YouTube Dominates Social Media Landscape Among US Adults, New Data Reveals
WASHINGTON D.C. – despite the rise of platforms like TikTok and Instagram, YouTube remains the most popular social media platform among American adults, according to a new report from the pew Research Center. The data, released November 20, 2025, reveals that 84 percent of the 5,022 adults surveyed use Alphabet’s video-sharing platform.
The report details significant usage statistics across various platforms. Meta’s Facebook secured the second spot with 71 percent of adults reporting use, followed by Instagram at 50 percent. Though, not all of Meta’s ventures are thriving; Threads, despite reaching 400 million monthly active users this summer, is only used by 8 percent of adults surveyed. X (formerly Twitter) trails further behind with 21 percent usage, while Bluesky and Truth Social have even smaller user bases at 4 percent and 3 percent respectively.
Beyond popularity, the Pew Research Center also examined frequency of use. A separate survey of 5,123 adults found that 52 percent access Facebook daily, with 37 percent logging on multiple times a day. YouTube also sees high daily engagement, with 48 percent of adults using it daily and 33 percent visiting the platform several times a day. A notable age gap exists with TikTok, where 47 percent of 18-29 year olds use the app daily, compared to just 5 percent of those aged 65 or older.
The report indicates that YouTube and Facebook have maintained stable – and even grown – usage since 2021, demonstrating a consistent and loyal user base. Meta continues to invest in Facebook,recently revamping Facebook Marketplace to enhance the social shopping experience.