Social Media Usage Statistics by Age
Given the increasing number of social media users year after year, there’s no question that it should form part of every business’s growth strategy.
But before jumping into creating a social media marketing strategy, it’s important to understand the demographics, starting with the amount of social media usage by age.
What age group uses social media the most (by number)?
|
Age group |
Expected number of social media users in the US in 2025 |
|
Gen Z (1997–2012) |
62.5 million |
|
Millennials (1981–1996) |
69.2 million |
|
Gen X (1965–1980) |
50.6 million |
|
Baby boomers (1946–1964) |
35.5 million |
According to recent research studying social media usage statistics by age, in 2025, millennials are set to be the biggest users of social media. These are people the study defines millennials as those born between 1981 and 1996. The expected number of 69.2 million millennials using social media in 2025 marks a 0.6% increase from 2024.
This is followed by Generation Z, or those born between 1997 and 2012. This group is forecast to account for about 62.5 million social media users in 2025, a 3% annual rise. Despite projections of increased usage, Gen Z's share is expected to remain below that of millennials, who are anticipated to retain their status as the largest cohort of US social media users until at least 2027.
Meanwhile, there are expected to be 50.6 million Generation X social media users, defined as those born between 1965 and 1980. This is the third-largest group. Next are baby boomers, with a projected 35.5 million users in 2025. Unlike Gen Z and millennials, the number of social media users belonging to these two latter generations is expected to fall year on year in 2025.
What age group uses social media the most (by share)?
|
Generation |
Share of social media users in the US (2024) |
|
Gen Z (1995–2012) |
25% |
|
Millennials (1980–1994) |
37% |
|
Gen X (1965–1979) |
28% |
|
Baby boomers (1946–1964) |
10% |
A separate analysis focusing on social media penetration rates—the proportion of each generation actively using social media in 2024—shows a similar trend. Despite slight differences in generational definitions—such as this analysis defining Gen Z as those born between 1995 and 2012 and millennials as those born between 1980 and 1994—the overall trend remains consistent.
Millennials account for the largest share of social media users, making up 37% of the total. They are followed by Gen X at 28%, slightly ahead of Gen Z, which holds a 25% share. Baby boomers form the smallest group, comprising just 10% of social media users.
This breakdown highlights millennials as the dominant generation on social media, followed by Gen Z and Gen X, with baby boomers trailing behind—a trend consistent with the broader usage patterns outlined earlier.
Social media usage statistics by age: top platforms according to age group
Having this data on what age group uses social media the most isn’t enough. It also helps to know just what networks these different age groups are active on.
Social media usage by age: 18 to 29
|
Most-used platforms among users aged 18 to 29 |
|
|---|---|
|
Social network |
Percentage of US adults who say they use the social network |
|
YouTube |
93% |
|
|
78% |
|
|
67% |
|
Snapchat |
65% |
|
TikTok |
62% |
Recent statistics on social media usage by age show that nearly all (93%) of US adults aged 18 to 29 use the video-sharing platform YouTube. Instagram follows at 78%, and Facebook, the so-called 'king of social media,' captures the interest of 67%, positioning it above Snapchat's 65%. TikTok rounds out the top five, with 62% of young adults in the US utilizing the ByteDance-owned platform.
Social media usage by age: 30 to 49
|
Most-used platforms among users aged 30 to 49 |
|
|---|---|
|
Social network |
Percentage of US adults who say they use the social network |
|
YouTube |
92% |
|
|
75% |
|
|
59% |
|
|
40% |
|
|
40% |
The analysis of social media usage by age shows YouTube remains the top choice for adults in the 30 to 49 age group, attracting 92% of users. Facebook and Instagram are next, with respective usage rates of 75% and 59%. Pinterest and LinkedIn are tied, each with 40% usage among this group.
Social media usage by age: 50 to 64
|
Most-used platforms among users aged 50 to 64 |
|
|---|---|
|
Social network |
Percentage of US adults who say they use the social network |
|
YouTube |
83% |
|
|
69% |
|
|
35% |
|
|
33% |
|
|
31% |
The preferences of this age group mirror those of the younger cohort, with the exception of Pinterest slightly leading over LinkedIn—33% versus 31%.
Social media usage by age: 65+
|
Most-used platforms among users aged 65+ |
|
|---|---|
|
Social network |
Percentage of US adults who say they use the social network |
|
YouTube |
60% |
|
|
58% |
|
|
21% |
|
|
16% |
|
|
15% |
Among seniors, YouTube and Facebook remain popular, though usage rates dip to 60% for YouTube and 58% for Facebook. Pinterest secures third place with 21%, while WhatsApp and Instagram are used by approximately 15% each.