Top 16 Social Media Platforms You Should Try in 2024
Social media platforms come and go -- but which are the most popular ones in 2024? And, most importantly, which one's right for you?
Updated December 11, 2023.
Yet, simply having a social media account isn’t enough.
To succeed in today’s competitive market, it’s important to build a go-to-market strategy that aligns with your business goals and leverages the power of social media marketing along with other s2trategic tools, such as email marketing. Start-ups must have a powerful online presence to be known and reach customers.
In this article, we’ll look at the top 16 social media platforms you should try in 2024 and explore how you can effectively use them to grow your eCommerce business.
Without further ado, let’s dive in.
Top 16 Social Media Platforms Compared
There are a lot of factors that go into deciding which social media platforms are worth your attention -- and which aren’t. For this top, we looked at monthly users as the main criterion, but we also dove a bit into the main audience each platform attracts and the main features that make each channel special.
Here’s what we found out.
Facebook - 2.9 billion monthly active users
Company: Meta
Country: United States
Year launched: 2004
With a staggering 2.9 billion monthly active users, Facebook is the most popular social media platform. The social media giant has come far from its humble beginnings as a college networking site. Today, it’s a global phenomenon, connecting people from all walks of life.
Who uses Facebook?
Adults of all ages and backgrounds use Facebook, with 70.8% of users aged between 18 and 44. However, as of January 2023, the largest audience on Facebook consists of men between the ages of 25 and 34 – or around 17.6% of global users.
What kind of content should I post on Facebook?
Facebook users watch an average of 100 million hours of video every day. Whether it’s a funny clip, a how-to tutorial, or a heartwarming story, videos have the power to capture and keep attention. But there are a ton of other formats you should test for your Facebook posts - carousels, stories, polls, and more.
Get the most out of Facebook for your business by pre-planning your posts with the scheduling tool and monitoring Insights for post engagement and reach. Social media advertising with Facebook ads can also help you reach a wider audience and promote your content.
WhatsApp - 2 billion monthly active users
Company: Meta
Country: United States
Year launched: 2009
WhatsApp is a popular messaging app worldwide, especially in countries like India and Brazil. The platform allows users to send text and voice messages and make voice and video calls for free.
Who uses WhatsApp?
The platform’s user base is diverse, with people of all ages and backgrounds using it to stay connected. WhatsApp is popular among younger users, with 26% of users aged 26-35 and 20% of those aged 36-45 using the app regularly.
What kind of content should I post on WhatsApp?
Most people use the platform for messaging and communication, so content shared on WhatsApp is often more personal than on other social media platforms.
To optimize your experience, use WhatsApp for Business to spark conversations through personalized messages. Whether it’s a birthday message, a holiday greeting, or just a simple “thinking of you” note, personalized messages can help foster a sense of connection.
Keep in touch with customers easily by creating specific groups to stay connected with multiple audience segments or using the broadcast feature to send messages to multiple contacts.
YouTube - 2.2 billion monthly active users
Company: Alphabet
Country: United States
Year launched: 2005
YouTube is a video-sharing platform for businesses, creators, and influencers looking to create engaging video content to reach their audience.
Who uses YouTube?
The platform’s user base is diverse, with people of all ages and backgrounds using it to watch and share videos. YouTube is popular with a younger audience, with 52.4% of users aged 18-44 using the app regularly.
What kind of content should I post on YouTube?
With YouTube content, the possibilities are endless. Educational or how-to videos are in demand as they give viewers something useful and establish you as an expert in your field.
Entertaining videos can also generate more engagement and shares. But if neither option suits your business, you can share vlogs or personal stories to establish deeper connections with your viewers.
A good social media manager can also help you collaborate with other creators or businesses in your niche to expand your reach and generate quality content.
Instagram - 2 billion monthly active users
Company: Meta
Country: United States
Year launched: 2010
Instagram is one of the most widely used social media platforms for sharing photos and videos with followers.
Who uses Instagram?
Most Instagram users (31.7%) are between 25-34 years old, followed by users aged 18-24. Older adults are less likely to be users – only 5.8% of users are over 55.
What kind of content should I post on Instagram?
For Instagram, visual appeal is key. Whether showcasing your products, sharing inspirational or motivational content, or taking followers behind the scenes, aesthetically pleasing photos and videos can go a long way toward helping you establish a strong visual identity, build a sense of authenticity with your audience, and attract more followers.
