Introduction
Social media continues to shape how people connect, consume information, and build communities worldwide. As we step into 2025, the global digital landscape looks more competitive than ever. From legacy networks like Facebook to newer sensations such as TikTok and Threads, user engagement keeps shifting toward dynamic, video-first experiences. and Behind every major platform’s success lies constant innovation in Mobile App Development, which drives smoother user experiences, faster performance, and stronger engagement features. As social networks expand globally, advancements in app development continue to shape how billions connect, share, and communicate online.
Recent data from social media ranking aelftech com and Statista reports show that over 5.17 billion people more than 63% of the global population—are now active social media users. Understanding which platforms dominate and why is essential for marketers, creators, and everyday users. This guide explores the most popular social media platforms in 2025, ranked by users, monthly activity, and global trends.
Global Overview: Social Media in 2025
The number of active users on social media platforms continues to grow year over year. Between 2020 and 2025, active user counts surged by nearly 30%, driven by new regions coming online, mobile accessibility, and cross-platform integration.
Here’s a snapshot of social media monthly active users (MAU) as of Q1 2025:
| Platform | Monthly Active Users (MAU) | Category | Founded |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.07 billion | Social networking | 2004 | |
| YouTube | 2.8 billion | Video sharing | 2005 |
| 2.6 billion | Messaging | 2009 | |
| 2.35 billion | Photo & video sharing | 2010 | |
| TikTok | 1.9 billion | Short video | 2016 |
| 1.35 billion | Super app | 2011 | |
| Telegram | 950 million | Messaging | 2013 |
| Snapchat | 750 million | Multimedia messaging | 2011 |
| X (Twitter) | 660 million | Microblogging | 2006 |
| Threads | 340 million | Social networking | 2023 |
(Source: Statista, DataReportal, social media ranking aelftech com, 2025)
As seen above, Facebook remains the most used social media app globally, while TikTok and Instagram lead engagement growth. The fastest growing social media platforms 2023–2025 include Threads, Telegram, and TikTok.
Which Social Media Platform Has the Most Users?
Facebook continues to top every social media platform ranking, with over 3 billion active users. Despite rising competition, it maintains a large share of total user activity due to its integration with Instagram, Messenger, and WhatsApp.
However, the definition of “most used social media” depends on context:
- By user base: Facebook leads.
- By engagement: TikTok dominates daily screen time.
- By message volume: WhatsApp and Telegram lead communication.
This highlights that what is the biggest social media platform depends on whether you measure reach or activity.
Top 10 Most Used Social Media Apps in 2025
The following ranking outlines the top 10 social media apps by users, activity, and popularity:
| Rank | Social Media Platform | Monthly Active Users (MAU) | Primary Function |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3.07 billion | Networking, community | |
| 2 | YouTube | 2.8 billion | Video content |
| 3 | 2.6 billion | Messaging | |
| 4 | 2.35 billion | Visual content | |
| 5 | TikTok | 1.9 billion | Short-form video |
| 6 | 1.35 billion | Messaging & payments | |
| 7 | Telegram | 950 million | Secure chat |
| 8 | Snapchat | 750 million | Stories & filters |
| 9 | X (Twitter) | 660 million | Microblogging |
| 10 | Threads | 340 million | Text-based networking |
(Sources: Statista, Hootsuite, Aelftech, January 2025)
This list shows social media platforms ranked by users, providing a clear view of the networks dominating global attention.
The Biggest Social Media Platforms Explained
Facebook – Still the King
Facebook remains the biggest social media platform in 2025, despite perceptions of declining youth interest. Its strength lies in global reach, group communities, and integration with business tools. Many users maintain accounts due to its multi-functional nature—chat, marketplace, and news feed combined.
YouTube – Content Powerhouse
YouTube ranks second in social media with most users, boasting 2.8 billion MAUs and over 122 million daily active users. With YouTube Shorts competing directly with TikTok, it remains both a search engine and a social network.
WhatsApp – Private and Universal
As part of Meta’s ecosystem, WhatsApp leads private messaging with 2.6 billion active users. It’s especially dominant in Asia, South America, and Africa.
Instagram – Visual Culture Hub
Instagram continues to evolve through Reels, AI-assisted discovery, and direct shopping. It’s among the top used social media apps globally, particularly for Gen Z and Millennials.
TikTok – The Engagement Leader
The most viral app in recent years, TikTok redefined content consumption. While not the platform with the most users on social media, it wins engagement metrics—average session times exceed 60 minutes daily. Analysts debate whether is TikTok the most popular social media; in engagement terms, yes.
Which App Has the Most Users in 2025?
