Pew Research Center’s latest 2025 report shows a major shift in how American adults use social media. Although Instagram and TikTok dominate global pop culture, the most popular social media platform in the United States is neither of them. Instead, YouTube holds the top position by a wide margin, and its audience continues to grow across age groups and usage habits.
Why YouTube Leads as the Most Popular Social Media Platform in the US
According to Pew’s survey of more than 5,000 US adults, 84 percent of respondents say they use YouTube. This places the video-sharing platform far ahead of every competitor. The findings show that YouTube’s blend of entertainment, education and creator-driven content gives it broader appeal than short-form or text-based apps.
Meanwhile, Facebook holds second place at 71 percent, showing that the platform remains deeply embedded in daily routines. Instagram follows at 50 percent, maintaining strong influence but still well below YouTube’s reach.
How Adults Use the Most Popular Social Media Platforms Daily
Pew also measured how often adults visit social platforms. The numbers reveal significant differences in engagement strength.
More than half of US adults go on Facebook every day, and over a third log in several times a day. YouTube comes close, with 48 percent of adults watching videos daily and a third doing so multiple times per day. These patterns highlight a steady, habitual form of usage rather than casual browsing.
Younger adults show very different patterns
Age gaps create sharp contrasts, especially on TikTok. Pew found that 47 percent of adults aged 18–29 use TikTok at least once a day. In comparison, only 5 percent of adults aged 65 and older use the platform daily. This gap suggests that TikTok’s influence remains heavily centered on younger demographics, even as it grows.
At the bottom of the popularity list, only 21 percent of US adults say they use X (formerly Twitter). Bluesky and Truth Social show even smaller user bases, with just 4 percent and 3 percent, respectively.
Why YouTube and Facebook remain stable over time
While newer platforms fluctuate in popularity, Pew’s long-term data shows that YouTube and Facebook have stayed remarkably stable. Both platforms have maintained — and in some cases increased — their usage levels since 2021. Despite the perception that Facebook is fading, the numbers suggest a loyal and consistent user base that continues to expand gradually.
Meta’s continued updates, including improvements to Facebook Marketplace and content discovery, likely support this stability.
Conclusion
The new Pew Research Center report confirms that the most popular social media platform among US adults is YouTube — not Instagram, not TikTok and not any emerging alternative. With steady growth, daily engagement and broad demographic reach, YouTube’s hold on American audiences appears stronger than ever. Facebook remains a close second, proving its staying power, while Instagram and TikTok retain influence but trail behind in overall adoption.
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