Top Social Media Platforms You Should Know in 2025

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Beyond simple sharing, social media has developed into a powerful tool for branding, business, consumer engagement, and storytelling all of which are combined into one infinite scroll. 

Which social media site will be the most popular in 2025, you ask? The twist is that Facebook continues to dominate with approximately 3.07 billion monthly active users, followed by WhatsApp (2.8 billion) and YouTube (2.9 billion). While the newbies are creating a lot of buzz, the classics haven’t diminished yet.

Why is that important? Because engagement, audience behavior, and determining where your target audience truly spends their time online are more important factors in success than simply having the largest audience.

The top social media platforms of 2025 are broken down in this guide, which also shows which applications are losing popularity and which ones are worth your attention. It also explains how to base your marketing strategy on the data that really matters.

The State of Global Social Media in 2025

By 2025, there will be an incredible 5.04 billion active social media users worldwide, or around 62.3% of the world’s population. 

More remarkable still? In just 12 months, around 266 million new people entered the digital community, a 5.6% increase from the previous year. 

Here are a few standout stats worth saving:

  • Average daily time on social media: 2 hours and 26 minutes
  • Average number of platforms used per person: 6.7 (because loyalty is so 2010)
  • Mobile reigns supreme: Over 99% of users access social media via smartphones

And yes, desktop users still exist but they’re kind of like people who still buy DVDs: admirable, but increasingly uncommon.

This increase in usage worldwide demonstrates why it’s more important than ever to comprehend the leading social media platforms, particularly if you’re organizing a marketing campaign or developing your online brand.

Next, we’ll analyze the most widely used social media sites by the number of monthly active users. Will Facebook continue to hold the top spot? Is TikTok the new engagement king? Keep an eye out, the data speaks for itself.

Social media sites with the highest monthly active users

Now, let’s look at the 2025 leaderboard, where the biggest social media companies compete for users’ attention and allegiance. Here, we are discussing MAUs. Which social networking site will be most popular in 2025? Here it is:

2.96 billion MAUs on Facebook

With about 3 billion active users in 2025, Facebook is still the dominant force in the online world and one of the largest social media networks. Yes, even Gen Z may make jokes about it being “for boomers,” but Facebook continues to dominate in terms of groups, events, and global reach.

Bonus Details: Almost 59% of global social media ad spending goes to Facebook alone.

2.49 billion MAUs on YouTube

YouTube is a popular social media network for producers, students, and, let’s face it, anyone who has ever Googled “how to fix a leaky faucet.” It’s more than just a place to share videos. It is a mainstay of well-known social media platforms worldwide, dominating in the areas of entertainment, tutorials, and long-form content.

2.15 billion MAUs on WhatsApp

Meta owns WhatsApp, which has become the world’s most popular messaging app, voice call app, and meme-filled encrypted group chat. One of the most widely used social media platforms for real-time communication in 2025, it is particularly well-liked in South Asia, Africa, and Latin America.

2.09 billion MAUs on Instagram

Instagram isn’t slowing down, from visually appealing brunch photographs to influencer reels and virtual businesses. Due to a younger population and Gen Z’s obsession with Stories and Reels, its user base has actually increased by 8.3% year over year.

1.92 billion MAUs on TikTok

Are you curious about which social media platform Gen Z uses the most? You don’t need to search any further. TikTok’s highly addictive, algorithm-driven entertainment continues to dominate short-form video. One of the most widely used social media sites in 2025, with 1.92 billion users and rapidly growing, it’s probably the cause of your 30% increase in screen time.

1.34 billion MAUs on WeChat

WeChat, a dominant force in China, is much more than a simple chat program. It is a platform that can be used for business, commerce, payments, and more. This is where your audience resides if you’re considering social media sites in China or breaking into the Asian market.

900 million MAUs, Telegram

Telegram has established itself as a community platform and chat service that prioritizes privacy. Additionally, developers, cryptocurrency enthusiasts, and specialized interest groups have begun to use it. It’s not simply a WhatsApp substitute; it’s currently one of the most widely used social networking apps worldwide.

750 million MAUs of Snapchat

Snapchat, which is still popular among teenagers and young adults, keeps coming out with new features like Bitmoji integrations, AR filters, and Snap Maps. It is unquestionably one of the best social media apps for Gen Alpha and younger millennials, despite not being the biggest.

Breakdown of User Demographics by Platform

After revealing the most popular social media sites based on user numbers, let’s examine who uses them most frequently.

Marketers, companies, and content producers can more successfully target their content across the most widely used social media platforms in 2025 by having a better understanding of demographic patterns. You must be where your audience gathers, not merely where the masses gather, whether you are marketing lip gloss or life insurance.

An Actual Case: Matching Trends with Strategy

On sites like Instagram Reels and TikTok, they capitalized on the expanding trend of short-form video content by showcasing their products in lively, entertaining, and highly shareable ways. The younger target demographic on both platforms responded well to their strategy of producing content that seemed as genuine and personal as their brand.

Consequently, influencer partnerships on TikTok increased Lush’s online engagement and even increased their revenue. This is an excellent illustration of how platform strategy should be in line with user behavior trends.

Important Lessons for Your Business Plan

Recognize your audience: Find out where they spend the most time, then adjust your content to suit their preferred platform.

Adjust to the advantages of the platform: Make sure your content type (video, photos, etc.) is in line with what the platform supports.

Remain nimble: Trends on social media can change quickly. To keep ahead of the competition, pay attention to new trends.

Act with genuineness: Be sincere in your communications, particularly on sites like TikTok where people value sincerity.

By carefully selecting your social media channels and matching user behavior with your content, your company may reach a wider audience and seize new chances.

How vativeApps Can Help

Staying visible and relevant on today’s leading social media platforms isn’t easy. Trends shift overnight, algorithms evolve faster than ever, and audiences? They swipe faster than you can say “new post.”

That’s where vativeApps comes in.

We empower businesses to leverage the most popular social media platforms of 2025 to boost brand awareness, strengthen engagement, and drive measurable growth. Whether you’re figuring out which app your audience loves most or which platform delivers the best ROI, our insights and strategies are built to guide your success.

Here’s how vativeApps helps you grow smarter:

  • Smart Platform Strategy: We pinpoint the platforms that best match your audience, goals, and brand voice, ensuring your efforts hit the right crowd every time.
  • Engaging Content Creation: Our creative experts craft thumb-stopping visuals, videos, and campaigns designed to perform on TikTok, Instagram, LinkedIn, and beyond.
  • Data-Driven Optimization: With real-time analytics, we monitor performance, refine strategies, and keep your campaigns aligned with shifting digital trends.
  • Trend-Forward Innovation: From AI-enhanced storytelling to viral trend integration, we make sure your brand stays relevant, dynamic, and ahead of the competition.

Whether you’re a fast-growing startup or an established enterprise, vativeApps transforms social media complexity into clarity, building strategies that captivate audiences and deliver lasting results.