If you want to expand your reach on Instagram, ask your social media manager to set up either a Creator or Professional account for your business – the platform has several options for paid social media ads to increase your reach.
TikTok - 1 billion monthly active users
Company: ByteDance
Country: China
Year launched: 2016
The hugely popular TikTok app allows users to create and share short videos, often set to music.
Who uses TikTok?
The platform is popular with a younger audience, with 92.4% of its users aged between 13 and 34.
What kind of content should I post on TikTok?
TikTok is all about creative, entertaining, and engaging short-form video content. Aside from interacting with your audience through the latest dance challenges or lip-syncing videos, educational or how-to videos do well on the platform – for example, cooking demonstrations or a DIY project using your product.
Using the app to connect with like-minded collaborators will also help you get more out of your business’s social media budget.
Telegram - 500 million monthly active users
Company: Telegram
Country: Dubai
Year launched: 2013
Telegram is another popular messaging app that has taken the world by storm. The app offers many features that make it ideal for businesses – for example, end-to-end encryption for all messages, so only the sender and recipient can read them.
Who uses Telegram?
Telegram is popular in countries like Iran and Russia because of its focus on privacy and security.
What kind of content should I post on Telegram?
Channels and groups are a big part of the Telegram experience, with up to 200,000 members allowed in a single group. Creating or joining groups related to your industry or niche can be a great way to connect with and share relevant content with a wide audience.
Snapchat - 538 million monthly active users
Company: Snap
Country: United States
Year launched: 2011
Snapchat allows users to send pictures and videos that automatically self-destruct after a few seconds, making them perfect for sharing private moments. The app also has various fun features, including filters and lenses. So there are a ton of fun features and ad types for Snapchat marketers to play around with.
Who uses Snapchat?
Like TikTok, Snapchat is most popular with a younger audience. At least 48% of the platform’s user base are teenagers and young adults between 15 and 25 years old.
What kind of content should I post on Snapchat?
Using Snaps that vanish in a few seconds can create a sense of urgency which will cause followers to take action. Take advantage of this opportunity and offer special time-sensitive deals and promotions.
To leverage this platform and engage your followers, make sure to encourage to create and share their own Snaps using branded filters or hashtags, and repost these for better engagement. Snapchat Ads are gaining ground so make sure to test those out as well.
Pinterest - 444 million monthly active users
Company: Pinterest
Country: United States
Year launched: 2009
Pinterest focuses on visual content, allowing users to discover and save ideas for various projects and interests – it’s a go-to platform for inspiration and creativity.
Who uses Pinterest?
80% of millennial women use the platform as a search engine, with women making up 77.1% of all Pinterest users.
What kind of content should I post on Pinterest?
Pinterest is ideal for searchable content, including DIY inspiration and tutorials, infographics on complex topics or data, inspirational quotes, and wallpaper graphics.
To optimize your Business Pinterest account:
- Create boards that reflect your niche or brand.
- Use keywords in your board titles and descriptions to make them more discoverable.
- Pin high-quality images and videos for your products to drive sales and traffic.
- Engage with other users by commenting on their pins and following their boards.
Want to grow your Pinterest account? Check out our list of the top Pinterest growth agencies.
Twitter - 217 million monthly active users
Company: Twitter
Country: United States
Year launched: 2006
Twitter is a popular platform for news, entertainment, and personal expression. The site allows users to share short 240-character messages, or “tweets,” with their followers.
Who uses Twitter?
The platform’s user base is diverse, with users from around the world and from various backgrounds. Most Twitter users are between 18 and 49, with a higher concentration in the 25-34 age range.
What kind of content should I post on Twitter?
Twitter is known for its real-time updates and breaking news coverage. If you want to establish yourself as an authority in your industry or niche, sharing timely news and insights can effectively build your following.
Although primarily a text-based platform, high-quality visuals like images and videos can help your tweets stand out in users’ feeds. Make sure you use relevant hashtags to increase visibility and engage with other users by responding to their tweets, retweeting their content, and participating in relevant Twitter chats.
Reddit - 430 million monthly active users
Company: Reddit
Country: United States
Year launched: 2005
Reddit has various communities (or subreddits) covering various topics and interests.
Who uses Reddit?
At least 23% of male adults in the U.S. are Reddit users. The platform’s user base is younger, with 58% of users falling between 18 and 49.
What kind of content should I post on Reddit?
One unique aspect of Reddit is its focus on user-generated content and discussion. Users can submit posts and engage in conversations with others through comments and upvotes/downvotes, which creates a sense of community.
