The quickest rising social media platforms of 2025 [new…

Are folks nonetheless utilizing Fb? What about Threads? And is TikTok’s volatility driving customers away? Simply 54% of manufacturers say they’re assured they will sustain with new social media platforms.

In case you’re within the different half, I dove into the newest trade knowledge and spoke to social media consultants so that you can uncover the fastest-growing social media platforms in 2025.

Observe alongside as I break down which platforms are the most important, that are rising, that are shrinking, and that are price your time in 2025. Right here’s what I realized.

Desk of Contents

Social Media Utilization in 2025

Unsurprisingly, 5.24 million folks use social media at the moment — that’s 63.9% of the world’s inhabitants. Social interplay is the number-one purpose folks aged 16 to 34 use the web (and the second-most common purpose for older generations). However which platforms are they utilizing most?

Right here’s the TL;DR in keeping with the newest knowledge from DataReportal Digital 2025:

• The most well-liked social media platforms in 2025 are YouTube with 3.9 billion month-to-month lively customers (MAU), Fb with 2.1 billion MAU, and Instagram with 1.6 billion MAU.
• Threads, TikTok, and Instagram noticed the best person development (MAU) in the newest quarter.
• Threads and Bluesky Social noticed the best app obtain development in the newest quarter.

Prime 10 Most Common Social Media Platforms in 2025

First, let’s check out the titans of the trade. Unequivocally, these prime 10 apps seize probably the most consideration from the most important variety of folks. These are the platforms with the best variety of lively customers, due to knowledge from DataReportal, SEMrush, and Backlinko.

1. YouTube

There’s at all times debate about whether or not YouTube is a social media platform, however I depend it as one for its social options like content material creation, subscribing, and commenting.

YouTube is the second most-visited web site on the earth, second solely to Google.com. It has 3.9 billion month-to-month lively customers (MAU) and 72.8 billion month-to-month visits, in keeping with SEMrush. Folks spend a whopping 24 minutes, 15 seconds every time they go to. It’s additionally common for manufacturers, with 81% of B2C manufacturers and 73% of B2B manufacturers on YouTube.

2. Fb

Whereas it’s now not rising explosively, Fb nonetheless earns its throne on the prime of the social media empire.

If Fb had been a rustic, it could be the fourth-largest after China, India, and the USA. It boasts 3.07 billion MAU and 12.7 billion month-to-month visits because the world’s third-most visited web site in 2025. One in 5 entrepreneurs is planning to chop their funding in Fb in 2025, indicating that its ROI for some manufacturers is waning.

3. Instagram

Regardless of being an elder of social media platforms, Instagram nonetheless grew by 3.47% from 2024 to 2025 to achieve two billion MAU. The app was the fifth fastest-growing app in 2025, including an estimated 40 million customers in 2024 with 759 million downloads in 2024.

4. Reddit

Need suggestions from strangers in your hobbies, work dilemmas, or relationships? There’s an app for that. Thread-based discussion board Reddit exploded in recognition in 2024 and 2025, reaching 1.1 billion MAU and 5.97 billion month-to-month visits.

5. TikTok

Can’t get sufficient of short-form movies? Neither can anybody else, apparently.

Regardless of authorized challenges within the U.S., TikTok reached 954 million MAU and a couple of.49 billion month-to-month visits in 2025. The platform the place entrepreneurs stated they deliberate to extend their funding probably the most in 2025? You guessed it — TikTok.

6. X

X (previously Twitter) has been on a curler coaster trip since 2023, when billionaire Elon Musk purchased and rebranded the platform. Although it has seen a person exodus, a stronghold of customers stays. By the newest estimates, X nonetheless has 586 million MAU and 4.29 billion month-to-month visits.

7. Snapchat

Artistic filters, streaks, and lenses hold Snapchat customers coming again time and time once more.

DataReportal estimates Snapchat’s month-to-month customers have reached 850 million, up from 800 million the model introduced in 2024. That tracks with 22 million downloads reported in December and 15.67% visitors development between September 2024 and February 2025.

Snapchat was forward of the curve with personal messaging between small teams of associates. Its disappearing messages and privateness focus lend it continued recognition in 2025.

8. Pinterest

Whereas nonetheless a considerably area of interest platform, Pinterest stays common for visible and way of life content material. Pinterest reported 553 million MAU in 2025, a rise of 6.75% since 2024. Between September 2024 and February 2025, its web site visitors grew 16.9%.

9. LinkedIn

LinkedIn has 386 million MAU. Whereas it has a variety of customers, these customers don’t spend vital time on it, with a every day app open fee of simply 24% and simply 48 minutes per thirty days spent on the cell app.

10. Threads

Meta-owned Threads cracked the top-ten ceiling this yr with triple-digit person development. As of January, it had greater than 320 million MAU and is averaging a million signups every day, in keeping with Mark Zuckerberg. X’s woes contributed to its development in 2023 and 2024.

Which social media platforms do folks spend probably the most time on?

Simply because a platform has a variety of customers doesn’t imply persons are opening the app daily or spending vital time on it. When evaluating platforms, I like to recommend which apps are “sticky” — that’s, which apps have interaction and retain customers.

