04/17/2025 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 04/17/2025 04:10
Social media platforms are websites and/or apps that let you share content (like text, images, and videos) and interact with other users.
As a marketer, you can use social media platforms to increase brand awareness, engage target audiences, and gather valuable competitor insights.
This table lists the top 16 social media platforms in the world by monthly active users (MAUs), according to Statista data collected in February 2025:
Rank |
Social Media Platform |
MAUs (in millions) |
1 |
|
3,070 |
2 |
YouTube |
2,530 |
=3 |
|
2,000 |
=3 |
|
2,000 |
5 |
TikTok |
1,590 |
6 |
|
1,380 |
7 |
Telegram |
950 |
8 |
Messenger |
947 |
9 |
Snapchat |
850 |
10 |
Douyin |
766 |
11 |
Kuaishou |
714 |
12 |
|
606 |
13 |
|
599 |
14 |
X |
586 |
15 |
|
562 |
16 |
|
537 |
Keep reading to learn more about these social platforms and whether they're right for your social media marketing strategy.
1. Facebook
Leading markets*: United States, India, and Vietnam
Platform type: Social networking
Top demographic*: Female, 25-34
Best for: Engaging with local communities
Used by: Coca-Cola, Samsung, McDonald's
Facebook allows you to create a page for your business. Where you can post text, images, videos, events, and more.
It's one of the best social media platforms for reaching local communities. And for reaching older adults in the U.S., who use Facebook more than other platforms.
To get started, sign up through Meta Business Manager. Then:
For help improving and executing your Facebook strategy, use Semrush Social. The app allows you to schedule posts, track competitors, and analyze performance metrics.
2. YouTube
Leading markets*: United States, South Korea, and India
Platform type: Long-form and short-form video sharing
Top demographic*: Male, 25-34
Best for: Distributing educational, entertaining, or promotional long-form video content
Used by: Red Bull, Apple, Salesforce
YouTube is a video sharing platform that allows users to search for content and subscribe to their favorite channels.
Create your YouTube business channel to get started. Then:
You can monitor views, subscribers, and other metrics with the Social Tracker (part of Semrush Social). And use insights to guide your future strategy.
3. Instagram
Leading markets*: United States, India, and Brazil
Platform type: Photo and short-form video sharing
Top demographic*: Female, 25-34
Best for: Lifestyle, fashion, and visually driven brands targeting younger audiences
Used by: Nike, National Geographic, Fenty Beauty
Instagram is a social media platform where users share photos, carousels (multi-image stories), and reels (short videos).
The platform works well for sectors that rely heavily on visual appeal-like fashion, beauty, travel, food, and lifestyle. And Instagram is particularly good for reaching younger audiences.
Here are some tips for success:
With Semrush Social, you can schedule your Instagram posts, track important metrics, monitor your competitors, and more.
4. WhatsApp
Leading markets*: India, Brazil, and Mexico
Platform Type: Messaging
Top demographic*: Male, 18-24
Best for: Communicating with customers in Latin America, Europe, India, Africa, and/or the Middle East
Used by: Netflix, Emirates, TechRadar
WhatsApp is a messaging app that provides a direct and personal way to communicate with customers and prospects.
You can use the WhatsApp Business app or API to chat one-to-one with customers. Or create a WhatsApp channel to broadcast messages to your subscribers.
Here are some tips for marketing through the platform:
5. TikTok
Leading markets*: United States, Brazil, and Indonesia
Platform type: Short-form video sharing
Top demographic*: Female, 25-34
Best for: Brands aiming for viral marketing through creative and engaging short-form videos
Used by: Chipotle, Washington Post, Duolingo
TikTok is a social media platform where users create and share videos-mainly short-form videos.
The app uses powerful algorithms to tailor content to users' interests. Which means you can reach large audiences before you build a following.
Here are some tips for marketing on TikTok:
6. WeChat
Leading markets: China, Malaysia, and India (World Population Review)
Platform type: Messaging, social media, payments, and mini-programs
Top demographic*: Male, 18-24
Best for: Brands in China looking to integrate messaging, commerce, and customer engagement within one platform
Used by: Burberry, Starbucks, Dior
WeChat is a social media platform that combines messaging, social networking, and mobile payment services.
Here are some WeChat marketing tips:
7. Telegram
Leading markets*: Russia, India, and Ukraine
Platform type: Instant messaging
Top demographic*: Male, 18-24
Best for: Customer service and message broadcasting
Used by: Binance, New York Times, Trust Wallet
Telegram is a messaging app known for its end-to-end encryption (secure messaging) for secret chats.