To use Reddit for business, find relevant subreddits to join and engage with other users in your niche – but avoid excessive self-promotion and focus on providing value to the community through informative posts and helpful comments. You can also participate in AMA (Ask Me Anything) sessions to establish your business as an industry authority.
Quora - 300 million monthly active users
Company: Quora
Country: United States
Year launched: 2009
Quora is a question-and-answer platform known for its diverse range of discussion topics and the ability to connect users with experts and professionals in various fields. Users can submit questions, receive answers from other users, and upvote or downvote responses based on quality.
Who uses Quora?
Most Quora users are male, with men making up 61.4% of all users. In terms of age, the platform’s user base leans heavily toward a younger crowd, with 77.9% of users between 18 and 44.
What kind of content should I post on Quora?
It’s important to focus on creating informative content and asking thoughtfully crafted questions to spark meaningful discussions since Quora runs on high-quality answers to user questions.
Quora users appreciate detailed, well-researched answers that comprehensively overview a topic. This comprehensive output could mean compiling the best resources or tools in your industry, providing thoughtful analysis or insights into industry trends or news, or providing step-by-step instructions or helpful tips.
Sharing personal stories can also help humanize your brand and make you more relatable to your audience. Just be sure to keep things relevant to the question!
Skype - 300 million monthly active users
Company: Microsoft
Country: Luxembourg
Year launched: 2003
Skype is a long-established video and voice calling platform. Businesses use Skype for remote meetings and collaboration. The platform’s features include video and voice calls, instant messaging, screen sharing, file sharing, calendar integration, and more.
Who uses Skype?
The Skype audience is diverse, with users of various ages and backgrounds. Recent statistics show at least 25% of the population from each age group (aside from those over 75) are Skype users.
What kind of content should I post on Skype?
Skype is primarily a communication platform, so your strategy should focus on connecting with others. Skype is a great way to stay in touch with prospects and clients by sharing personal updates and starting conversations to keep your relationships active.
LinkedIn - 250 million monthly active users
Company: Microsoft
Country: United States
Year launched: 2003
LinkedIn is a professional social networking platform known for its focus on career development, job searching, recruitment, and professional networking. The platform’s features include job postings, company pages, professional profiles, groups, and more.
Who uses LinkedIn?
The LinkedIn audience primarily includes professionals, job seekers, and recruiters, with 60% of users aged 25 to 34.
What kind of content should I post on LinkedIn?
LinkedIn is primarily for professional networking and career development, so informative, educational, and industry-related content performs best. Visual content like infographics and videos are a great addition, especially if it offers valuable insights.
To use LinkedIn effectively for business:
- Connect with others in your industry or field to expand your network and stay up-to-date on industry news and trends.
- Join relevant groups to engage in discussions with other professionals in your niche and share your expertise.
- Share news articles or thought pieces related to your industry
- Celebrate professional milestones such as promotions, awards, or completed projects to showcase your skills and accomplishments.
Viber - 250 million monthly active users
Company: Rakuten
Country: Japan
Year launched: 2001
Viber is a messaging and calling app available on desktop and mobile devices. Businesses use the app for customer support and marketing purposes. The app’s features include free messaging and calling, group chats, stickers, games, and more.
Who uses Viber?
Most of Viber’s user base is outside the U.S., as the app is popular in Eastern Europe, Russia, and the Middle East.
What kind of content should I post on Viber?
Like WhatsApp and Telegram, Viber is primarily a messaging and calling app, so the content that performs best on it applies to the customer experience. For example, sending promotional messages to opted-in customers, providing customer support through messaging or voice calls, or sharing event details and business updates.
Discord - 154 million monthly active users
Company: Discord
Country: United States
Year launched: 2015
Discord is a popular communication platform mainly used by gaming communities. However, it’s also gained popularity among other niche communities like artists, writers, and musicians. Discord offers a range of features, like voice chat, video calling, text messaging, file sharing, and screen sharing. You can use the platform to create servers for specific topics to connect and communicate with your community.
Who uses Discord?
Discord’s audience is predominantly young, with most users (around 64.2%) between 16 and 34. Over 65% of Discord users are men.
What kind of content should I post on Discord?
The platform is better for real-time conversations rather than scheduled posts. Perform live demonstrations or host Q&A sessions in your niche community.
