World’s top 10 social media platforms in 2024: We are living in the 21st century—an era defined by rapid technological advancements, where social media—dynamic virtual spaces have become an indispensable means of communication and sharing information across the globe.
Social media has blurred the lines between the virtual and the real world, thereby transforming the world into a global village, with distance no longer a barrier today.
More than 66 percent of all the global population uses the internet, with the latest data from DataReportal putting the global user total at 5.35 billion. Additionally, the internet users have risen by 1.8 percent over the past 12 months, owing to the new 97 million users since the start of 2023.
Furthermore, an analysis from Kepios indicates that the number of active social media users has surpassed 5 billion, representing about 62.3% of the world’s population.
This surge of 266 million users in just one year marks an annual growth rate of 5.6%, underscoring the significant role social media plays in our daily lives.
India had approximately 821 million internet users and 462 million active social media accounts, representing an increase of 19 million internet users, or 2.6%, as per DataReportal and Kepios analysis.
So, with the rise of countless social media platforms like Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, and more, it’s clear that social media is no longer just a trend but has become a fundamental means of communication in today’s world.
The world’s 10 most popular social media platforms in 2024: ranked by total users worldwide:
Not so surprising, Facebook continues to remain the undisputed leader in being most popular and widely used among the social media platforms, with an impressive user base of nearly 3.1 billion people worldwide.
It’s also intriguing to note that Meta, the parent company of Facebook, owns four of the top 10 most popular social media platforms, including Instagram, WhatsApp, and Facebook Messenger, further solidifying its dominance in the industry.
Interestingly, the Chinese social media platforms have also gained significance in the global market, with TikTok being a globally popular video-sharing app, despite the controversy of being banned in India due to national security concerns and US Senate passing the bill which might ban the app.
Other platforms like WeChat are leading the way as the most popular messaging app in China with over 1.36 billion active users, followed by Douyin, the Chinese counterpart to TikTok, which has emerged as a dominant player in the short-form video content space. These platforms showcase the unique digital ecosystem in China.
| Rank | Social Media Platform | Active Users (in 2024, millions) |
| 1 | 3,070 | |
| 2 | YouTube | 2,500 |
| 3 | 2,000 | |
| 4 | 2,000 | |
| 5 | TikTok | 1,600 |
| 6 | 1,360 | |
| 7 | Facebook Messenger | 977 |
| 8 | Telegram | 900 |
| 9 | Snapchat | 800 |
| 10 | Douyin | 755 |
However, Telegram, which is particularly influential in Russia, Ukraine, and the republics of the former Soviet Union, has been ranked 8th most popular social media platform globally, with over 950 million active users.
It is presently facing potential bans in several countries due to concerns over its content moderation practices, as recently, Pavel Durov, the app’s billionaire founder and CEO, was recently arrested in Paris.
The allegations are linked to “proceedings accusing Telegram of complicity in numerous cases linked to drug trafficking, support for terrorism, and cyberstalking,” as per the French newspaper Le Monde.
Even India has launched an investigation into Telegram that could potentially lead to a ban in the country, as the Indian government is probing the app’s use for extortion and gambling.