In keeping with Digital 2025, folks spend probably the most time on TikTok, scrolling for 34 hours, 56 minutes per thirty days. Subsequent to observe is YouTube clocking in at 27 hours, 10 minutes, then Fb at 17 hours, 17 minutes, then Instagram at 16 hours, 13 minutes every month.

Supply

Knowledge reveals that folks are inclined to have much less frequent, longer periods on YouTube. With TikTok, however, folks open the app extra typically for shorter interactions. Video apps, together with TikTok and YouTube, command the best client spend.

Which messaging apps are hottest in 2025?

Whereas they aren’t conventional social media platforms, it’s inconceivable to speak about social media in 2025 with out discussing messaging apps.

As I see it, the rising recognition of messaging apps reveals that customers are sick of the algorithms and privateness considerations of huge platforms and are in search of smaller, extra direct settings to attach.

• WhatsApp Messenger was the third-most downloaded app worldwide, rating fourth for MAU and time spent. With 571 billion MAU, it’s the second fastest-growing app by time spent, with 112% search development over 5 years.
• Telegram, now with 900 million MAU, ranks ninth on the earth for international app downloads and tenth for whole time spent. In keeping with SEMrush, Telegram’s five-year search development has grown 367%.
• Fb Messenger, with 1.01 billion MAU, was the ninth hottest app for whole time spent.
• Newcomer Google Messenger is the second fastest-growing cell app by MAU.
• China’s WeChat is the fourth-most common social app on the earth, with 1.38 billion MAU.
• Japanese messaging app Line has grown to 178 million MAU, with a excessive every day open fee of 64.2% and virtually seven hours a month spent on the app.

With that, let’s take a deeper dive into the fastest-growing social media platforms of 2025.

Breakout Stars: The Quickest Rising Social Media Platforms of 2025

So, which apps grew probably the most between 2024 and 2025? Whereas these 5 apps is probably not the most important, they’re seeing explosive development. Each manufacturers and legacy apps ought to control these breakout stars in 2025.

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1. Threads

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In keeping with the newest knowledge, Threads is the fastest-growing platform in 2025 by variety of customers and the second-highest by obtain development, with 322 million downloads in 2024. The Instagram-owned textual content app greater than doubled its person base from 2024 to 2025, from 130 million to 320 million customers.

What Manufacturers Ought to Know About Threads

Whereas customers are up, the info means that engagement on the platform is lagging. Folks report a every day open fee of 26.2%, with simply 39 minutes per thirty days spent on the platform. That’s 25 instances lower than Instagram customers spent utilizing the Instagram app, and seven.6 instances lower than X customers the X app throughout the identical interval.

Getting Began:  Use Threads and What to Publish

2. TikTok

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TikTok was probably the most downloaded app globally in 2025, with 773 million downloads. Progress metrics from DataReportal present that TikTok had the fourth-highest MAU development and the best improve in time spent on the platform in 2025. These enormous numbers don’t even embrace Douyin, TikTok’s Chinese language model.

Customers flock to TikTok for movies and leisure, whether or not that’s parodies, challenges, skits, or commentary on popular culture.

What Manufacturers Ought to Know About TikTok

Authorized challenges within the U.S. increase critical pink flags about whether or not manufacturers ought to proceed to take a position their time and power into growing a following on the platform. About half of manufacturers at the moment use TikTok and lots of plan to extend their investments this yr, however the long-term sustainability of the platform is unsure.

“TikTok isn’t lifeless but. But when your model has an viewers on a platform like TikTok, that may be a little bit in flux,” advises Emily Brungard, Senior Progress Advertising and marketing Supervisor for Rossman Media.

“Lots of people are realizing that they want a backup. Platforms like YouTube will not be new, however they‘re constructing so many instruments for short-form video. They’re seeing what’s engaged on TikTok and adapting that so persons are prepared to spend extra time on YouTube. I really feel like YouTube’s a no brainer for manufacturers.”

Getting Began:

3. Reddit

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Reddit will flip 20 in 2025, nevertheless it’s experiencing a development spurt.

Reddit acquired 27% extra lively customers from 2024 to 2025, with five-year search development up 140% in keeping with SEMrush. With excessive visibility in search outcomes, it’s no shock that Reddit has captured customers’ consideration with its forum-style discussions.

Reddit is the sixth most visited web site on the earth in 2025, with visitors rising 14.7% between August 2024 and January 2025 — topping six billion month-to-month visits. Two-thirds of customers entry Reddit from their cellphones. Virtually one in three customers open the app every day, spending practically three hours a month on the platform.

What Manufacturers Ought to Know About Reddit

21% of B2C manufacturers and 19% of B2B manufacturers use Reddit to achieve clients. However if you wish to be part of, be suggested that customers aren’t at all times open to manufacturers butting into their conversations. Be ready to construct belief and be useful and clear.

“If you are able to do it proper, if you are able to do it naturally, and never in a brilliant salesy approach however as a substitute listening and clear, I feel that is an fascinating strategy for manufacturers,” says Brungard.

