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PEW: Social Media Fact Sheet

Social Media Fact Sheet

http://www.pewinternet.org/fact-sheet/social-media/

“Today around seven-in-ten Americans use social media to connect with one another, engage with news content, share information and entertain themselves. Explore the patterns and trends shaping the social media landscape over the past decade below.

Social media use over time

When Pew Research Center began tracking social media adoption in 2005, just 5% of American adults used at least one of these platforms. By 2011 that share had risen to half of all Americans, and today 69% of the public uses some type of social media.

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% of U.S. adults who use at least one social media site200620082010201220142016020406080May 11, 2008U.S. adults: 21%

Source: Surveys conducted 2005-2016.

PEW RESEARCH CENTER

Who uses social media

As more Americans have adopted social media, the social media user base has also grown more representative of the broader population. Young adults were among the earliest social media adopters and continue to use these sites at high levels, but usage by older adults has increased in recent years.

  • Age
  • Race
  • Gender
  • Income
  • Education
  • Community
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% of U.S. adults who use at least one social media site, by age18-2930-4950-6465+2006200820102012201420160255075100Aug 31, 200618-29: 41%

Source: Surveys conducted 2005-2016.

PEW RESEARCH CENTER

Which social media platforms are most popular

Facebook is the most-widely used of the major social media platforms, and its user base is most broadly representative of the population as a whole. Smaller shares of Americans use sites such as Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram and LinkedIn.

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% of U.S. adults who use …FacebookPinterestInstagramLinkedInTwitterJan ’13Jul ’13Jan ’14Jul ’14Jan ’15Jul ’15Jan ‘160255075100

Source: Surveys conducted 2012-2016.

PEW RESEARCH CENTER

Who uses each social media platform

Usage of the major social media platforms varies by factors such as age, gender and educational attainment.

% of U.S. adults who use each social media platform

Note: Race/ethnicity breaks not shown due to sample size.
Source: Survey conducted March 7-April 4, 2016.

PEW RESEARCH CENTER

How often Americans use social media sites

For many users, social media is part of their daily routine. Roughly three-quarters of Facebook users – and around half of Instagram users – visit these sites at least once a day.

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Among the users of each social media site, the % who use that site with thefollowing frequencies72233435115262431317651422518DailyWeeklyLess oftenFacebookInstagramTwitterPinterestLinkedIn0102030405060708090100

Note: Numbers may not add to 100 due to rounding.
Source: Survey conducted March 7-April 4, 2016.

PEW RESEARCH CENTER

Find out more

Follow these links for more in-depth analysis of the impact of social media on American life.

Social Media Update 2016 Nov. 11, 2016
The Political Environment on Social Media Oct. 25, 2016
Social Media Usage: 2005-2015 Oct. 8, 2015

All reports and blog posts related to social media

Stephen

 

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Posted on: January 22, 2017, 6:02 am Category: Uncategorized

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