Pew: YouTube and Facebook Still Lead Among Social Apps

A fresh survey from Pew Research shows that YouTube and Facebook remain the most widely used social media platforms among U.S. adults – despite the surge of newer rivals like TikTok and Instagram.

Based on responses from more than 5,000 American adults collected earlier this year, the data reveals that 84% of respondents say they use YouTube at least occasionally – the highest rate across all platforms. Facebook follows at 71%. Instagram is next in line, with half of U.S. adults reporting that they use it. Meanwhile, TikTok and WhatsApp are somewhat less prevalent in this snapshot: 37% and 32% usage respectively.

The report also breaks down frequency of use. Around half of adults say they visit YouTube and Facebook daily. By contrast, only 24% report using TikTok every day, suggesting that while the platform has grown, it hasn’t yet reached the same consistent daily engagement as the long-standing platforms.

In a noteworthy development, the 2025 survey is the first time Pew included responses for newer or smaller platforms such as Threads, Bluesky, and Truth Social. According to the data, 8% of adults now say they use Threads, while 4% say they use Bluesky.