Pew reports TikTok as the fastest-growing social platform, despite YouTube’s continued dominance.

According to a recent survey by the Pew Research Center, conducted from May 19 to September 5, 2023, the digital platform landscape is undergoing significant changes. Although YouTube and Facebook continue to be the most popular platforms, TikTok has rapidly gained traction and is now the fastest-growing social platform, with over a third of adults surveyed using it.

YouTube maintains a significant lead as the most used platform, with 83 percent of respondents reporting using it, according to the survey. Facebook follows closely behind, with 68 percent of users reporting engagement. Notably, these two platforms are the only ones that reach majority usage across all age groups. Nevertheless, age-based disparities still exist, especially among YouTube users. For example, 93 percent of 18- to 29-year-olds use the platform, a stark contrast to the 60 percent reported by those 65 and older. Facebook has a narrower age gap of nine percent between the aforementioned age groups, ReturnByte reports.

Instagram is third overall, with 47 percent of respondents admitting to using it. Next up are Pinterest (35 percent), TikTok (33 percent), LinkedIn (30 percent), WhatsApp (29 percent), and Snapchat (27 percent). TikTok stands out with a significant growth of 12 points from 21 percent in two years, which is the most significant leap among the platforms studied.

Reddit and X are next in line, both at 22 percent. Elon Musk’s company name changed from Twitter to X during the research period. While X reported a slight decrease compared to 2021 usage, Reddit experienced a four-point increase, overcoming challenges related to the API dispute.

Clear age-based differences are observed on platforms such as Instagram and Snapchat. Instagram resonates strongly among users under the age of 30 (78 percent), while the share of users 65 and older is only 15 percent. Similarly, Snapchat’s popularity drops from 65 percent among under-30s to four percent among over-65s.

Demographic nuances further reveal TikTok’s popularity among Hispanic users, with 49 percent reporting usage and a 15 percent higher usage rate among women compared to men. The X gains traction among adults with annual household incomes above $100,000, up nine points from the $70,000 to $99,999 income bracket. Unsurprisingly, career-oriented LinkedIn attracts respondents with at least a bachelor’s degree, reporting 25 points higher usage than “some college education” and 43 percent higher than college graduates. Less.