The percentage of Americans using social media now sits firmly in mass‑adoption territory, with usage spanning nearly every age group and lifestyle.
Social media usage in the U.S. isn’t just about how many people have accounts. It also reflects how often Americans log in, how much time they spend, where they get news, and which platforms dominate attention.
That’s what this breakdown covers. But first:
Key U.S. social media usage stats
- 253 million Americans use social media
- This represents 73% of the total U.S. population.
- Americans spend an average of 2 hours and 8 minutes per day on social media.
- The U.S. added 7 million new social media users year over year, a growth rate of roughly 3%.
- Adults aged 25–34 are the largest user group, with 44.7 million users.
- 53% of U.S. adults say they get news from social media at least sometimes.
- Facebook (38%) and YouTube (35%) are the top platforms for social news consumption.
- U.S. social commerce sales are projected to reach $90 billion in 2026 and nearly $150 billion by 2030.
What percentage of Americans use social media?
Roughly 253 million people in the U.S. actively use social media.
That equals about 73% of the total population, meaning nearly three‑quarters of Americans are on at least one social platform.
In practical terms, social media now reaches more Americans than cable television ever did at its peak.
How many Americans use social media daily?
Daily usage is where social media’s influence becomes most obvious.
Americans spend an average of 2 hours and 8 minutes per day on social media platforms, scrolling, watching videos, messaging, and posting content.
That level of engagement adds up to more than 60 hours per month for the average user.
Here’s a snapshot of U.S. social media usage:
- About 253 million Americans use social media, representing roughly 73% of the population.
- The U.S. social media user base grew by about 7 million users year over year, an increase of roughly 3%.
- Adults aged 25–34 are the largest user group, with approximately 44.7 million monthly active users.
- Americans aged 35–44 follow closely, accounting for about 40.9 million users.
- Adults aged 18–24 represent around 29.1 million users.
- Users aged 45–54 total roughly 33.9 million.
- Americans aged 55–64 account for about 28.3 million users.
- Even those aged 65 and older make up nearly 29.9 million users, highlighting how mainstream social media has become.
The table below shows a summary of U.S. social media users by age group:
Table
U.S. social media usage by gender
Social media usage is close to evenly split by gender.
Women account for approximately 120.7 million users, while men represent about 111.4 million users nationwide.
The pie chart below shows social media usage distribution in America by gender.
Time spent reinforces how embedded these platforms are in daily life.
Spending more than two hours per day on social media means the average American devotes nearly one‑eighth of their waking hours to these platforms.
Social media is also reshaping how Americans shop.
U.S. social commerce sales are projected to generate around $93 billion in 2026, up from roughly $65 billion just two years earlier.
By 2030, the market is expected to approach $150 billion.
Mobile access drives much of this activity.
More than 280 million Americans use smartphones to access the internet, making mobile apps the primary gateway to social media.
How many Americans get news from social media?
Social media has become a major source of news in the U.S.
About 53% of U.S. adults say they get news from social media at least sometimes, a share that has remained relatively stable in recent years.
That means social platforms now play a role in the news consumption habits of more than half the adult population.
Platform usage varies widely.
- Facebook is the leading social news platform, with 38% of U.S. adults saying they regularly get news there.
- YouTube follows closely, with 35% of adults consuming news content on the platform.
- Instagram and TikTok are tied, each used for news by about 20% of adults.
- X (formerly Twitter) is used for news by roughly 12% of Americans.
- Reddit reaches about 9% of adults for news, while Nextdoor accounts for 6%.
- WhatsApp draws 5%, Threads 3%, and platforms like Rumble, Truth Social, and Bluesky each sit around 2%.
Here’s a breakdown of the percentage of Americans who get news from social media, and the respective platforms.
Which social media platforms are most popular in America?
Social media popularity in the U.S. is easiest to compare by reach.
YouTube leads the market, used by 83% of U.S. adults. This represents roughly 239 million users.
Facebook remains the second-largest platform, with 68% of U.S. adults. That’s about 194 million people.
TikTok continues to expand rapidly, now used by 33% of U.S. adults, totaling approximately 170 million users.
Instagram reaches around 166.2 million Americans, maintaining its position as a top platform among younger audiences.
LinkedIn is used by roughly 30% of U.S. adults, equating to about 230 million users. Americans use LinkedIn largely for professional networking.
WhatsApp reaches 29% of U.S. adults, or approximately 100 million Americans.
Snapchat has about 106.7 million users in the U.S., driven mainly by adults under 30. That takes the percentage of Americans on Snapchat to somewhere around 37%.
X (formerly Twitter) maintains a U.S. audience of roughly 95.4 million users.
Pinterest reaches about 89.9 million Americans, particularly among younger and mid-career adults.
Reddit accounts for approximately 48.2 million daily active users in the U.S.
What this means for digital marketers
For digital marketers, social media is no longer optional.
With roughly 73% of Americans active on social platforms and average daily usage exceeding two hours, social media offers unmatched reach and frequency.
The rapid growth of social commerce and influencer marketing also means discovery, trust‑building, and conversion increasingly happen inside social apps.
Conclusion
Social media now touches most Americans, cutting across age groups, income levels, and professions.
High daily usage, steady user growth, and rising commerce revenue all point to platforms becoming more embedded in everyday life.
For journalists, analysts, and marketers alike, social media is no longer just a data point. It’s core digital infrastructure.
Sources: Pew Research
