100+ Social Media Statistics for 2020 That Reveal the Future of Social Media

More than 90% of companies use social media marketing to build brand awareness, generate sales, and interact with current and future clients. Clearly, social media is becoming the go-marketing channel for businesses worldwide.

Whether you’re looking to demonstrate the value of social media to decision-makers or investigate upcoming trends on social media platforms like Facebook and LinkedIn, this compilation of social media statistics for 2020 is here to help.

Explore these 133 social media stats now and get a sneak peek at the future of social media!

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The current state of social in 7 social media statistics

Social media continues to show extraordinary growth. Smartphones power this growth, offering users across the world access to social media apps for Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and more. Already, analysts predict that more people will have smartphones than running water or electricity.

Learn more about the current state of social media with these seven social media statistics:

• 5 billion active social media users (Source)
• 3 billion active social media users on mobile (Source)
• 7 in 10 Americans use social media (Source)
• 86% of people use social media at least once a day (Source)
• 72% of people use social media multiple times a day (Source)
• 72% of U.S. adults use at least one social media site (Source)
• 33% of a user’s Internet time goes to social media (Source)

The status of social media and business in 14 social media statistics

Once upon a time, only 28% of businesses used social media. Now, more than 91% of companies do. These social media statistics emphasize the growth of social media, as well as the potential that organizations now see in this online marketing channel.

Check out the following 14 social media statistics for businesses for more insight:

• $18.4 billion is the predicted U.S. social media ad spend (Source)
• 91% of businesses use social media for marketing (Source)
• 72% of companies use their employees as social media advocates (Source)
• 70% of marketers name brand awareness as their top goal for social media (Source)
• 59% of marketers use social media for lead generation and sales (Source)
• 50% of marketers say entertaining posts are more effective than promotional posts (Source)
• 43% of marketers say identifying and understanding their audience is the top challenge (Source)
• 38% of marketers use LinkedIn as a part of their social media strategy (Source)
• 13% of the global ad spend will go to social media advertising (Source)

Curious about the future of social media when it comes to which platforms businesses choose?

Check out these five social media stats:

• 87% of companies plan to use Facebook in 2020 (Source)
• 75% of businesses plan to use Instagram in 2020 (Source)
• 66% of businesses plan to use Twitter in 2020 (Source)
• 53% of companies plan to use YouTube in 2020 (Source)
• 35% of businesses plan to use Pinterest in 2020 (Source)

How consumers use social media in 30 social media statistics

For more than a decade, people have used social media — and they’ve used it a lot. Analysts predict that the average user will spend five years of their life on social media. How that person will spend their time, however, will depend on how they use social media.

Keep reading and browse these 30 social media statistics to learn more:

• 5 years is the total amount of time a user will spend on social media over their lifetime (Source)
• 6 hours is the average amount of time people spend using digital media on mobile (Source)
• 2 hours is the average amount of time people spend using digital media on desktop (Source)
• 1 in 3 users that watch videos on social media watch videos from brands (Source)
• 96% of users who follow brands on social media interact with those brands (Source)
• 87% of users visit a brand’s site or app after following them on social media (Source)
• 80% of users get advice about a product purchase through social media (Source)
• 78% of users visit a brand’s physical store when they follow them on social media (Source)
• 78% of users talk about brands they follow on social media to friends and family(Source)
• 77% of users buy from brands they follow on social media (Source)
• 74% of shoppers use social media when making a purchase decision (Source)
• 74% of people follow brands on social media (Source)
• 67% of users access social media via a mobile app (Source)
• 67% of users increase their spending with a brand after following them on social media (Source)
• 59% of users reach out to a brand on social media after a great experience (Source)
• 57% of customers prefer to contact businesses via email or social media vs. telephone (Source)
• 57% of users access social media via a web browser (Source)
• 56% of users unfollow brands on social media due to poor customer service (Source)
• 54% of users use social media to research products (Source)
• 53% of U.S. users post positive comments about companies on social media (Source)
• 51% of users unfollow brands on social media due to irrelevant content (Source)
• 50% of users follow brands on social media to learn about new products or services (Source)
• 48% of users follow brands on social media for entertainment (Source)
• 47% of users reach out to a brand on social media when they have a question (Source)
• 46% of users prefer to use social media via a mobile app (Source)
• 45% of users are more likely to research a product or service when the brand’s employees’ post about that product or service (Source)
• 43% of users unfollow brands on social media because of too many promotional posts (Source)
• 40% of users follow brands on social media to stay up-to-date on company news (Source)
• 38% of users follow brands on social media for promotions and discounts (Source)
• 35% of U.S. users post negative comments about companies on social media (Source)

