Top 7 Most Popular Social Media Platforms

From a handful of social media platforms in the early 2010s, the social media universe has expanded to more than 100 platforms. New entrants are making an entry every few months. Debutants like Triller, WT Social, Valence, Flip, and Popbase have barely scratched the surface, but they might be the next big thing.

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Whatever field you are in, it is impossible to ignore the power of social media. Half of the global population reachable by social media, making it a powerful tool for governments, corporations, small businesses, and nonprofits. Which social media platforms have the big numbers?

#1 Facebook

Founded in 2004, Facebook has remained ‘the’ social media platform of choice. It even has a movie made on its rise and rise, the Social Network. Facebook has 2.603 billion monthly active users. The platform’s targeting capabilities are stunning. There were allegations that these capabilities helped skew the 2016 US presidential elections.

Interesting fact: Facebook’s peak traffic is 1-3 pm, while a post is likely to receive the highest engagement when posted around 7 pm.

#2 YouTube

Backed by the world’s most powerful search engine, YouTube has also become the world’s number one go-to platform for video searches. It has leveraged Google’s intuitive algorithm to show related recommended videos that keep users glued to the screen.

There are 2 billion monthly active users on YouTube uploading 500 hours of video per minute and watching one billion hours of video per day. There are videos about any imaginable subject in the world. If you are searching for how to win in NJ online casino list of poker games or trap a rabbit, you will find a helpful video.

Interesting fact: YouTube is more popular than all cable TV networks in the US for the 18-34-year-old audience.

#3 WhatsApp

This social messaging platform leveraged the growing smartphone ownership and internet connectivity to grow rapidly. WhatsApp started in 2009 as a free messaging platform. Since then, it has grown to 2 billion monthly active users to exchange texts, videos, pictures, and documents. Facebook acquired it in 2014, expanding its reach by tapping into Facebook’s vast users.

Interesting fact: WhatsApp inventors applied for jobs at Facebook but were rejected.

#4 Messenger

Facebook’s Messenger has become a quasi-independent social platform for communication for individuals and businesses. One interesting use for businesses is chatbots, which can communicate intelligently to answer commonly asked questions. It has 1.3 billion monthly active users exchanging photos, documents, texts, GIFs, and games. Messenger has also become a money exchange platform.

Interesting fact: You can unsend messages on Messenger 10 minutes after you send them.

#5 WeChat/Weixin

WeChat is the Chinese answer to WhatsApp. WeChat has grown to 1.203 billion users, partly because WhatsApp is blocked in China. But anyone around the world can use the WeChat. For many business people around the world, it is the primary contact with Chinese customers or partners. WeChat can do everything WhatsApp does. It goes further to allow the exchange of money using WeChat Pay.

Interesting fact: WeChat has a dating function which you can use to find potential dates nearby.

#6 Instagram

Instagram was founded in 2010 and grew quickly popular with young people because of its heavy visual focus. Facebook acquired it in 2012, and it has piggybacked on Facebook numbers to grow numbers to 1.082 billion monthly active users. Instagram has become a powerful brand-building tool for businesses, especially while targeting millennials.

Interesting fact: The most Instagrammed food is Pizza.

#7 Tiktok

Brands and individuals alike are scrambling to have a viral video on Tiktok. It has become the most downloaded non-game iOS app in the US. Tiktok has grown to 800 million monthly active users. 41% of its users are aged 16-24 years old. Corporate brands are using it to give a behind-the-scenes peek to cultivate brand familiarity.

Interesting fact: 43% of Tiktok users have uploaded a duet video.

Being on social media is no longer a matter of choice for businesses. But the big question is, how is your brand using social media platforms?

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