It’s useful to be aware of the most widely used social media platforms available, whether you’re an experienced social media marketer, a marketer wishing to get into social media marketing, or a business owner hoping to make use of social media’s immense power. By doing this, you’ll be able to connect with the correct audience, expand the reach of your business, and perfect your social media marketing plan.
Naturally, the quantity of users on the various social networking apps available is not the only factor to consider. It also depends on how well you and your company fit on the social networking platform. Does it align with your brand? Does that social media platform belong to your target audience? How many social media accounts are you able to handle concurrently?
We have done the legwork and gathered data regarding the most popular social media platforms for 2024 to make things easier. You’ll recognize some of them, but others may sound unfamiliar. To find out more about the social media apps that might work well for your brand, we suggest going through this list. And keep in mind that having a great brand does not need being active on every social media platform.
The top five social media networks and applications in 2024
The most recent information on monthly active users (MAUs)* is used to rank this ranking. Even though it’s helpful to observe how many people use each website, the largest user base doesn’t always translate into the greatest one for your business. The platform isn’t worth the time and effort to maintain if your target audience isn’t active there.
To gain the best return on investment (ROI) for your business, start your social media marketing strategy by identifying the platforms where your potential customers are likely to be active.
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Facebook users: 3.05 billion
According to Statista, Facebook is the most popular social networking site, with over 3 billion monthly users. This indicates that 37% of people on the planet use Facebook. Facebook Messenger, a spin-off program for direct chat, has 931 million active monthly users.
Facebook is a very safe pick if you want to establish a presence on social media, as more than 200 million businesses—mostly small businesses—use its capabilities, and more than seven million advertisers actively promote their enterprises there. Increasing your reach and fan base on Facebook is also made simpler by Facebook Groups and Facebook Ads Manager, the platform’s potent advertising tool.
Nearly all material formats—text, photos, videos (Facebook Reels), and Stories—work well on Facebook, making it simple to get started. However, information that encourages meaningful connections and conversations between users—especially those who are family or friends—is given priority by the Facebook algorithm.
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With 2.78 billion MAUs, WhatsApp
With 2.78 estimated active users, WhatsApp is a messaging program that is used by individuals in over 180 countries, according to Statista.
Users first used WhatsApp to chat with friends and family, but with the introduction of WhatsApp Business in 2018, the messaging app has grown in popularity among companies. As of June 2023, WhatsApp Business claimed to have over 200 million active monthly users.
Businesses can offer customer service and notify customers about their purchases through WhatsApp’s business platform. Enterprise organizations can utilize the WhatsApp Business API, while small enterprises can use the WhatsApp Business app.
WhatsApp, the most popular messaging app, maybe a fantastic customer support avenue for your company.
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Over 2.49 billion MAUs on YouTube
Every day, users of the video-sharing website YouTube watch one billion hours of content. In addition to being the second-biggest social media platform, YouTube—whose parent company is Google—is frequently referred to as the second-biggest search engine.
Consequently, you should incorporate YouTube into your marketing plan if you utilize videos to advertise your company. Here’s how to launch a YouTube channel for your brand to get you started.
You should educate yourself about YouTube SEO and the YouTube algorithm in order to increase the number of people who see your videos.
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Instagram: 2.04 billion monthly users
Instagram is a visual social networking site where you may use images or videos to highlight your goods or services. You may share a lot of different types of content on the app, including images, videos, stories, reels, and live videos.
You can set up an Instagram business profile as a brand, which gives you access to detailed analytics on your posts and profile, as well as the option to plan your posts using other tools. Because people commonly post content and tag companies, it’s also an excellent way to obtain user-generated content from your audience.
Similar to Facebook, Instagram gives engagement a top priority in its algorithm. Whether you’re a novice or an experienced creator on Instagram, check out our advice to help you expand your following.
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1.32 billion MAUs on WeChat
Tencent, one of the largest tech corporations in China, launched WeChat in 2011. Eighty percent of Chinese people use the app each month, out of a total of 1.32 billion users.
Similar to Messenger and WhatsApp, WeChat began as a messaging app before developing into an all-in-one platform. In addition to calling and texting, users may shop online, make bookings, reserve cabs, pay bills, buy groceries, transfer money, and do a lot more.
In China and other Asian countries, WeChat is the most widely used social media platform. Therefore, WeChat is a good substitute if you want to build your brand in China (where famous social networks like Facebook and X are banned). Ads are available to run on WeChat Moments and the official WeChat account. Influencers with a large following on WeChat are also available to assist your company in reaching millions of Chinese consumers.