In terms of sheer account numbers, Facebook still dominates. But when measuring “active engagement,” TikTok and YouTube take the lead.
| Metric | Platform | Users / Stats |
|---|---|---|
| Most Total Users | 3.07 billion | |
| Highest Daily Activity | TikTok | 1.9B MAU, 1.2B daily |
| Most Watched Platform | YouTube | 5B videos daily |
| Most Messaging Volume | 100B messages/day | |
| Fastest Growth Rate | Threads | +15% MoM growth |
Thus, which social media platform has the most active users depends on how you measure “activity” — messaging, time spent, or content views.
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Regional Rankings: What’s the Most Popular Social Media in Your Country?
Social media adoption varies across regions:
| Region | #1 Platform | Runner-Up | Unique Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| North America | Threads adoption rising | ||
| Europe | YouTube | TikTok | YouTube dominates streaming |
| Asia-Pacific | TikTok | Local apps like LINE thrive | |
| South America | High messaging engagement | ||
| Africa | Lightweight versions popular |
This regional breakdown highlights that “which social media is most popular” depends on demographics, culture, and connectivity.
The Rise of Emerging Platforms
While the largest networks dominate, smaller or fastest growing social media platforms 2023–2025 are making waves:
- BeReal: Gained traction for authenticity-focused posting.
- Threads: Meta’s microblogging alternative to X.
- Discord: Expanded from gaming to communities and education.
- Telegram: Privacy-led growth in 2025 (+80M new users).
These social media platforms ranked by users in smaller niches show that variety fuels growth, not uniformity.
The Largest Social Media Companies in 2025
| Parent Company | Major Platforms Owned | Combined MAU (2025) |
|---|---|---|
| Meta | Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, Threads | 8.3B+ (overlapping users) |
| Google (Alphabet) | YouTube | 2.8B |
| ByteDance | TikTok, Lemon8 | 2.1B |
| Tencent | WeChat, QQ | 1.4B |
| Snap Inc. | Snapchat | 750M |
| X Corp. | X (Twitter) | 660M |
Meta continues to lead as the largest social media company, operating four of the top social media platforms by users.
Comparing Social Media by Activity and Engagement
| Platform | Avg. Daily Use (Minutes) | Avg. Posts per User/Month | Primary Content Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| TikTok | 60+ | 40+ short videos | Short video |
| YouTube | 45 | 12 | Long/short video |
| 35 | 18 | Visual media | |
| 33 | 10 | Mixed | |
| Snapchat | 28 | 25 | Stories |
| X (Twitter) | 19 | 40 | Text/microcontent |
TikTok’s engagement dominance raises questions like is TikTok the largest social media platform? In user count—no; in time spent—absolutely.
Understanding Social Media Metrics: MAU, DAU, and Growth
MAU (Monthly Active Users) and DAU (Daily Active Users) are key indicators of platform health.
- MAU shows reach and user retention.
- DAU shows engagement strength.
Platforms with high DAU-to-MAU ratios (like TikTok and WhatsApp) show stronger user loyalty.
Thus, “social media mau” (monthly active users) remains a top metric for social media platform rankings and future projections.
Top Used Social Media Apps by Generation
| Generation | Top Platform | Secondary Platform |
|---|---|---|
| Gen Z | TikTok | |
| Millennials | YouTube | |
| Gen X | ||
| Boomers | YouTube |
This generational usage distribution confirms which social media platform has the most users among different age groups and lifestyles.
The Future of Social Media
As of 2025, total social media adoption is projected to reach 5.4 billion users by 2026. Analysts predict:
- Greater integration between AI and personalization.
- Growth in immersive experiences (VR/AR social spaces).
- Decentralized networks emphasizing privacy.
Marketers studying social media platform users can use this insight to adapt strategies across top social platforms.
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Summary: The Top Social Media Platforms by Users (2025)
| Rank | Platform | Users (in billions) | Category |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3.07 | Networking | |
| 2 | YouTube | 2.8 | Video sharing |
| 3 | 2.6 | Messaging | |
| 4 | 2.35 | Visual media | |
| 5 | TikTok | 1.9 | Short video |
| 6 | 1.35 | Super app | |
| 7 | Telegram | 0.95 | Messaging |
| 8 | Snapchat | 0.75 | Multimedia |
| 9 | X (Twitter) | 0.66 | Microblogging |
| 10 | Threads | 0.34 | Text networking |
This table shows social media with most users in 2025 — a clear hierarchy shaping global communication.
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Conclusion
Social media continues to evolve as both a tool and a trendsetter. While Facebook still leads in total users, TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube dominate in influence and engagement.
From social media platforms ranked by users to engagement metrics like MAU and DAU, 2025 data reveals a connected world where nearly everyone belongs to multiple online communities.
As platforms mature, innovation will determine which top social media platforms remain dominant in 2030 and which fade into digital history.
(Data references: social media ranking aelftech com, Statista, Hootsuite, DataReportal 2025)