Facebook: 14 social media statistics for businesses

Facebook is the biggest social media platform, with more than two billion monthly users. Its popularity (and dominance) is one reason why most companies make Facebook a focal point in their social media marketing and advertising campaigns.

Learn more about why Facebook dominates with these 14 social media stats for your business:

• $21 billion is Facebook’s predicted net ad revenue for 2020 (Source)
• 26 billion people use Facebook each month (Source)
• 4 billion people use Facebook every day (Source)
• 37 minutes is the average amount of time a user spends on Facebook (Source)
• 79% of U.S. adults between the ages of 18-29 use Facebook (Source)
• 79% of U.S. adults between the ages of 30-49 use Facebook (Source)
• 75% of U.S. adult women use Facebook (Source)
• 74% of Facebook users visit Facebook daily (Source)
• 69% of U.S. adults use Facebook (Source)
• 68% of U.S. adults between the ages of 50-64 use Facebook (Source)
• 66% of users like or follow a brand on Facebook (Source)
• 63% of U.S. adult men use Facebook (Source)
• 46% of U.S. adults 65 or older use Facebook (Source)
• 15% of U.S. Facebook users use Facebook to find and shop for products (Source)

Instagram: 17 social media statistics for businesses

Instagram is another top social media network with more than one billion monthly users. With its photo, video, and shopping options, it’s a trusted social media platform for ecommerce and retail companies, though other businesses can use it with success too.

Get insight into the future of social media’s leading platform with these 17 social media statistics:

• $12 billion is Instagram’s predicted net ad revenue for 2020 (Source)
• 1 billion people use Instagram each month (Source)
• 500 million people use Instagram each day (Source)
• 200 million Instagram users visit one business profile each day (Source)
• 28 minutes is the average amount of time a user spends on Instagram (Source)
• 90% of Instagram accounts follow a business (Source)
• 67% of U.S. adults between the ages of 18-29 use Instagram (Source)
• 63% of Instagram users visit Instagram daily (Source)
• 60% of Instagram users discover new products on Instagram (Source)
• 47% of U.S. adults between the ages of 30-49 use Instagram (Source)
• 43% of U.S. adult women use Instagram (Source)
• 41% of users follow a brand on Instagram (Source)
• 37% of U.S. adults use Instagram (Source)
• 31% of U.S. adult men use Instagram (Source)
• 23% of U.S. adults between the ages of 50-64 use Instagram (Source)
• 11% of U.S. Instagram users use Instagram to find and shop for products (Source)
• 8% of U.S. adults 65 or older use Instagram (Source)

Twitter: 13 social media statistics for businesses

Twitter may feature a smaller user base than Facebook and Instagram, but it’s a useful social media network for specific industries and target audiences. Even if you decide not to use Twitter, it’s helpful to review the future of this social media platform’s features, audience, and potential.

Learn more about Twitter with the following 13 social media statistics for 2020:

• 330 million people use Twitter each month (Source)
• 100 million people use Twitter each day (Source)
• 53% of Twitter users are more likely to buy new products first (Source)
• 42% of Twitter users visit Twitter daily (Source)
• 38% of U.S. adults between the ages of 18-29 use Twitter (Source)
• 26% more time is spent viewing ads on Twitter than other social media platforms (Source)
• 26% of U.S. adults between the ages of 30-49 use Twitter (Source)
• 24% of U.S. adult men use Twitter (Source)
• 24% of U.S. adult women use Twitter (Source)
• 22% of U.S. adults use Twitter (Source)
• 22% of users follow a brand on Twitter (Source)
• 17% of U.S. adults between the ages of 50-64 use Twitter (Source)
• 7% of U.S. adults 65 or older use Twitter (Source)

YouTube: 16 social media statistics for businesses

YouTube is the leading video-based social media network. People watch one billion hours of YouTube content each day, taking advantage of the platform to research products, discover brands, and entertain themselves.