It also allows users to create messages that self-destruct after a set period of time for certain chats.
For marketers, creating channels and posting in them can be an effective way to reach a large audience.
Plus, you can use Telegram for customer support, feedback collection, and more.
8. Messenger
Leading markets*: Philippines, United States, and Vietnam
Platform type: Instant messaging
Top demographic*: Male, 25-34
Best for: Brands that use Facebook and want to provide customer support to their followers
Used by: Sephora, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Lego
Messenger (commonly called Facebook Messenger) is a popular messaging app that allows users to send messages, share media, and make calls.
Here are some Messenger marketing tips:
9. Snapchat
Leading markets*: United States, India, and Saudi Arabia
Platform type: Multimedia messaging
Top demographic*: Male, 25-34
Best for: Brands targeting younger demographics with ephemeral content, augmented reality (AR) experiences, and interactive storytelling
Used by: Taco Bell, Gatorade, Jo Malone
Snapchat is an instant messaging app where users can share pictures and messages that disappear after a short period of time. It's most popular among Gen Zers and millennials.
The platform offers many advertising options. You can create:
10. Douyin
Leading markets*: China, Taiwan, and United States
Platform type: Short-form video sharing
Top demographic*: Female, 45-54
Best for: Brands targeting the Chinese market with short-form video content
Used by: Louis Vuitton, Huawei, Apple
Douyin is the Chinese version of TikTok. Which means it's focused on short-form videos.
Some key features for marketers include:
11. Kuaishou
Leading markets*: China, India, and United States
Platform type: Short-form video sharing
Top demographic*: Male, 18-24
Kuaishou (known as Kwai or SnackVideo in some markets) is a social media platform where users create and share short videos.
The platform is ideal for brands aiming to engage with younger audiences and those interested in lifestyle, fashion, beauty, and entertainment.
Here are some tips for getting started on Kuaishou:
12. Reddit
Leading markets*: United States, United Kingdom, and Canada
Platform type: Discussion forum
Top demographic*: Male, 25-34
Best for: Brands and thought leaders looking to build or engage with niche communities
Used by: Nintendo of America, Audible, Cloudflare
Reddit is a social media platform where users create and join communities (known as subreddits) centered on specific topics. For example, there are subreddits dedicated to wedding planning and ethical fashion.
Here are some tips for marketing on Reddit :
Reddit has guidelines on how to properly self-promote, but some subreddit moderators are more strict about it than others. Ignoring these guidelines can result in your account being banned.
13. Weibo
Leading markets*: China, United States, and Taiwan
Platform type: Microblogging and social networking
Top demographic*: Female, 45-54
Best for: Global and domestic brands engaging with Chinese consumers via trending topics, influencer collaborations, and rich media
Used by: BMW, Michael Kors, Coca Cola
Weibo (formerly Sina Weibo) means microblog in Chinese. Users can post images, send personal messages to followers, post stories, follow trending topics, and more.
The platform is often compared to both X and Instagram.
Weibo also offers opportunities for businesses.
Companies can grow and raise brand awareness through influencer campaigns, sponsored posts, and lotteries that let followers earn prizes.
14. X
Leading markets*: United States, Japan, and India
Platform type: Microblogging
Top demographic*: Male, 35-44
Best for: News, tech, and consumer brands sharing real-time updates, engaging in trending discussions, and managing customer relations
Used by: Wendy's, Adidas, JetBlue
X is a social media platform used by many of the world's most influential brands and people.
You can communicate with your target audience by posting public messages. These can be up to 280 characters long (for regular accounts) and include photos, polls, and other content types.
Customer service teams also use the direct messaging feature to engage with customers.
To make the most of this platform, check out our guide to building an X SEO strategy. And sign up for Semrush Social-it lets you schedule X posts, check performance metrics, and much more.
15. QQ
Leading markets*: China, United States, and Hong Kong
Platform type: Instant messaging and social networking
Top demographic*: Male, 18-24
Best for: Brands targeting Chinese youth through instant messaging, gaming, and social engagement
QQ offers instant messaging, voice and video calls, and various multimedia sharing features.
The platform is particularly good for brands targeting younger demographics and tech-savvy users in China.
Here are some tips for marketing on QQ:
16. Pinterest
Leading markets*: United States, India, and Russia
Platform type: Visual discovery and bookmarking
Top demographic*: Female, 25-34
Best for: Brands in fashion, home decor, DIY, and lifestyle sectors aiming to inspire and engage audiences through visual content
Used by: Etsy, Lululemon, Whole Foods
Pinterest is a visual discovery platform that allows users to save images and curate (or "pin") them on virtual boards.
