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Today around 7-in-ten Americans use social media to connect with one another, engage with news content, share data and entertain themselves. Explore the patterns and trends shaping the social media landscape over the by decade below.

Social media use over time

When Pew Inquiry Center began tracking social media adoption in 2005, just 5% of American adults used at least one of these platforms. Past 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
three/21/2005 5%
12/8/2005 8%
8/31/2006 eleven%
5/11/2008 21%
eight/10/2008 26%
viii/31/2008 25%
12/4/2008 27%
12/20/2008 26%
four/19/2009 36%
9/xiv/2009 37%
12/27/2009 42%
i/19/2010 43%
5/30/2010 48%
9/xiii/2010 46%
11/24/2010 45%
11/28/2010 46%
12/21/2010 47%
five/22/2011 l%
8/26/2011 fifty%
2/19/2012 53%
viii/vii/2012 59%
12/9/2012 54%
5/19/2013 61%
vii/xiv/2013 60%
ix/xxx/2013 63%
1/26/2014 62%
7/12/2015 65%
11/half dozen/2016 69%
ane/ten/2018 69%
2/seven/2019 72%
ii/8/2021 72%

Pew Research Middle

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. Immature adults were amid the earliest social media adopters and proceed to use these sites at high levels, but usage past older adults has increased in recent years.

AGE

RACE

GENDER

INCOME

Education

Customs

18-29 30-49 50-64 65+
3/21/2005 7% 6% 4% 3%
12/8/2005 16% 9% 5% 2%
viii/31/2006 41% 6% 3% 0%
5/eleven/2008 60% 21% 7% 2%
8/10/2008 65% 27% 10% 3%
8/31/2008 68% 27% 9% ii%
12/4/2008 67% 30% 12% 2%
12/xx/2008 59% 28% 8% 3%
4/nineteen/2009 70% 42% xx% 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 fourscore% 52% 31% nine%
eleven/24/2010 74% 54% 33% eleven%
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%
two/xix/2012 81% 64% 39% 16%
8/seven/2012 88% 68% 48% 22%
five/19/2013 87% 72% 50% 24%
vii/fourteen/2013 87% 72% 49% 21%
9/xxx/2013 89% 74% 54% 27%
1/26/2014 84% 77% 52% 27%
7/12/2015 90% 77% 51% 35%
11/six/2016 86% 80% 64% 34%
ane/10/2018 88% 78% 64% 37%
2/7/2019 xc% 82% 69% 40%
two/eight/2021 84% 81% 73% 45%

Pew Research Center

White Blackness Hispanic
three/21/2005 v% 4%
12/8/2005 eight% 7%
viii/31/2006 9% xi%
v/11/2008 nineteen% 21%
viii/x/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/xxx/2010 46% 51%
9/xiii/2010 47% 41% xl%
eleven/24/2010 45% 43% 39%
11/28/2010 47% twoscore% 44%
12/21/2010 48% 41% 44%
five/22/2011 fifty% 46% 51%
eight/26/2011 51% 49% 45%
2/19/2012 53% 48% 51%
viii/seven/2012 59% 58% 58%
12/9/2012 54% 50% 53%
five/19/2013 60% 64% 61%
vii/14/2013 56% 57%
9/xxx/2013 62% 58% 66%
1/26/2014 59% 61% 66%
7/12/2015 65% 56% 65%
eleven/6/2016 69% 63% 74%
1/10/2018 68% 69% 72%
2/7/2019 73% 69% 70%
2/viii/2021 69% 77% 80%

Pew Research Eye

Men Women
3/21/2005 vi% 4%
12/8/2005 x% 8%
8/31/2006 thirteen% 10%
5/11/2008 21% 22%
8/ten/2008 25% 27%
8/31/2008 25% 24%
12/iv/2008 26% 29%
12/xx/2008 25% 26%
4/19/2009 33% 38%
ix/fourteen/2009 36% 37%
12/27/2009 38% 45%
1/19/2010 39% 46%
5/30/2010 44% 52%
ix/thirteen/2010 42% 49%
11/24/2010 39% 50%
11/28/2010 42% 50%
12/21/2010 44% 50%
v/22/2011 47% 54%
eight/26/2011 50% 50%
2/19/2012 50% 56%
8/vii/2012 54% 64%
12/9/2012 fifty% 58%
v/19/2013 59% 63%
7/14/2013 57% 62%
9/30/2013 sixty% 66%
1/26/2014 60% 63%
vii/12/2015 62% 68%
11/vi/2016 66% 72%
1/ten/2018 65% 73%
2/7/2019 65% 78%
two/8/2021 66% 78%

