Top Social Media Sites and Apps
What social media do we mostly use?
It is hard to keep track of the trends in social media usage.
Where do people socialize online right now?
“The next big thing” is always around the corner it seems.
Some empires crumble. Others grow to prominence seemingly out of nowhere and disappear again.
Yet other sites remain on top no matter how often the pundits have pronounced them dead.
Facebook and YouTube are still the most popular social media apps or tools.
What other platforms do matter globally? See image on top and text below!
The top social media sites/apps in 2024
Many people are looking for “the top 10 social media” and the likes.
The questions or queries vary yet the goal is usually the same, to find out:
- Which social media apps do people use?
- Where do they socialize?
- How do they use social media?
Thus I decided to provide a current list of the most important social media sites based on sheer size.
I also came up with some additional insights based on my own decades long experience in social media.
As a social media manager I can also help you find and help your audiences wherever they are!
Of course I don’t have the means to measure social media usage. Thus I used third party data from industry experts.
Here’s a list of the top or largest social media sites and instant messengers.
Most people just want to find out the most influential or popular social media sites based on the number of members and active usage. Here are the stats:
I updated the list with 2024 data collected by we are social and Meltwater in April.
- Facebook – Sharing with friends and family
- Youtube – Video sharing, commenting
- Instagram – Lifestyle image and video sharing
- WhatsApp – Instant messaging
- TikTok – Funny video sharing
- Facebook Messenger – Instant messaging
- Telegram – Private instant messaging
- Snapchat – Short term instant messaging
- X/Twitter – Short update and link sharing
- Pinterest – Image sharing/bookmarking
Take note that Facebook, WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger and Instagram are all owned by the same person – controversial billionaire Mark Zuckerberg.
As you see I have ignored the mostly Chinese social media tools nobody uses in the West.
They are only that huge because China has over a billion inhabitants but literally unknown elsewhere.
Remember though that you can’t possibly participate at numerous of social media sites at the same time.
Choose not more than 3 to 5 and focus on these. Indeed most people do it that way.
According to GWI the average social media user is actively participating on “2.75” sites.
Personally I focus on
currently. I have accounts on many other sites yet I mostly engage there!
This list does also include popular instant messaging apps like WhatsApp. Why?
They are also social even though in essence they are more about private one to one communication.
Some are also used for communicating to or among small groups than being social in general.
Overwhelmed with social media?
Do you need help with your social media strategy and usage?
As an experienced social media manager I can help you
- allocate resources
- grow your audience
- and increase engagement organically.
Sadly most business people use social media wrong or not at all.
Thus you either waste money or leave on the table as you are unable to cater to demand voiced there.
Do not just throw money at social media corporations to buy often useless ads.
Build actual audiences, communities and fan bases!