Here are a few tips for pinning as a business:
The most popular social media platforms aren't necessarily the best fit for your brand, so we've rounded up some more sites and apps to consider.
Let's dive into our list of other social media platforms, sorted from A to Z:
17. Bluesky
Leading markets*: United States, United Kingdom, and Japan
Platform type: Microblogging
Top demographic*: Female, 25-34
Best for: Brands aiming to connect with tech-savvy, privacy-conscious audiences
Used by: Wendy's, Stephen King, The New York Times
Bluesky is an ad-free microblogging platform that's become a popular alternative to X (formerly Twitter). Around 900,000 different users post on Bluesky every day.
The platform is built on a decentralized system, which means it's made up of servers run by different people or organizations-not a single company. This structure allows for more control over data privacy and content moderation within each community.
Here are some quick tips for marketers on Bluesky:
18. Discord
Leading markets*: United States, India, and Brazil
Platform type: Community messaging
Top demographic*: Male, 18-24
Best for: Brands looking to build tight-knit communities
Used by: Porsche, Nike, Adobe
Discord was created to let people around the world communicate online. Users can join or create different communities (servers) and connect through text, voice chat, and video.
The platform is useful for brands looking to build tight-knit communities around their products or services. Particularly in industries like gaming, technology, and entertainment.
Here are some tips for getting started on Discord:
19. Github
Leading markets*: United States, China, and India
Platform type: Code hosting and collaboration
Top demographic*: Male, 18-24
Best for: Tech companies showcasing projects and engaging with developer communities
Used by: Microsoft, Google, Meta
GitHub is a platform where developers share code, work on projects together, and contribute to open-source software. It's like a social network for programmers and tech teams.
You can use the platform to connect with developers, show off your skills, and build a professional reputation in the tech world.
Here are some tips for using Github:
20. Imo
Leading markets*: Saudi Arabia, India, and Ethiopia
Platform type: Instant messaging and video calls
Top demographic*: Male, 18-24
Best for: Providing customer service in the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and Africa
Imo is a messenger app that supports audio and video calls, text messaging, stories, file sharing, and more. The app is free, easy to use, and a simple option for international calls.
Imo also offers chat rooms and "big groups," where you can meet new people who share your interests.
Companies can create business accounts that allow you to run ads and connect with prospective and current customers.
21. Line
Leading markets*: Japan, Taiwan, and Thailand
Platform type: Messaging and social networking
Top demographic*: Female, 45-54
Best for: Brands aiming to improve customer loyalty and drive sales in Japan, Thailand, and/or Taiwan
Used by: Toyota, Uniqlo, Hilton
Line is a messaging and social media platform widely used throughout Asia. It offers unique tools for direct communication and promotion.
Here are some tips for getting started on the platform:
22. LinkedIn
Leading markets*: United States, India, and United Kingdom
Platform type: Professional networking
Top demographic*: Male, 25-34
Best for: B2B companies and professional services seeking networking and lead generation
Used by: Gymshark, Rolls-Royce, Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts
LinkedIn is a social networking platform for businesses and professionals. Which means it's a great place for B2B marketing.
You can create a company page on LinkedIn and publish various types of content, including:
Posting thought-provoking, relevant content about topics in your niche can help you build an audience. And connect with other top voices in your industry.
You can get help scheduling and tracking your posts through Semrush Social.
For more advice, check out these LinkedIn marketing tips.
23. Mastodon
Leading markets*: United States, Japan, and France
Platform type: Microblogging
Top demographic*: Male, 18-24
Best for: Brands emphasizing transparency and community engagement, particularly those in tech, open-source projects, and niche markets
Used by: Mozilla, Medium, The Verge
Mastodon is a decentralized microblogging platform that's particularly useful for reaching tech-savvy, privacy-conscious audiences and communities centered on specific interests.
Here are some Mastodon marketing tips:
24. Quora
Leading markets*: United States, India, and United Kingdom
Platform type: Question and answer platform
Top demographic*: Male, 25-34
Best for: Thought leaders who can provide insightful answers to industry-related questions
Used by: Atlassian, Shopify, Nokia
Quora is a platform where users can ask questions, provide answers, and engage in discussions on a wide range of topics.
The platform is particularly effective for B2B marketers, industry experts, and thought leaders who want to build credibility and reach a niche audience.