Pew Enquiry Heart

Less than $30,000 $thirty,000-$49,999 $fifty,000-$74,999 $75,000+
3/21/2005 iii% 6% 8% vii%
12/8/2005 5% 9% 9% 15%
8/31/2006 8% 16% 9% 10%
5/11/2008 23% 23% xix% 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%
four/nineteen/2009 30% 39% 43% 47%
9/xiv/2009 32% 40% 43% 50%
12/27/2009 37% 43% 47% 53%
1/xix/2010 39% 43% 48% 49%
5/30/2010 42% 54% 50% 60%
nine/13/2010 38% 48% 54% 63%
11/24/2010 39% 46% 53% 57%
eleven/28/2010 40% 50% 50% 58%
12/21/2010 39% 52% 59% 60%
5/22/2011 42% lx% 56% 66%
8/26/2011 42% 54% 55% 64%
2/19/2012 46% 58% 57% 68%
eight/7/2012 55% 59% 61% 73%
12/9/2012 48% 56% 60% 65%
5/xix/2013 57% 63% 69% 68%
seven/xiv/2013 52% 59% 63% 71%
9/30/2013 58% 64% seventy% 73%
1/26/2014 58% 64% 67% 74%
7/12/2015 56% 69% 72% 78%
11/half-dozen/2016 60% 71% 73% 78%
1/ten/2018 63% 74% 74% 77%
2/7/2019 68% seventy% 83% 78%
two/8/2021 69% 76% 65% 78%

Pew Enquiry Center

High schoolhouse or less Some higher College graduate
three/21/2005 3% 5% x%
12/8/2005 5% x% 13%
8/31/2006 9% 17% 9%
v/eleven/2008 18% 29% 21%
8/x/2008 22% 32% 29%
eight/31/2008 19% 28% 32%
12/iv/2008 twenty% 38% 33%
12/twenty/2008 xix% 35% 32%
4/xix/2009 27% 44% 44%
9/xiv/2009 27% 44% 48%
12/27/2009 29% 53% 55%
one/19/2010 32% 54% fifty%
five/xxx/2010 37% 58% 59%
9/xiii/2010 34% 55% 57%
11/24/2010 33% 55% 56%
xi/28/2010 36% 54% 56%
12/21/2010 35% 56% 60%
5/22/2011 39% 58% 63%
8/26/2011 39% 64% 59%
2/nineteen/2012 41% 65% 64%
eight/7/2012 48% 68% 69%
12/9/2012 44% 62% 62%
5/xix/2013 52% 67% 69%
7/14/2013 47% 67% 71%
nine/30/2013 51% 70% 73%
1/26/2014 50% 71% 69%
7/12/2015 54% lxx% 76%
11/six/2016 59% 73% 78%
i/10/2018 60% 72% 79%
two/7/2019 64% 74% 79%
ii/eight/2021 64% 76% 77%

Pew Research Center

Urban Suburban Rural
iii/21/2005 six% v% 3%
12/8/2005 10% 8% half-dozen%
8/31/2006 14% 10% 10%
5/xi/2008 24% 22% xvi%
8/10/2008 30% 25% nineteen%
8/31/2008 29% 24% 18%
12/4/2008 30% 28% 21%
12/20/2008 24% 19% 14%
4/19/2009 29% 33% 21%
ix/14/2009 33% 31% 28%
12/27/2009 45% 43% 34%
1/19/2010 45% 43% 35%
v/30/2010 53% 50% 39%
ix/13/2010 48% 50% 32%
xi/24/2010 48% 46% 40%
11/28/2010 50% 46% 41%
12/21/2010 51% 49% 39%
5/22/2011 53% 52% 44%
viii/26/2011 53% 51% 42%
2/19/2012 56% 54% 45%
viii/7/2012 60% 61% l%
12/ix/2012 56% 55% 47%
5/19/2013 64% 61% 56%
seven/14/2013 64% 60% 49%
9/30/2013 66% 63% 55%
one/26/2014 63% 64% 53%
seven/12/2015 64% 68% 58%
eleven/half-dozen/2016 69% 71% 60%
ane/10/2018 75% 69% 59%
2/7/2019 76% 72% 66%
2/8/2021 76% 71% 66%

Pew Research Centre

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 utilize sites such equally Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram and LinkedIn.

