Photo and Video Sharing Grow Online

More internet users are sharing photos and videos online. A new study by the Pew Research Center’s Internet Project shows that 54% of internet users have posted original photos or videos to websites and 47% share photos or videos they found elsewhere online.

The mobile landscape has also added to photo- and video-sharing. Apps like Snapchat and Instagram have capitalized on the ubiquity of cell phones and smartphones that make it simple to upload and share images. Some 9% of cell phone owners use Snapchat and 18% use Instagram. This is the first time the Pew Internet Project has asked cell owners about Snapchat and Instagram. Posting and sharing photos and videos is especially popular among women. Some 59% of online women post photos and videos they have taken themselves, while 53% share visual content they found elsewhere on the web. Young people are also especially likely to take and share photos and videos online, including on mobile apps. Among internet users ages 18-29, 81% have uploaded original multi-media, while 68% have reposted photos or videos they found elsewhere online. Some 26% of cell owners age 18-29 use Snapchat, while 43% use Instagram.