40+ Daily Social Media Usage Stats & Trends [2026]
Daily social media usage continues to rise, with users spending an average of 2 hours and 31 minutes per day. From TikTok’s 52-minute daily usage to Gen Z’s 4-hour screen time, this report breaks down platform trends, habits, and age-based engagement data.
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Have you ever wondered just how much time we spend scrolling through our feeds, double-tapping photos, or watching videos online?
On average, users spend 2 hours and 31 minutes daily on social media platforms, with TikTok leading the pack at 52 minutes per user.
In 2025, Gen Z spends an astonishing 4 hours per day on platforms like Instagram and Snapchat, while 70% of all users check their feeds within 10 minutes of waking up.
From the average time spent online to the platforms dominating the scene, these statistics reveal the true scale of our online world.
Let’s dive into the data and trends defining daily social media usage today.
Key takeaways
- The global average daily time spent on social media is 2 hours and 31 minutes.
- Gen Z spends an average of 4 hours daily on social platforms, more than any other age group.
- TikTok users spend an average of 52 minutes per day on the app.
- 88% of users access social media via mobile devices.
- Daily social media usage has increased by 6% year-over-year.
- People aged 16-24 spend the most time on social media compared to other demographics.
- Facebook still ranks as the most-used social platform globally, with 2.9 billion active users.
- 70% of users check their social media accounts within the first 10 minutes of waking up.
General daily social media usage statistics
On average, users spend 2 hours and 31 minutes on social media every day.
81% of adults in the US report using at least one social media platform daily.
Mobile devices account for 88% of all social media usage.
The most active social media users fall in the 16-24 age group and dedicate an average of 3 hours daily.
Daily time spent on social media has grown by 6% compared to last year.
Social media accounts for roughly one-third of the total time people spend online.
74% of users multitask while using social media, such as watching TV or commuting.
Over 50% of users check their social media accounts multiple times during work hours.
Time spent on top social media platforms
- Facebook: Users spend an average of 33 minutes daily on the platform.
- TikTok: This short video platform leads with an impressive 52 minutes of daily usage per user.
- Instagram: Users dedicate 29 minutes daily to browsing feeds, Stories, and Reels.
- Snapchat: Users spend an average of 30 minutes a day, primarily chatting and watching Stories.
- Twitter (now X): The average user spends 28 minutes per day on the app.
- YouTube: Video lovers spend 45 minutes daily watching content on the platform.
- LinkedIn: Professionals spend 8 minutes per day on the platform.
Average American adolescent screen time
American kids aged 13 spend 4.1 hours per day scrolling through their feeds.
While the 14-year-olds spend about 4.5 hours per day on screen.
The 17-year-olds spend 5.8 hours on screen. This is the maximum number of average hours in the US.
What does this screen time comprise?
If you find yourself asking this question. We have got you!
American teens usually spend their screen time on YouTube, TikTok and Instagram.
Let’s take a look at the data in detail.
In total, the average time spent by boys is 4.4 hours while the average time spent by girls is 5.3 hrs.
The average time spent on YouTube is 2.1 hours per day by the boys and 1.7 hours by the girls.
Impact of social media on daily life
What’s the first thing you do in the morning? Most probably-check your social media, right?!
70% of users admit to checking their social media within 10 minutes of waking up.
42% of users say they use social media as their primary source of news and updates.
Over 60% of users follow brands or businesses on social media to engage with their daily updates.
Social media usage peaks during lunch hours and late evenings.
58% of parents admit monitoring their children’s daily social media activity.
Excessive social media usage has been linked to decreased productivity, with 35% of workers citing it as a distraction.
It is important to note that spending more than three hours per day on social media increases the risk of mental health problems in adolescents.
And according to an Addiction Center study, about 1 in 10 Americans may be “addicted” to social media.
Social media habits by age group
- Gen Z (16-24 years): On average Gen Zs spend 4 hours daily on platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat.
- Millennials (25-40 years): While the millennials were found to spend an average of 3 hours daily, with Facebook and Instagram as their go-to platforms.
- Gen X (41-56 years): Gen X spends about 1.5 hours daily on their socials primarily on Facebook and LinkedIn.
- Boomers (57+ years): They are the lightest users on average spending 1 hour daily on Facebook.
Conclusion
Social media isn’t just a pastime—it’s a daily habit that influences communication, entertainment, and even productivity. With users dedicating hours each day to platforms like TikTok, Facebook, and Instagram, businesses and marketers have an unprecedented opportunity to engage audiences. These statistics highlight the importance of understanding how, when, and where users interact with social media to craft more impactful strategies.
How much time are you spending online? Whether you’re a casual scroller or a digital enthusiast, one thing is clear: social media is here to stay, shaping our daily lives one post at a time.
FAQs
Globally, the average user spends about 2 hours and 31 minutes on social media platforms every day.
TikTok leads the pack with users spending an average of 52 minutes daily on the app.
Gen Z spends the most time on social media, averaging 4 hours daily, while Boomers average about 1 hour.
Social media usage peaks during lunch hours and late evenings, making these prime times for engagement.
While 35% of workers find it distracting, others use it for research or collaboration, highlighting the need for balanced usage.
A significant 88% of users access social media via their smartphones.
Sources
- We Are Social. Digital Report
- Pew Research. Social Media Usage Statistics
- Business of Apps. TikTok Engagement Report
- Statista. Mobile Social Media Usage
- GlobalWebIndex. Year-on-Year Social Media Trends
- eMarketer. Social Media Demographics
- Hootsuite. The State of Social Media
- TechCrunch. Social Media and User Habits Study
- HubSpot. How Social Media Impacts Productivity
- Forbes. The Rise of Facebook’s Daily Users
- JAMA Network. Associations Between Time Spent Using Social Media and Internalizing and Externalizing Problems Among US Youth
- Addiction center. Social Media Addiction
Manisha is a Data-Driven Marketing Expert who turns numbers into narratives and ad clicks into conversions. With a passion for performance marketing and a sharp eye for analytics, she helps brands cut through the noise and maximize their impact in the digital space.
Leszek is the Digital Growth Manager at Feedink & Cropink, specializing in organic growth for eCommerce and SaaS companies. His background includes roles at Poland's largest accommodation portal and FT1000 companies, with his work featured in Forbes, Inc., Business Insider, Fast Company, Entrepreneur, BBC, and TechRepublic.
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