Facebook Pinterest Instagram LinkedIn Twitter Snapchat YouTube WhatsApp Reddit TikTok Nextdoor
eight/5/2012 54% 10% 9% 16% xiii%
eight/vii/2012 14%
12/nine/2012 13% 11% 13%
12/16/2012 57%
v/19/2013 15%
7/xiv/2013 xvi%
9/16/2013 57% 17% 14% 17% 14%
ix/30/2013 16%
1/26/2014 16%
9/21/2014 58% 22% 21% 23% 19%
four/12/2015 62% 26% 24% 22% twenty%
iv/4/2016 68% 26% 28% 25% 21%
1/ten/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% thirteen%

Pew Inquiry Center

Who uses each social media platform

Usage of the major social media platforms varies by factors such as age, gender and educational attainment.

Facebook
Instagram
LinkedIn

Twitter
Pinterest
Snapchat

YouTube
WhatsApp
Reddit

TikTok
Nextdoor

% 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%
Blackness 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 schoolhouse or less 64% xxx% 10%
Some college 71% 44% 28%
College graduate 73% 49% 51%
Urban 70% 45% xxx%
Suburban 70% 41% 33%
Rural 67% 25% xv%

Note: Respondents who did not give an answer are non shown. White and Black adults include those who report being merely one race and are not Hispanic. Hispanics are of whatever race.
Source: Survey of U.S. adults conducted Jan. 25-Feb. 8, 2021.

Pew Enquiry Center

% of U.South. adults in each demographic group who say they e'er utilize …

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 xviii% 38% 12%
65+ 7% 18% 2%
White 22% 34% 23%
Blackness 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% xl% 28%
Loftier school or less fourteen% 22% 21%
Some college 26% 36% 32%
College graduate 33% 37% 23%
Urban 27% 30% 28%
Suburban 23% 32% 25%
Rural 18% 34% eighteen%

Notation: Respondents who did not give an answer are not shown. White and Black adults include those who study being only i race and are not Hispanic. Hispanics are of whatever race.
Source: Survey of U.S. adults conducted Jan. 25-Feb. 8, 2021.

Pew Enquiry Centre

% of U.Due south. adults in each demographic grouping who say they ever employ …

YouTube WhatsApp Reddit
Full 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% x% 3%
White 79% 16% 17%
Black 84% 23% 17%
Hispanic 85% 46% fourteen%
Less than $30K 75% 23% 10%
$30K-$49,999 83% xx% 17%
$50K-$74,999 79% 19% twenty%
More than $75K xc% 29% 26%
High schoolhouse or less lxx% 20% 9%
Some college 86% 16% 20%
Higher graduate 89% 33% 26%
Urban 84% 28% 18%
Suburban 81% 23% 21%
Rural 74% ix% ten%

Note: Respondents who did non requite an answer are not shown. White and Blackness adults include those who study existence simply one race and are not Hispanic. Hispanics are of any race.
Source: Survey of U.S. adults conducted Jan. 25-February. 8, 2021.

Pew Research Center

% of U.S. adults in each demographic group who say they e'er use …

TikTok Nextdoor
Total 21% 13%
Men 17% 10%
Women 24% 16%
Ages 18-29 48% five%
30-49 22% 17%
50-64 fourteen% sixteen%
65+ 4% viii%
White eighteen% 15%
Blackness thirty% x%
Hispanic 31% 8%
Less than $30K 22% vi%
$30K-$49,999 29% eleven%
$50K-$74,999 20% 12%
More $75K 20% twenty%
Loftier school or less 21% 4%
Some college 24% 12%
Higher 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 written report beingness 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 Heart

Today around seven-in-10 Americans use social media to connect with i another, engage with news content, share information and entertain themselves. Explore the patterns and trends shaping the social media mural over the by decade below.

How frequently Americans apply 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% lxx%
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 than in-depth analysis of the impact of social media on American life.

Social Media Use in 2021 Apr 7, 2021
Partisan differences in social media use show up for some platforms, but not Facebook Apr 7, 2021
10 facts almost Americans and Facebook June 1, 2021
seven facts near Americans and Instagram Oct 7, 2021

All reports and web log posts related to social media.

CORRECTION (Jan. 11, 2022): A figure from a 2012 survey was previously incorrect in the "Who uses social media" chart. In Feb 2012, 81% of U.S. adults ages xviii-29 said they use at to the lowest degree one social media site. No written report of the Pew Research Middle was affected by this change.