The Biggest Social Media Platforms Today Are Massive

The landscape of social media is continuously changing as platforms compete in an exhilarating musical chairs game. Each year, the most important scoreboard in social media is rearranged because to the public’s ever-changing preferences, the appearance of new rivals, and developing global movements.

For those who follow the sector, these changes are undoubtedly fascinating. But for all of you astute digital marketers out there, they are also a complete game-changer. It is essential to be informed on the hottest social media platforms, regardless of your level of experience as a marketer.

You cannot afford, as a business owner, to pass on social media chances. You may interact with the appropriate people and achieve your social media goals by doing this.

Selecting the ideal social network for your brand is vital, though. Furthermore, this decision shouldn’t be made purely on a whim. Sure, a particular social media channel could feel appropriate for your brand, but think again before jumping in.

Keep in mind that having a strong brand does not need being active across all social media channels. Finding the correct one, though, makes a significant impact.

To make things easier, we looked into and gathered information about the main social media networks in 2023. We advise reading through this list to learn more about the social media sites that could benefit your brand.

#1: Facebook 2.96 billion MAUs

Facebook is without a doubt the king of social media because to its astounding 3 billion monthly users. That amounts to around 37% of the whole human population! The social media behemoth is responsible for drastically changing how people connect online.

More than 7 million advertisers use Facebook to spread the news, and almost 200 million businesses use its features. Since its debut in 2004, Facebook has grown at an incredible rate, despite some early challenges and recent controversies.

In just 10 months, they attracted a million subscribers; in just eight years, a billion. By March 2023, they had 2.74 billion users. However, it’s fascinating to note that every day, an extra 500,000 people—or six new users—sign up.

The fact that Facebook can support a wide range of content formats, including but not limited to text, images, videos, and tales, contributes to its user-friendliness. But keep in mind that, particularly among close friends and family, their algorithm encourages posts that promote genuine interaction and connection.

Although Facebook still has the greatest user base among Americans between the ages of 12 and 34, its dominance in this group is waning. In 2015, 58% of people claimed they favored Facebook, but by 2020, just 32% still did. The main culprit is Instagram, whose percentage of users in this age range increased from 15% to 27% over that time.

#2: YouTube 2.2 billion MAUs

Millions of people access YouTube every day to watch endless hours of video content. Even though anybody may see videos on YouTube without making an account, it can be challenging to determine the site’s genuine level of popularity.

YouTube started operating as a dating service in 2005. Its creators enticed women to contribute movies in which they describe their ideal relationships by advertising on Craigslist. After that failed, they made it possible for users to submit any video they wanted, which ultimately led to the financial success of Steve Chen, Chad Hurley, and Jawed Karim.

Only 16 months after its debut, in November 2006, Google spent $1.65 billion to acquire YouTube. YouTube is one of the few social media platforms that even the smallest kids use.

If you utilize videos to sell your business, you should also create a YouTube channel. Learn how to create a brand channel on YouTube to get started. If you want more people to find your videos, learn about YouTube’s SEO and take into account YouTube adverts.

#3: WhatsApp 2 billion MAUs

A few former Yahoo! workers founded WhatsApp in 2009 so that people in your address book might have their statuses displayed next to them. It quickly gained popularity. In fact, it was so well-liked that Facebook acquired it in 2014 for an astounding $16 billion, making the founders extremely wealthy.

It’s interesting to note that more than 180 nations now utilize WhatsApp. And what’s this? One of just three social networking sites that will have 2 billion users by 2020 is this one. With the last billion users arriving in just four years, that is some substantial growth. The use of WhatsApp as a personal messaging service evolved into its current function as a commercial communication platform, which increased its popularity.

Businesses of all sizes can access the platform’s services through the WhatsApp Business app and the WhatsApp Business API, which are two separate but related methods. These tools enable businesses to assist customers and update them on the status of their orders.

It’s true that brands may not immediately think of WhatsApp, but despite the fact that its messages have a 98% open rate compared to emails’ 20%, WhatsApp has a ton of untapped potential. Additionally, sending messages on WhatsApp is free, in contrast to SMS, making it an excellent tool for customer service and retention.

#4: Instagram 2 billion MAUs

Former Google employee Kevin Systrom developed the concept for Instagram in 2009 after seeing trends in the social media industry.Instagram is a fantastic platform for showcasing the goods and services your company offers, including pictures and videos.

On Instagram, you may publish anything, including photos, videos, Instagram Stories, highlight reels, live videos, and longer movies on IGTV.

