In the world of social media, TikTok has emerged as the reigning champion. Recent data presented by the Atlas VPN team reveals that users are now dedicating more time to TikTok than any other social app. In 2022, the average user spent a staggering 23.5 hours (23 hours and 28 minutes) per month scrolling through TikTok, an increase of 3 hours and 51 minutes from the previous year, totaling nearly 282 hours per year. This marks the first time TikTok has surpassed YouTube in terms of time spent on social media. The app’s unique and captivating format has captivated millions of users worldwide, resulting in its soaring popularity.
It’s worth noting, however, that both TikTok and YouTube have been previously reported for their data tracking practices among social media apps. These findings are based on data from Meltwater and We Are Social, examining global monthly social media usage trends among Android users aged 16 to 64.
While YouTube remains the second most popular platform in terms of hours watched, with users spending approximately 23.1 hours (23 hours and 9 minutes) per month on the platform in 2022, a decrease of 32 minutes compared to the previous year. Facebook takes the third spot on the list, with users spending an average of 19.7 hours (19 hours and 43 minutes) per month on the platform, an increase of 8 minutes from the previous year.
WhatsApp, the instant messaging app, follows closely with users spending 17.3 hours (17 hours and 20 minutes) on the app, a decrease of 1 hour and 15 minutes from before. Instagram ranks fifth on the list, with users spending an average of 12 hours per month on the app, a 46-minute increase compared to 2021.
Other platforms that also consume a significant portion of users’ social media time include Line (10 hours and 59 minutes), Twitter (5 hours and 28 minutes), Telegram (3 hours and 57 minutes), Snapchat (3 hours and 10 minutes), and Facebook Messenger (3 hours and 7 minutes).
Overall, social media accounts for 38% of people’s online time, reflecting the increasing prominence of these platforms in our daily lives.
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