Getting Began:

4. Tumblr

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Tumblr, launched in 2007, is a microblogging web site the place customers can share textual content and multimedia posts. It’s grown 17.9% since 2024, with 612 million stay micro-blogs. Its customers — of which 48% are Gen Z — say they use the platform to seek out entertaining content material (28%) and sustain with information/cultural tendencies (28%).

So, 18 years in, how is it nonetheless going so sturdy?

I feel Tumblr is so common as a result of it’s a community-based platform. You’re virtually 100% assured to seek out individuals who share your similar pursuits, and to have the ability to fill your feed with content material that solely speaks to your pursuits.

It’s additionally a personality-driven platform, which provides customers the benefit of feeling like they are often themselves, particularly in the event that they’re closely concerned within the communities they’re most fascinated with.

What Manufacturers Ought to Know About Tumblr

Tumblr is actually fandom central— a judgment-free zone for folks to seek out their folks. Folks like Tumblr as a result of it’s extra peaceable than different platforms. Photographs, GIFs, and storytelling or community-based content material do nicely on the platform. Only one in 10 manufacturers is lively on Tumblr, so the platform may be a possibility to face out in case your viewers hangs on the market.

Getting Began: A Dialog with Tumblr: How To Construct a Sturdy, Related Group

5. Bluesky Social

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Bluesky Social is a more recent platform that bears a putting resemblance to the outdated Twitter. Many customers are drawn to Bluesky as an alternative choice to X in the event that they’re looking for much less toxicity, extra privateness, and decentralized, curated communities the place real conversations thrive.

Bluesky began 2025 with 27.44 million MAU. Which will look like a drop within the bucket in comparison with bigger platforms, however examine that to the ten million customers the app had in September 2024. That’s an unbelievable 174% development in simply 5 months.

Bluesky clocks in on the fourth fastest-growing app by downloads in 2025.

What Manufacturers Ought to Know About Bluesky Social

The app presents a novel alternative for manufacturers to attach authentically with smaller, engaged communities. The platform’s customizable algorithms make it simpler to focus on particular audiences, whereas options like customized domains for verification assist construct belief.

Like on Reddit, Bluesky customers are inclined to have a knee-jerk response to overtly branded content material.

“With platforms like Bluesky and Mastodon, I’m seeing a push away from model social like within the early days of Fb and Instagram,” says Brungard. “Proper now, Bluesky is for the folks, not for the manufacturers.”

“I feel manufacturers simply ought to proceed with warning in the event that they do resolve to hitch, however social media managers and advertising professionals ought to undoubtedly be on the platforms no less than observing. That’s what it comes all the way down to: simply watch and be taught,” she provides.

Getting Began: Bluesky is Now Open to the Public. Ought to what you are promoting be there? [Expert Interview]

Now that we’ve coated a few of the fastest-growing social media platforms, listed here are those slowing down in 2025.

Which social media platforms are dropping steam?

In 2024, we reported Lemon8 as our fastest-growing social media platform. In 2025, Lemon8 merely isn’t part of the discourse on prime social media platforms and has misplaced vital visitors.

Whereas YouTube, Fb, and Instagram are nonetheless gaining customers, their share development stays within the low single digits.

Select the Proper Social Media Platforms

85% of entrepreneurs agree that constructing an lively on-line neighborhood is essential. After digging into the info and listening to from social media consultants, I’m satisfied that the social media panorama is extra fluid and altering than ever.

Whereas giants like YouTube and Fb nonetheless command huge audiences, their development is slowing, and newer platforms like Threads, Bluesky, and even messaging apps are choosing up velocity.

As a marketer, it’s tempting to chase each new platform that makes headlines. However what I’ve realized is that it’s much less about being in all places and extra concerning the content material high quality and realizing your viewers.

Contemplate first which platforms your viewers makes use of most. Then ask your self which platforms you’ll be comfy utilizing and creating content material for. In case you aren’t comfy in entrance of the digicam making movies, then TikTok and Snapchat probably aren’t for you.

Listed below are a couple of ideas for entrepreneurs selecting the place to take a position their time and advert cash in 2025.

• In case you’re constructing an viewers from scratch, begin small with three platforms the place you possibly can execute platform-specific content material methods. Mature manufacturers can scale as much as six or seven platforms.
• Manufacturers needs to be lively on no less than one of many prime three platforms: YouTube, Fb, or Instagram.
• Use a mixture of paid and natural posts to construct an viewers.
• Select no less than one platform for a video technique: YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok are good decisions.
• Analysis no less than one rising platform the place your viewers spends time to put money into.
• Contemplate methods to leverage messaging apps for customer support or different makes use of.

Finally, staying forward in 2025 means staying curious. I’ll hold experimenting, testing, and checking the info to see the place issues are headed — and I hope this breakdown helped you are feeling somewhat extra outfitted to do the identical.

For much more social media insights, I like to recommend diving into the 2025 State of Social Media reporting or these different useful sources:

Take a look at our 2025 Social Media Developments Report at no cost under.

Editor’s word: This put up was initially printed in March 2023 and has been up to date for comprehensiveness.