Discover why YouTube deserves your company’s attention with these 16 social media stats:

• 2 billion people use YouTube each month (Source)
• 1 billion hours of YouTube content is watched each day (Source)
• 40 minutes is the average YouTube visit (Source)
• 30 million people use YouTube every day (Source)
• 91% of U.S. adults between the ages of 18-29 use YouTube (Source)
• 90% of people say video helps them make a purchase decision (Source)
• 87% of U.S. adults between the ages of 30-49 use YouTube (Source)
• 78% of U.S. adult men use YouTube (Source)
• 73% of U.S. adults use YouTube (Source)
• 70% of U.S. adults between the ages of 50-64 use YouTube (Source)
• 70% of shoppers are open to learning about a brand’s products via YouTube (Source)
• 68% of U.S. adult women use YouTube (Source)
• 51% of YouTube users visit YouTube daily (Source)
• 40% of shoppers worldwide bought products they found on YouTube (Source)
• 38% of U.S. adults 65 or older use YouTube (Source)
• 35% of users follow a brand on YouTube (Source)

Pinterest: 11 social media statistics for businesses

Pinterest is a go-to channel for brands looking to reach women. Women make up more than 40% of the network’s more than 300 million users. Not to mention, almost 50% of Pinterest’s users use the platform to find and shop for products.

Learn more about Pinterest’s value with the following social media statistics for businesses:

• 300 million people use Pinterest (Source)
• 246 million people use Pinterest each month (Source)
• 47% of U.S. Pinterest users use Pinterest to find and shop for products (Source)
• 42% of U.S. adult women use Pinterest (Source)
• 35% of U.S. adults between the ages of 30-49 use Pinterest (Source)
• 34% of U.S. adults between the ages of 18-29 use Pinterest (Source)
• 28% of U.S. adults use Pinterest (Source)
• 27% of U.S. adults between the ages of 50-64 use Pinterest (Source)
• 17% of users follow a brand on Pinterest (Source)
• 15% of U.S. adult men use Pinterest (Source)
• 15% of U.S. adults 65 or older use Pinterest (Source)

LinkedIn: 12 social media statistics for businesses

LinkedIn offers companies looking to recruit, as well as educate business buyers, a reputable platform. With 200 million people using the social media network each month, it’s worth considering LinkedIn for your social media strategy.

Get additional insight into LinkedIn’s potential with these 12 social media statistics for 2020:

• #1-rated social media platform for lead generation (Source)
• 645+ million people use LinkedIn (Source)
• 200 million people use LinkedIn each month (Source)
• 94% of business-to-business (B2B) marketers use LinkedIn for content distribution (Source)
• 37% of U.S. adults between the ages of 30-49 use LinkedIn (Source)
• 29% of U.S. adult men use LinkedIn (Source)
• 28% of U.S. adults between the ages of 18-29 use LinkedIn (Source)
• 27% of U.S. adults use LinkedIn (Source)
• 24% of U.S. adult women use LinkedIn (Source)
• 24% of U.S. adults between the ages of 50-64 use LinkedIn (Source)
• 11% of U.S. adults 65 or older use LinkedIn (Source)
• 6% of users follow a brand on LinkedIn (Source)

Get ready for social in 2020 with WebFX

The future of social media is clear: It’s not going anywhere.

Platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, and LinkedIn offer businesses like yours a new and reliable channel for reaching your audience. Whether you’re looking to build brand awareness, improve client retention, or increase sales, social can help you do it.

If you need help getting started with social media, WebFX can help.

With our custom strategies, as well as social media marketing and advertising plans, we can build a competitive campaign for your business. Plus, we’ll take care of everything for you, providing you with a dedicated account manager experienced in social media.

Contact us online or call us at 888-601-5359 to learn more today!