Additionally, around 28% of social media users said they use these platforms to find information about products or services they are interested in.
The survey also examined the impact of social media on people’s mental health. Around 64% of respondents said that the impact of social media on their mental health was mostly neutral, while 24% said it was mostly positive. However, 12% of respondents reported that the impact was mostly negative.
When it comes to political discussions on social media, the survey found that 64% of respondents said they rarely or never post about political or social issues on these platforms. Only 9% said they often or always post about these topics.
In terms of trust in the information shared on social media, the survey found that 29% of respondents said they trust the information a lot or some of the time, while 55% said they trust it not too much or not at all.
Overall, the Pew survey provides valuable insights into the social media habits of US adults. While YouTube and Facebook continue to dominate, TikTok is rapidly growing in popularity, particularly among younger adults. The survey also highlights the various motivations for using social media and sheds light on the impact of these platforms on mental health and political discussions.
Original article: https://www.searchenginejournal.com/social-media-in-2024-youtube-facebook-on-top-tiktok-growing/507334/