Gen Z’s Top Social Media Platforms
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Growing up as “digital natives,” Gen Zs have adopted a diverse range of social media platforms in their daily lives, ranging from niche interest websites like Pinterest to major social networks like Instagram and Facebook.
Over one-third of American Gen Zs spend over four hours a day on social media, according to a Morning Consult survey.
This chart visualizes the share of U.S. adults aged 18 to 29 that have used various social media platforms in 2023.
The data comes from a Pew Research survey conducted between May to September 2023.
What are Gen Z’s Favorite Social Media Platforms?
Below, we show the share of U.S. adults between the ages of 18 and 29 that have used the following social media platforms.
Platform | Share of U.S. adults (aged 18-29) who say they ever use... |
YouTube | 93% |
Instagram | 78% |
Facebook | 67% |
Snapchat | 65% |
TikTok | 62% |
Pinterest | 45% |
Reddit | 44% |
X / Twitter | 42% |
LinkedIn | 32% |
WhatsApp | 32% |
BeReal | 12% |
Video-sharing platforms like YouTube and TikTok are highly favored by Gen Z, with both long-form and short-form content being widely consumed.
Watching videos, both streamed and downloaded, is the most common way Gen Zs spend their time online, according to EMARKETER. Over 96% of American Gen Zs watch videos online at least once a month.
Preferences for YouTube and TikTok are also seen among the younger half of Gen Z, as seen in this graphic. Over 38% of American teens between the ages of 13 and 17 use YouTube several times a day, and about one-third use TikTok several times a day.
Instagram and Snapchat are also particularly popular among younger adults, reflecting their strong preference for visual content.
Although only 12% of younger adults use BeReal, it is far more popular with them compared to older age groups. Just 3% of adults aged 30-49 use the app, and only 1% of those aged 50-64 have tried it.
While these platforms might just seem like social and entertainment hubs, they’re becoming information resources for younger generations as well, with over half of Gen Z choosing TikTok over Google as their preferred search engine, according to a Her Campus survey.
Learn More on the Voronoi App
To learn more about how Gen Zs spend their time online, check out this graphic that visualizes what forms of digital entertainment U.S. Gen Zs engage in the most.