Gen Z Social Media Statistics By Usage and Facts (2026)

Introduction

Gen Z Social Media Statistics: In the year 2026, Generation Z (those born around 1997 to 2012) is sure to be the most digitally immersed generation ever. Social media was not just a part of their lives; they were literally soaked up through it. Furthermore, the way the young generation used social media made it one of the most studied and influential digital phenomena. Even the main characteristics of social media behaviour were shaped by this use.

Among different user groups, Gen Z’s social media patterns are very valuable and are the most important digital trends. This report delves into Gen Z social media usage statistics for 2025. As a result, you can change, communicate with, and profit from the upcoming consumer group.

Editor’s Choice

1. In the U.S., TikTok is the most popular app among Gen Z, with its users skyrocketing from about 38 million in 2020 to almost 50 million by 2025.
2. Instagram is not far behind and is close to having 48 million Gen Z users thanks to its pivot to Reels, Stories, and social commerce.
3. Snapchat maintains its position among the top apps used by daily users, with almost 49.5 million Gen Z users. The main reason is the private, authentic communication it is known for.
4. YouTube is the most-used app among Gen Z, though 78% use it regularly.
5. Social media is not something only a few people do; 35% of Gen Z reports spending over 4 hours per day on it.
6. The percentage of Gen Z who have daily usage of less than 1 hour is just 3%, indicating that light usage is becoming very rare.
7. Short-form video content is dominant on Gen Z’s social media; 81% prefer video to static images or text.
8. Videos that can loop and play sound have increased engagement among Gen Z by 42% compared to traditional formats.
9. TikTok leads with the highest engagement rate of 73%, making it a major platform.
10. Community-driven platforms are flourishing, as evidenced by Discord’s 82% participation rate and 17% year-on-year increase in Reddit engagement.
11. Video watching is the favourite social media activity for over 72% of Gen Z.
12. The impact of social media on people’s purchasing habits is evident in the fact that social content is the driver of 77% of Gen Z purchases.

US Gen Z Social Media Usage Trends By Platform

(Source: eMarketer.com)

• According to the Emarketer report, the behavior of the Gen Z population on Social media usage in the U.S. from the year 2020 to 2025 reflects a clear shift towards video-first, creator-driven, and community-centric platforms.
• TikTok is the leading app, with user numbers rising from around 38 million in 2020 to close to 50 million by 2025.
• The combination of TikTok’s algorithmic discovery, short-video trend, and creator economy has transformed the app from a mere social platform into a cultural powerhouse.
• Instagram is also riding the same wave, growing from around 30 million users to over 48 million alongside the rapid changes in Reels, Stories, and social commerce, which are closely tied to Gen Z social media consumption.
• The gradual rise of Snapchat to approximately 49.5 million users underscores its enduring importance as a private and legitimate communication channel, cementing its place as a daily necessity rather than a trend-based network.
• Facebook has lost its position at the center of Gen Z social media identity, but it still achieves a very slow upward growth, which is being fed by Marketplace and community groups.
• Simultaneously, Pinterest and Reddit are attracting more users through topic- and interest-based discovery and niche communities, while X (Twitter) has a stable but limited rise driven by real-time conversations rather than mainstream interactions.

Gen Z Daily Social Media Usage Patterns

(Reference: sqmagazine.co.uk)

• According to the SQmagzine report, Gen Z’s social media use unmistakably reflects a profound digital commitment rather than mere superficial involvement.
• Just 3% of Gen Z users manage to stay under 1 hour of daily social media usage, which means light usage is becoming increasingly uncommon among this group.
• Moreover, an additional 6% deliberately limit their daily use to about 1 hour, indicating a small yet growing group striving for digital balance.
• Moderate usage patterns show that 17% of Gen Z users allocate around 2 hours daily to social media, whereas engagement rises significantly when the 1-hour limit is crossed.
• 3- and 4-hour daily usage is divided equally among 18% of users in each category, further reinforcing the idea that prolonged social media use is a normalised behaviour.
• Even more astonishing is the revelation that 35% of Gen Z users spend more than 4 hours on social media every day, indicating a deep dependence on Gen Z social media for communication, entertainment, and identity revelation.

Most Popular Gen Z Social Media Platform

(Source: simplebeen.com)

• Gen Z’s social media usage has unambiguously demonstrated a complete transition from classic networking sites to platforms with video as the primary mode of communication and heavy engagement.
• On data released by Opeepl, it is shown that YouTube has solidly claimed the spot of the leading site for Gen Z users, with the count of 78% of them actively spending time in the app, which also cements YouTube’s position as an entertainment center and a discovery engine.
• Instagram occupies the second position with 76%, and this is an insight that the platform is still very much in the picture amongst Gen Z social media users’ accounts, with the incorporation of visual storytelling, creator culture, and short video formats among the reasons for its continuing popularity.
• TikTok, registering 69% of its users as Gen Z, confirms the generation’s desire for lively, algorithm-driven content experiences, while Snapchat, with 43% of users, signifies the allure of brief, private social interactions, thus remaining attractive.
• On the other hand, users’ engagement with X and Facebook, which together claim 30% and 29% of Gen Z users, sharply falls off compared to younger-generation-approved platforms.
• Nevertheless, Pinterest has shown strong persistence, maintaining user engagement among 33% of Gen Z and positioning itself as a discovery-based rather than a traditional social network.

