Shillong, July 24: A recent study conducted by digital advisory firm Kepios has revealed that more than 60% of the world’s population, which equates to nearly five billion people, are actively using social media. This marks a significant increase of 3.7% compared to the previous year.
As per news agency IANS, the number of social network users has reached an impressive 5.19 billion, accounting for approximately 64.5% of the global population who are connected to the internet.
Interestingly, social media usage patterns vary significantly across regions. In East and Central Africa, only one out of every 11 people engages with social media, while in India, the figure is one out of three.
The study also highlighted a rise in the amount of time spent on social media, with the average daily usage increasing by two minutes to two hours and 26 minutes. Brazilians, in particular, spend an average of three hours and 49 minutes per day on social media, while the Japanese devote less than an hour.
Moreover, the typical social media user is active on seven different platforms. Meta’s trio of apps, WhatsApp, Instagram, and Facebook, remain the top favorites. In China, WeChat, TikTok, and the local version Douyin dominate the social media landscape. The report also ranks Twitter, Messenger, and Telegram among the top platforms.
In the United States, the PARK (Precise Advertiser Report: Kids) survey revealed that around 9 out of 10 kids under the age of 12 access content on YouTube, compared to 4 out of 10 for TikTok, despite the latter’s immense popularity.
As the social media landscape continues to evolve, these statistics shed light on the widespread impact and significance of online platforms on a global scale.