A recent survey indicates that Alphabet's YouTube and Meta Platforms' Facebook maintain their leading positions in the United States' social media sphere. In contrast, platforms associated with Elon Musk and Donald Trump exhibit considerably lower engagement among American users. This pattern underscores the enduring influence of established giants in the digital communication space.
Alphabet's 2006 acquisition of YouTube for $1.65 billion stands out as one of the most successful business transactions in history. Today, the video-sharing platform generates over $35 billion in annual revenue and remains a cornerstone of American internet use. According to a Pew Research poll conducted in the first half of 2025, YouTube is the most utilized social media platform in the U.S., with a staggering 84% of respondents reporting regular use.
Following YouTube, Meta Platforms' offerings, Facebook and Instagram, secured the second and third spots, with 71% and 50% regular usage, respectively. WhatsApp, another Meta-owned application, ranked fifth with 32% of users. The comprehensive survey painted a clear picture of user preferences, with TikTok, Reddit, and X (formerly Twitter) falling behind the market leaders.
The poll also examined the performance of newer platforms for the first time. Threads, Bluesky, and Truth Social each garnered less than 10% regular usage among Americans. Threads, also a Meta product, showed limited traction, while Truth Social, primarily owned by Trump Media & Technology Group, struggled to attract a significant user base despite former President Trump's active presence.
Elon Musk's X, despite its prominence among investors and news consumers, reported less than 50% regular usage among Americans. This highlights a disconnect between perceived influence and broad user adoption. The survey further revealed generational differences in platform preferences, with younger demographics favoring Instagram and TikTok, while YouTube and Facebook maintained strong engagement across all age groups.
Truth Social's low engagement extended to its target demographic, with only 6% of Republicans or Republican-leaning individuals reporting regular use, placing it near the bottom of the rankings. This suggests that political affiliation alone does not guarantee widespread adoption for social media platforms. The findings emphasize the established dominance of YouTube and Facebook, which consistently demonstrate high user engagement across diverse demographics, unlike many of their newer or niche competitors.