Social media calculator: How much of your life is spent on social media?
Now, 16 years later, social media is no longer just a space for conversation. It is a basic part of everyday life for more than two-thirds of the world’s population. According to the DataReportal Digital 2026 Global Overview Report, the number of social media users has reached 5.66 billion – equivalent to more than 68 percent of the world’s population.
The number of social media users has grown steadily from fewer than 500 million in 2005 to 2.27 billion in 2015 and 5.66 billion in 2025, largely driven by the spread of affordable smartphones and expanding internet access.
How much time are we spending on social media? According to DataReportal, the average active user spends 18 hours and 36 minutes per week on social media, or roughly two hours and 39 minutes every day. Compounded over a year, that adds up to more than 40 full days spent on these platforms.
Which regions have the most social media users? Global social media usage is widely adopted, averaging 68 percent, with particularly high rates across Europe and North America. At 88.1 percent, East Asia has the highest ratio of social media usage relative to the total population, followed by 79 percent in Northern Europe, 77.7 percent in Western Europe, and 74 percent in North America.
By contrast, Central Africa has the lowest social media usage at 12.1 percent, followed by East Africa at 12.6 percent and West Africa at 19 percent, according to DataReportal.
What are the world’s most used social platforms? Data from Statista compiled in cooperation with Kepios ranks the most popular social media networks worldwide by monthly active users. As of October, the most popular platforms were: Facebook leads all platforms with 3.07 billion monthly active users. Instagram (acquired by Facebook in 2012) and WhatsApp (acquired in 2014) each have 3 billion monthly active users. YouTube, which is owned by Google, comes in next with 2.58 billion monthly active users. TikTok, launched internationally in 2017, has an estimated 1.99 billion users although estimates vary by source.
Growing calls to ban social media for children Behind these numbers lies a growing concern. The European Parliament has backed proposals.