34 Frightening Social Media Addiction Statistics to Share Online

Social media platforms have exploded in popularity over the last 15 years and serve as a great tool to stay updated with friends, family, and even colleagues. Popular sites such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat are becoming so pervasive in people’s lives that they support and encourage a vibrant and unique online culture.

Social media addiction statistics show that more and more users are having a hard time logging off, however, creating a growing concern about the dark side of posting, sharing, and getting ‘likes.’

Addictive behavior starts slowly and gradually invades every aspect of the user’s life, disrupting interpersonal relationships, causing low self-esteem, moodiness, and much more. From teens to middle-aged housewives, social media has a pull that is hard to ignore.

Social Media Statistics 

With the onset of social media in 2005, no one thought it would turn into a centerpiece of modern life. Billions of people actively use social media today, with the majority of people in the world having at least one account. Now, asking the question, “do you have Facebook?” is even more common than asking for someone’s number. 

1. 57.6% of the world’s population has a social media account. 

Source: Smart Insights

Social media usage statistics show there are 4.88 billion active social media users, which accounts for 57.6% of the global population. Notably, 400 million new users have logged on in the last year alone. 

2. The annual growth rate of global social media users is 4.8%. 

DataReportal

Social networks have become so popular that there’s an annual growth of 4.8% in the number of users. With almost 600,000 new people joining platforms every day, social media is reaching almost every household in the world.

3.  A total of 55% of Americans say they’ll use their smartphones to check social media while driving.

Sources: The Realtime Report; Bankrate

Recent phone addiction statistics show that 55% of Americans will use their phones to check social media while driving. Distracted driving caused 3,142 deaths in 2019 and accounted for 8.7% of all fatal car crashes.

4. A total of 48.6% of people aged 16 to 64 use social media to keep in touch with friends and family.

Source: DataReportal

When it comes to the reasons people use social media, the crucial reason is keeping in touch with friends and family. According to social media addiction statistics, this is true for 48.6% of people aged 16 to 64. A total of 36.3% use social media to fill their spare time, and 35.2% use it to read the news. Despite common perception, only 20.7% follow influencers or celebrities. 

5. A total of 99% of social media users access social networks via smartphone.

Source: Smart Insights 

Social networks collaborated early with the onset of smartphones and applications. Today, every social platform has a smartphone app, and according to social media use stats, it’s the way almost all people prefer to access their social media accounts. 

6. The average social media user usually engages with 6.6 different social media platforms. 

Source: Backlinko

According to the latest data, the average social media user interacts with about 6.6 different social media platforms. The top six social networks include Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat, Pinterest, and LinkedIn. 

7. The average amount of time spent on social media daily is two hours and 24 minutes.

Source: Broadband Search

When it comes to statistics related to time spent on social media, the average user is logged in for about two hours and 24 minutes each day. Still, it varies across continents. People in South America spend the most time on social media, with three hours and 24 minutes, while those in Europe spend the least, with one hour and 15 minutes. 

8. More than 80% of users check social media for the latest news.

Source: Smart Insights

Social media has also influenced how people access information. According to the social media users stats, 82% of people use online media together with social networks to check on the latest news. Comparatively, 64% use television, 56% use just social media, and 24% read the news from print media. 

9. Millennials and Gen Z-ers have an average of 8.4 social media accounts.

Source: Backlinko

Social media, for most, isn’t a one-platform game. With each platform servicing a slightly different purpose, the average world user has at least four different accounts. Statistics on social media addiction show that for Millennials and Gen Zers, this number is 8.4. 

10. A total of 93.3% of internet users are on social media.

Source: Backlinko

93.33% of the 4.8 billion global internet users are on social media, and 85% of 5.27 billion active mobile phone users have a social platform application. Asia and Africa have the largest number of new social media accounts social media user demographics show, growing at 16.98% and 13.92% between 2019 and 2020. 

11. A total of 240 million people in the US use social media. 

Source: Backlinko

While social media is a worldwide phenomenon, the uptake varies per country. When it comes to the US, 72.3% of the total population uses social media. That’s about 240 million Americans who are active on social platforms. 

Youth and Social Media Statistics 

The panic over young people and how much time they spend using screens is growing. Teen mental health and its link to the number of hours spent not just on a screen, but on social media explicitly is of great concern. Some teens report spending more than nine hours a day on social media and can’t imagine a life without it.