Gen Z Social Media Preferences – Video Content Vs. Static Posts

• Gen Z’s social media signature in 2025 points unquestionably to a major transition to quick, very engaging optical storytelling.
• The statistics show that 81% of Gen Z are now using short-form video as their favourite way of communication, which is supported by the fact that looping and sound-on formats are 42% ahead of traditional video in terms of popularity.
• On the other hand, static posts are on the way out, as they get fewer likes and shares, whereas live video interactions on TikTok and Instagram are still very much liked by 61% of Gen Z, especially when they participate in moments like Q&As and product demos.
• Gen Z social media has come to be characterized by authenticity as its primary currency, with lo-fi, user-generated content being twice as efficient as studio-produced brand videos.
• The meme-based compositions have also been felt, and the moveability has increased organic reach by 23%.
• Consumption patterns are interest-based: Gen Z males lean towards gaming and tech, while females lean towards wellness and fashion reels.
• The educational short-form content is gradually becoming a growth driver, growing 18% year over year and continuing to change the Gen Z social media engagement landscape.

Platform Engagement Rates For Gen Z Users

• Gen Z social media participation in 2025 reveals a clear-cutting of platforms, edged out by interaction depth and community relevance.
• TikTok is still at the top of the list when it comes to Gen Z social media behavior, registering the highest ever 73% engagement rate made up of the combination of algorithmic discovery and creator-led content.
• Instagram Reels still have a big say, but with a 51% engagement rate, their momentum has slightly weakened compared to 2024.
• YouTube Shorts have the young generation favouring them over long-form content, with a whopping 61% watch-through rate, mirroring users’ preference for succinct yet powerful videos.
• Discord has a participation rate of 82%, while Reddit’s engagement has increased by 17% annually as Gen Z is active in meme, finance, and technology communities.
• Snapchat maintains its relevance through high story open rates, but BeReal’s declining re-engagement suggests fatigue with the concept of static authenticity.
• Conversational engagement on new text-based platforms, such as Threads, is better than on older networks, indicating a shift in Gen Z’s expectations for the platforms they use.

Activities In Social Media That Are Most Favoured By Gen Z

(Reference: simplebeen.com)

• The chart above clearly shows that Gen Z primarily used Social Media for entertainment, interaction, and discovery rather than passive consumption.
• Video content takes the lead in the ecosystem, with 72% of Gen Z social media users deciding on their preferences based on video viewing, and Stories are the next choice, meeting their demand for evanescent, visually stimulating content.
• Communication was also an integral part of the Social Media experience for Gen Z; thus, liking, commenting, and direct messaging each captured more than half of users’ adoption, which served to strengthen the social media platforms’ communication hubs’ reputation over the broadcasting channels’.
• Live sessions and gaming activities are the main features that demonstrate the demand for real-time, participatory experiences among Gen Z, while feed browsing remains relevant, though not as much as interactive formats.
• Search-driven discovery and shopping behaviors indicate that users’ preference is turning towards social media platforms as substitutes for conventional search engines and online shops.
• The consumption of news and the participation of communities, although not as prominent, imply that Gen Z social media is becoming a multifunctional space where entertainment, information, and social connections are increasingly intertwined.

The Social Media’s Impact On The Buying Decisions Of Gen Z

• Over the years, Gen Z social media has undergone a metamorphosis, turning it into a decision engine for buying rather than just a channel for discovering products.
• A recent survey found that 77% of Gen Z made at least one purchase influenced by social platforms in the last six months, indicating how deeply commerce has permeated the daily scroll.
• TikTok has emerged as the most potent social media platform, with spontaneous trends and influencer reviews guiding the product discovery of over half of Gen Z users.
• Visual-first and experiential formats have a particularly strong impact on Gen Z’s social media ecosystems.
• Instagram Stories combined with in-app shopping tools are the main factors driving fashion and beauty purchases, whilst YouTube’s unboxing and review content has played a significant role in shaping buyers’ decisions in high-consideration categories such as electronics.
• The trust dynamics have changed, and Gen Z has now turned to peer comments and ratings instead of traditional advertising.
• Live commerce, AR try-ons, and buy-now-pay-later options are turning digital shoppers into impulse buyers faster than ever, suggesting that Gen Z social media is gradually eroding the distinctions between attracting attention, gaining approval, and making a purchase.

Mental Health And Social Media Use Among Gen Z

• Gen Z social media is a difficult mix, as it is, in turn, a big emotional problem and a major support factor.
• Almost 67% of Gen Z agree that their mental health is affected by social media, and the most frequent associations of negative self-perception of the younger users are with Instagram and TikTok due to their image-driven nature.
• A result of the unhealthy mental health effects from the use of social media, more and more Gen Z members are changing their habits by deliberately taking breaks from social media to avoid anxiety and get rid of the digital fatigue, which is not less than half of the user population.
• The surprising thing is that people see platforms focused on long-form or passive consumption, like Reddit and YouTube, as less stressful, suggesting a shift toward less demanding forms of interaction.
• Mental health issues are becoming more public, wellness hashtags are becoming more popular, and therapy-centred creators are getting a lot of engagement.
• The use of controls for screen time is increasingly appreciated, indicating a demand for balance rather than complete disengagement.

Conclusion

Gen Z Social Media in 2025 is still connected, but it has become an entire ecosystem with a strong influence on culture, commerce, and health. In this way, Gen Z is getting the most out of digital platforms. They are using them as they see fit. Along with the video-first way of consuming, creator-led communities, and commerce driven by social, mental health awareness is also rising among the younger generation. Consequently, the kids are making youth digital platforms increasingly in demand.

In the process of their improvement, the platforms will be able to win over users by combining fun, reliability, and emotional safety in the best way. For sure, the Social Media of Gen Z has given us a preview of what the digital world will be like. This future world is one in which technology is very personal, very powerful, and is always adapting to the values of its most connected generation.