Here are some quick tips for success on Quora:
25. Rumble
Leading markets*: United States, United Kingdom, and Canada
Platform type: Long-form video sharing and live streaming
Top demographic*: Female, 45-54
Best for: Brands looking to engage with conservative audiences
Used by: Newsmax, Bitcoin.com, World Poker Tour
Rumble is a video-sharing platform that allows users to upload, share, and monetize their content. The platform is known for its free speech stance and attracts mainly conservative users.
Here are some tips for marketing on Rumble:
26. Stack Exchange
Leading markets*: United States, India, and United Kingdom
Platform type: Question and answer platform
Top demographic*: Male, 18-24
Best for: Brands in tech and education sectors aiming to engage with professionals
Used by: Bloomberg, Dropbox, Elastic
Stack Exchange is a group of 180-plus communities where users can ask and answer questions on specified topics.
The best-known community is Stack Overflow, which is focused on programming and software development.
In each community, users can vote for the best answers. And the person who asked the question can mark their favorite answer as "accepted."
Stack Exchange recommends that users avoid opinion-based questions that don't match a community's area of expertise.
To use Stack Exchange for business purposes, answer questions within your business's niche. This will help put your name out there and boost your reputation.
27. Threads
Leading markets*: United States, Taiwan, and Japan
Platform type: Microblogging
Top demographic*: Female, 45-54
Best for: Brands with Instagram accounts looking for an alternative to X
Used by: ClickUp, Zillow, Ooni
Threads is a text-based social media platform created by Instagram (Meta). It's designed for sharing quick thoughts, updates, and conversations-similar to X, but with a more casual, community-driven feel.
This platform is a great place to connect with your Instagram audience in a more conversational way and share short, engaging content.
Here are some Threads marketing tips:
28. Triller
Leading markets*: United States, Philippines, and Pakistan
Platform Type: Short-form video sharing
Top Demographic*: Female, 18-24
Best for: Music, entertainment, and fashion brands focused on artist-driven content, music promotion, and influencer campaigns
Used by: Levi's, Hulu, Walmart
Triller is a social media platform where users create and share short videos. It's particularly popular in the music industry.
Here are some tips for marketing on Triller:
29. Tumblr
Leading markets*: United States, United Kingdom, and Russia
Platform type: Microblogging and creative content sharing
Top Demographic*: Male, 18-24
Best for: Artistic, alternative, and fandom-based brands looking to connect with highly engaged creative communities
Used by: Denny's, Netflix, Spotify
Tumblr is a microblogging and social networking platform where users create and share multimedia posts.
The platform is particularly effective for reaching younger demographics, artists, writers, and those with niche interests.
Here are some tips for success on Tumblr:
30. Twitch
Leading markets*: United States, Russia, and Germany
Platform Type: Live-streaming (gaming focused)
Top Demographic*: Male, 18-24
Best for: Gaming, esports, and tech brands engaging live with Gen Z and millennial audiences through streaming and sponsorships
Used by: Intel, Red Bull, Riot Games
Twitch is a livestreaming service that focuses mainly on video gaming. But some users livestream music, cooking, or vlog-style content.
There are three main ways to do marketing on Twitch:
You can use the Influencer Analytics app to find the right Twitch influencers for your brand. The app can also reveal relevant influencers on YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok.
31. Viber
Leading markets*: Ukraine, Belarus, and Greece
Platform type: Messaging and voice/video calls
Top demographic*: Female, 35-44
Best for: Brands targeting Eastern European and Asian markets through one-on-one communication, updates, and customer support
Used by: PrivatBank, FC Barcelona, WWF
Viber (or Rakuten Viber) is an instant messaging app that lets users send messages, make voice and video calls, start group chats and calls, join communities, and more.
The app prioritizes security by using end-to-end encryption on all messages, offering "disappearing" messages, and allowing users to delete and edit any message.
You can set up a Viber Business account that allows users to interact with your brand.
If people connect with you, you can send individual messages or broadcast messages to a larger group.
Discover your audience's most visited social media platforms so you can meet relevant users wherever they are.
Just enter your location and competitors into the One2Target tool. Then, head to the "Behavior" report to see that audience's most visited sites.
If you want help managing your presence on top social media platforms, turn to Semrush Social.
The toolkit lets you schedule posts, track engagement, and monitor competitor activity across multiple accounts. So you can save time and make better decisions.
*Based on visitors to the main domain, according to One2Target data from February 2025. This doesn't consider app usage.