12. About 21% of 8 to 11-year-olds in the UK have a social media profile. 

Sources: Smart Insights; The Guardian

Social media isn’t just accessed by teens. Already one-fifth of children aged 8 to 11 have a social media account. Based on recent teen social media statistics, about 74% of children in this age group also watch YouTube for around 10 hours a week. Social media use has been correlated with poor self-esteem not just in young people, but users in general. 

13. About 29% of US teens claim TikTok is their favorite social media platform. 

Sources: Startup Bonsai DataSeries

TikTok has quickly become the favorite social network for 29% of US teens, according to reports on the percentage of people who use social media. TikTok is the fastest-growing but also the most addictive platform out there. With fast content recommendations, the platform is designed to hold user attention for as long as possible. 

14. According to recent data, 90% of teens aged 13 to 17 have used social media, some spending up to nine hours per day online.

Source: AACAP

Around 90% of teens aged 13 to 17 have used social networks, teenage social media statistics show. The latest data also shows that 75% of teens report having at least one social network profile, and 51% claim they visit the sites at least once a day. The average teen user reports nine hours of browsing each day, not including school-related online tasks.

15. A total of 77% of parents and teens argue about smartphone use.

Sources: Bagby; ScienceDirect

Teenage social media addiction statistics show that 77% of parents argue with their children about excessive social media use. Parents notice the consequences of social media addiction, such as poor focus, disturbed sleep, and anxiety without the presence of their phones.

16. About 66% of the population suffers from nomophobia.

Source: SlickText

Nomophobia is defined as the feeling of unease when someone is separated from their phone and social media alerts. It’s most common among young adults, although statistics on the dangers of social media show that 66% of the general population suffers from this condition.

17. Four in ten young adults have trouble sleeping because of smartphone use.

Source: MentalUP

The latest data on smartphone and social media use shows that about 4 in 10 young adults have issues with sleep because of their smartphones. The dependence on social media is so strong that they have a hard time falling asleep.

18. About 10% of teens check their phones at least ten times each night. 

Source: Famemass

Social media addiction goes so far among 10% of teens that they check their phones ten times per night, social media obsession statistics show. Notably, 45% of all social media users check their phones at least once per night. 

19. About 27% of eighth-graders are more prone to depression because of social media use.

Sources: CompareCamp; Theatlantic

There are several downsides to social media overuse. Studies show that 27% of eighth-graders are more likely to become depressed due to platform use. Comparatively, children of the same age who play sports and participate in various other offline activities are less likely to feel depressed. 

Social Media Addiction Stats for Each Platform

All social media sites follow a similar formula, though each has its own unique purpose. Avid users all have their favorite one, despite how many accounts they might have. The question remains, however, whether some platforms are more addictive than others.  

20. Facebook is still the world’s most used social network.

Sources: Adobe; Healthline

According to studies on the percentage of people who use social media, there are 2.5 billion monthly users on Facebook, making it the largest social media platform in the world.

About 68% of Americans report being on Facebook, and 51% say they’re active on a daily basis, making Facebook a major source of information on citizens.

Some of the common signs of Facebook addiction are using the platform to escape problems or spending too much time on the site.

21. About 5% to 10% of Americans meet the criteria for social media addiction, and  Facebook is among the most addictive.

Source: Addiction Center

Facebook and social media addiction statistics show that 5% to 10% of Americans meet the criteria for social media addiction, with Facebook, Snapchat, and Instagram remaining the most addictive platforms.

22. More than two billion users log in to YouTube each month.

Sources: Startup Bonsai; NCBI

With two billion users logging in each month, YouTube is one of the most viewed websites in the world. YouTube is a unique platform when it comes to addiction, however, with content creation being reported as more addictive than just watching. 

23. With 340 million users, 13.5% of Twitter users are considered addicted. 

Sources: Startup Bonsai; Psychology Today; Springer

According to stats on internet addiction, estimates show there are 340 million Twitter users, and they send up to 6,000 tweets per second, or 500 million tweets daily. Twitter’s bit-size statements and worldwide public-form design have been shown to be incredibly addictive, with almost 15% of users exhibiting addictive symptoms. 

