Americans’ Social Media Use

Social media platforms faced a range of controversies in recent years, including concerns over misinformation and data privacy. Even so, US adults use a wide range of sites and apps, especially YouTube and Facebook. And TikTok – which some Congress members previously called to ban – saw growth in its user base. According to a Pew Research Center survey of 5,733 U.S. adults conducted May 19-Sept. 5, 2023:

• YouTube by and large is the most widely used online platform, with 83 percent of US adults reporting ever using the platform
• Facebook is also a dominant player in the online landscape, with 68 percent of Americans reporting that they use the platform
• 47 percent of US adults say they use Instagram
• 27 percent to 35 percent of US adults use Pinterest, LinkedIn, WhatsApp and Snapchat
• 33 percent of US adults say they use TikTok, up from 21 percent in 2021