With the assistance of his backers, Kevin expanded the app’s target market from whiskey and bourbon enthusiasts to a far larger one while incorporating cutting-edge image editing facilities and a friendlier environment than other photo-sharing websites.

Businesses now have the opportunity to set up Instagram business profiles, giving them access to detailed information on their postings and viewership.

Additionally, you have the option of scheduling your postings using third-party programs. You must realize that it’s a fantastic source for getting user-generated content because individuals are continuously submitting and tagging businesses in material.

In 2018 shoppable posts were added to Instagram, making it an even more desirable venue for online shopping. So let’s say your goal is to connect with persons under the age of 35. In that case, Instagram is a gold mine since 67% of users between the ages of 18 and 24 use it everyday, along with 67% of Generation Z users and 58% of Millennials.

#5: WeChat 1.26 billion MAUs

WeChat was launched in 2011 by Tencent, a major Chinese internet company, and it is quite great since it allows you to do a ton of things including text, video chat, pay for items, and play games. It is one of our top choices because of this!

WeChat originally served as a messaging service, much like WhatsApp and Messenger, but it has since evolved into a full-fledged platform. You can do a ton of other things on your phone than text and call, such as online shop, pay bills, purchase groceries, send money, book reservations, call cabs, and more.

WeChat is the go-to social networking platform in China and the rest of Asia. If you want to advertise your business in China, WeChat is a good alternative to more well-known social media sites like Facebook and Twitter.

WeChat Moments and the main WeChat account can both be used for advertising. By collaborating with one of the numerous WeChat-based influencers, your brand can gain access to millions of potential new customers in China.

#6: TikTok 1 billion MAUs

The very definition of an overnight sensation is TikTok. In 2017, the video-sharing app had an unexpected surge in popularity across the globe, with adoption rates that left competitors bawling into their keyboards. It was one of the fastest-growing apps and just surpassed Google as the most popular website.

With a large selection of available filters, sound effects, and music clips, TikTok users may create and share short films (15–60 seconds in duration). It’s also important to note that Pinterest, the second-most popular app in its category, has a shorter average session length than TikTok, which is approximately 11 minutes.

TikTok videos include a wide range of subjects, from lip sync matches and dancing contests to DIY projects and beauty tutorials. The average age of TikTok users in the US is merely 17.25, and youngsters who are particularly loyal to the app make up the majority of American viewers. As a result, you must be present on TikTok if you want to target a young audience.

#7: Sina Weibo 573 million MAUs

The platform Sina Weibo, sometimes known as Weibo, was launched by the Chinese technology company Sina Corporation in 2009. Weibo is the Chinese word for “microblog.”

Weibo users can interact with one another in real time, share material like images and videos, read up on trending topics, and use hashtags.

Sina Weibo has a younger audience than WeChat and offers more news and trending topics. Weibo is the social media site to use, according to The New York Times, if you want to go viral in China.

Businesses can build verified company accounts on Weibo in addition to personal profiles. They can communicate with customers and market their goods and services better as a result.

Which Social Media Platform to Use for Advertising?

The platforms you should choose will depend on your marketing objectives and the type of business you run. Of course, it involves more than just the size of the social media sites. You must think about if you, your business, and the social networking site are a suitable fit.

Does it fit your brand’s image? Does that social media platform have a use among your target market? How many social media channels can you manage at once?

Analyzing your campaign data and paying close attention to the campaigns you run can teach you a lot about the effectiveness of your marketing efforts. Keep in mind that not all of those apps will be functional for you.

For instance, despite its enormous user base, Facebook may not always be the best option for you or your company. Until you have a strong understanding of your target demographics, you might want to put it on hold. This enables you to successfully personalize your material to them.

Additionally, as Facebook learns from your leads, its targeted advertising may become ever more precise. However, it still needs a beginning list of individuals or groups to concentrate on.

Similar to this, Instagram can help you if you’re interested in influencer marketing. Instagram has emerged as a crucial platform for this kind of marketing thanks to its focus on visual content and the rising number of micro-influencers.

But keep in mind that Instagram, unlike Facebook, largely caters to businesses that sell to consumers. It could be difficult to market on Instagram and develop a loyal following if your company is more corporate and not focused on direct consumer sales.

Because of this, social media platforms are becoming very popular and have a lot of potential for operating effective marketing campaigns. The trick is choosing the appropriate platform. Additionally, keep in mind that you do not need to use every social media site.

Consider whether or not the users of the social media platforms you are considering are the ones who are most likely to be interested in your brand. Producing subpar content for a multitude of channels is preferable to focusing on two or three sites and mastering them.