24. There are one billion active Instagram users. 

Sources: Statista; Healthline

Instagram is another famous social media platform with about one billion active users. Today, Instagram Stories are reported to be the most addictive content on the platform, regularly on loop and always providing new content.

25. Daily active Instagram Stories users reached 500 million in 2019.

Source: Oberlo

Instagram addiction statistics show that its number of daily active Stories users reached 500 million in 2019. Based on the data, Stories are a crucial way in which Instagram users build their following and are especially important for influencers. 

26. The number of TikTok users is expected to surpass 1.2 billion.

Sources: Startup Bonsai; WallarooMedia

TikTok is a newer social network that is particularly popular among teens. In 2020, TikTok saw 800 million active users, and this number is soon expected to surpass 1.2 billion. Until now, it’s already been downloaded two billion times, and users spend about 52 minutes on it daily.

Shocking Facts About Social Media

One of the biggest arguments supporting the negative impact of social media on the human brain and behavior is the way that people respond to it. While many turn to social media to receive a much-desired dopamine rush, not receiving the expected outcome can cause distress. 

27. A low number of likes affects 11% to 43% of social media users in the US. 

Source: CompareCamp

According to technology dependence statistics, when people share an image or something they like on social media, they expect some likes in return. The more likes received, studies show the bigger the dopamine release. Notably, 11% to 43% of Americans feel bad when they receive few likes on a post.

28. Americans are so addicted to Facebook that 30% of them check the network while driving.  

Source: The Realtime Report

Some can’t leave their phones even while driving. The facts about the dangers of social media show that 30% of Americans admit checking their Facebook profile while holding the wheel. 20% reported looking at Instagram, and 17% were busy with Snapchat. 

29. About 73% of people sleep next to their phones.

Source: FameMass

Phones have become so important that 73% of people sleep next to them or keep them under their pillow. This habit can cause sleep disturbances and mental health issues. A further 63% of people admit checking their phone right after they wake up, according to social media dependency statistics.

30. If adolescents spend more than three hours on social media, they’re at higher risk of mental health issues.

Source: Etactics

Teens and younger children are at higher risk of certain mental health issues if they spend more than three hours a day on social media. About 13% of children aged 12 to 17 report having depression, and 32% report anxiety. 

31. About 59% of US teens experience cyberbullying.

Sources: Pew Research; Security

Statistics on the dangers of social media show that 59% of US teens have experienced at least one type of cyberbullying, but that doesn’t change their desire to use the platforms. The most common type is name-calling, with 42% of teens reporting being called offensive names, and 16% have also been a target of physical threats online. 

32. Kids on YouTube are most likely to be cyberbullied. 

Source: Security

Some social networks bring a higher risk of cyberbullying. For example, 79% of kids are likely to be bullied on YouTube, 69% on Snapchat, and 64% on TikTok, negative social media statistics show. In addition, the impact of online bullying makes 15% of kids feel afraid.

33. Americans spent 1,300 hours on social media in 2020.

Source: Forbes

In 2020, American social media users spent 1,300 hours on various platforms. Facebook was the leader, with users spending 58 minutes on the platform daily. Instagram was the second most used platform with 53 average daily minutes. 

34. Reducing time on social media to 30 minutes per day greatly reduces depressive symptoms, anxiety, and improves self-esteem.

Source: HelpGuide

While it may seem like a long shot for many, social media addiction research shows that using social media responsibly requires scrolling your favorite platform for less than 30 minutes a day. Other suggestions for combatting addictive use are deleting applications on your phone, turning off your phone at certain times of day, not taking it to bed, and turning off notifications. 

Conclusion 

Social media has been quickly adopted into the daily lives of more than half of the world’s population. In just 15 years, modern life turned from texting and meeting up with friends to scrolling constant updates and ever-new content. 

Social media addiction statistics show that these new methods of connecting are more compulsive than predicted. While children and teens remain the most concerning group for overuse of these platforms, it seems the general population, regardless of age, also has trouble putting their phones down and not ‘liking’ the latest posts. 

While Facebook remains the number one used and addictive platform in the world, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, and Twitter don’t fall far behind. Evidence shows that the best way to combat social media addiction is to limit use to just 30 minutes a day. Can you do it? 

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