Twitch - 150 million monthly active users
Company: Amazon
Country: United States
Year launched: 2011
Twitch is a live streaming platform. Like Discord, gaming communities originally used twitch for live matches, and other niches have since co-opted it.
Who uses Twitch?
At 72% of the user base, most of Twitch’s audience is between 16 and 34. It’s also male-dominated, with men making up 78.4% of all users.
What kind of content should I post on Twitch?
Users mainly use Twitch to watch live streams and have real-time interactions with streamers. Engage with your audience through chat rooms or by responding to comments during live streams. Afterward, use Twitch’s analytics tools to track your performance and make informed decisions about your content strategy. The key to success on the platform is showing up consistently and fostering a sense of community around your channel.
How to choose the right platform for your business
You don’t have to be on all the socials. In fact, choosing the right social media platforms is a crucial part of your go-to-market strategy for eCommerce marketing.
As part of your overall marketing strategy, consider which platforms have the features most important to your business and analyze how successful your competitors are on those platforms. Then, once you’ve selected a platform, use analytics tools to track what content resonates best with your audience and adjust your approach as needed.
Each social media platform has unique features you and your social media agency can leverage for different parts of your marketing strategy. For example, Facebook offers robust ad retargeting options, while Instagram will allow you to add a custom lead collection button to capture email addresses. When combined, you can verify those emails and add clean data to your CRM to continue the marketing conversation with prospects.
Recap
Social media is a powerful marketing tool that can help you connect with your customers on a deeper level, build brand loyalty, and grow your business.
This guide covers the strengths and opportunities of the top 16 social media platforms to help you decide which suits your business needs best. Ultimately, however, the best platforms for you will depend on your specific audience’s needs and goals.
Our easy-to-use platform can help you find the perfect social media consultant to help take your marketing efforts to the next level, with proven experience in your niche and the right social media skills for your marketing strategy.
Get in touch with us to get started.
Social Media Platforms: FAQs
What are the top 10 social platforms?
Ranked by monthly active users, the top 10 social platforms are:
- Facebook – 2.9 billion monthly active users
- YouTube – 2.2 billion monthly active users
- Instagram – 2 billion monthly active users
- WhatsApp – 2 billion monthly active users
- TikTok – 1 billion monthly active users
- Snapchat – 538 million monthly active users
- Telegram – 500 million monthly active users
- Pinterest – 444 million monthly active users
- Reddit – 430 million monthly active users
- Skype – 300 million monthly active users
What are the six types of social media platforms?
The six types of social media platforms include traditional social networking sites (e.g., Facebook or LinkedIn), review sites (e.g., Trustpilot), community blogs (e.g., Tumblr or Medium), media sharing networks (e.g., YouTube or Instagram), discussion forums (e.g., Reddit), and content curation networks (e.g., Pinterest).
What are the two best social media platforms?
According to their monthly active users, the two best social media platforms are Facebook and YouTube, with 2.9 billion active users and 2.2 billion active users, respectively.
What social media platform is most popular in the USA?
Based on recent statistics around active users, Facebook is the USA's most popular social media platform.
What is the hottest social media platform?
According to the latest stats, Facebook still holds the crown of being the hottest social media platform in 2024, with 2.9 billion monthly active users.
FAQs
What are the top 10 social platforms?
Ranked by monthly active users, the top 10 social platforms are:
- Facebook – 2.9 billion monthly active users
- YouTube – 2.2 billion monthly active users
- Instagram – 2 billion monthly active users
- WhatsApp – 2 billion monthly active users
- TikTok – 1 billion monthly active users
- Snapchat – 538 million monthly active users
- Telegram – 500 million monthly active users
- Pinterest – 444 million monthly active users
- Reddit – 430 million monthly active users
- Skype – 300 million monthly active users
What are the six types of social media platforms?
The six types of social media platforms include traditional social networking sites (e.g., Facebook or LinkedIn), review sites (e.g., Trustpilot), community blogs (e.g., Tumblr or Medium), media sharing networks (e.g., YouTube or Instagram), discussion forums (e.g., Reddit), and content curation networks (e.g., Pinterest).
What are the two best social media platforms?
According to their monthly active users, the two best social media platforms are Facebook and YouTube, with 2.9 billion active users and 2.2 billion active users, respectively.
What social media platform is most popular in the USA?
Based on recent statistics around active users, Facebook is the USA's most popular social media platform.
What is the hottest social media platform?
According to the latest stats, Facebook still holds the crown of being the hottest social media platform in 2023, with 2.9 billion monthly active users.
