Ever wondered what the world looks like when you realize that half the planet—over 4.95 billion people—are using social media, streaming services have finally dethroned traditional TV, and the average person spends over 7 hours a day glued to an internet-connected device?
Key Takeaways
- Globally, the average daily time spent on social media reached 2 hours and 31 minutes in 2023, marking a 1.3% increase from the previous year
- In the US, 83.5% of the population used social media in 2023, with Facebook holding a 68% penetration rate among adults
- Gen Z users aged 16-24 spent an average of 4 hours and 3 minutes daily on social media platforms in 2023
- Average US TV viewing time was 2 hours 46 minutes per day in 2023, down 4% from 2022
- Cable TV subscribers in the US dropped to 65.2 million households in 2023, a 7% decline YoY
- Live sports accounted for 52% of US TV viewing time in primetime 2023
- In 2023, Netflix streaming hours surpassed linear TV in US for first time at 52% share
- US streaming video usage averaged 24 hours 36 minutes per week per person in Q4 2023
- YouTube held 9.9% share of US TV viewing time in 2023, second to Netflix's 7.9%
- In 2023, 82% of US internet users accessed the internet daily, averaging 6 hours 40 minutes
- Mobile internet traffic accounted for 59% of global web traffic in 2023
- US adults spent 7 hours 12 minutes daily on internet-connected devices in 2023
- In 2023, US radio listening averaged 1 hour 28 minutes daily per person
- AM/FM radio reached 82% of US weekly listeners in 2023, totaling 242 million
- Newspaper print circulation in US fell to 20.9 million daily in 2023, down 6%
Social media use continues growing worldwide, with streaming now surpassing traditional television viewing.
Internet and Online Media Usage
- In 2023, 82% of US internet users accessed the internet daily, averaging 6 hours 40 minutes
- Mobile internet traffic accounted for 59% of global web traffic in 2023
- US adults spent 7 hours 12 minutes daily on internet-connected devices in 2023
- 66% of world population was online in 2023, totaling 5.3 billion users
- Fixed broadband subscriptions reached 1.4 billion globally in 2023
- 5G connections hit 1.76 billion worldwide in 2023, 20% of mobile subs
- Email usage averaged 145 emails sent/received per day per US office worker in 2023
- 97% of US young adults aged 18-29 used the internet daily in 2023
- Global IP traffic reached 3.3 zettabytes in 2023, up 20% YoY
- 48% of US adults got news online in 2023, surpassing TV at 31%
- UK internet users averaged 6 hours 37 minutes daily online in 2023
- 91% of US adults used the internet in 2023, with 85% via smartphone
- Podcasts downloads totaled 4.52 billion in US 2023, up 12.5%
- Global e-commerce sales hit $5.8 trillion in 2023, 22% of retail
- 75% of US video game players used mobile internet for gaming in 2023
- Average website load time tolerance was 2 seconds in 2023, affecting 40% bounce rate
- 53% of web traffic was from bots in 2023
- US online news consumption averaged 1 hour 28 minutes daily in 2023
- Global cloud storage usage reached 6.1 zettabytes in 2023
- 62% of internet users employed ad blockers in 2023
- Video content drove 82% of internet traffic in 2023
- 40% of US adults used voice assistants daily for internet searches in 2023
- Global internet penetration in rural areas was 40% in 2023
- US online learning hours surged 30% to 2.5 billion in 2023 post-pandemic
- 88% of consumers researched products online before purchase in 2023
- Global cyber attacks on internet users rose 15% to 2,200 daily in 2023
- Social video platforms accounted for 17% of all internet hours in US 2023
Internet and Online Media Usage Interpretation
We are now a planet of perpetually logged-in beings, scrolling our way through life for an average of nearly seven daily hours, where a staggering 5.3 billion of us—two-thirds of humanity—are so digitally entwined that over half of all web traffic is actually robotic impostors, while our collective impatience demands websites load faster than we can decide to leave them, all to watch videos that constitute the vast majority of the internet's 3.3 zettabyte traffic, shop in a $5.8 trillion online marketplace, and consume news primarily through screens, even as we desperately try to block the ads that fund it all and fend off a rising tide of cyber attacks, creating a reality where the boundary between online and "life" has not just blurred but effectively dissolved.
Social Media Usage
- Globally, the average daily time spent on social media reached 2 hours and 31 minutes in 2023, marking a 1.3% increase from the previous year
- In the US, 83.5% of the population used social media in 2023, with Facebook holding a 68% penetration rate among adults
- Gen Z users aged 16-24 spent an average of 4 hours and 3 minutes daily on social media platforms in 2023
- TikTok saw 1.7 billion monthly active users worldwide as of Q4 2023, with 58% of users aged 18-34
- Instagram's advertising reach grew to 1.4 billion users in 2023, with 60% of users discovering products via the platform
- YouTube had 2.5 billion monthly active users in 2023, with users watching over 1 billion hours of content daily
- In 2023, 49.8% of the world's population used social media, totaling 4.95 billion users
- Snapchat reached 414 million daily active users in Q3 2023, primarily among 13-34 year olds at 75% share
- LinkedIn had 1 billion members in 2023, with 67% of users outside the US, focusing on professional networking
- Pinterest users numbered 498 million monthly actives in 2023, with 70% female demographic pinning ideas daily
- WhatsApp had 2 billion monthly users in 2023, handling 100 billion messages daily across 180 countries
- Twitter (X) saw 556 million monthly users in 2023, with 53% accessing via mobile for real-time news
- Facebook users spent an average of 30.9 minutes daily in Q4 2023, down 5% YoY
- In India, social media users reached 462.3 million in 2023, with 50.7% penetration rate
- 71% of US teens aged 13-17 used YouTube daily in 2023, averaging 77 minutes per day
- Globally, 62.6% of social media users accessed platforms via mobile in 2023
- Reddit grew to 430 million monthly active users in 2023, with 52% under 30 years old
- WeChat had 1.3 billion monthly active users in China 2023, integrating messaging and payments
- 58% of global social media ad spend was on mobile in 2023, totaling $153 billion
- TikTok video views exceeded 1 trillion per month in 2023 among US users alone
- 45% of Instagram users shopped via the app in 2023, driving $50 billion in sales
- Facebook Groups had 1.8 billion monthly active users in 2023, fostering communities
- Snapchat Stories reached 300 million daily viewers in 2023
- LinkedIn posts generated 2x more engagement during work hours in 2023
- 76% of Pinterest users report positive ROI from ads in 2023
- WhatsApp video calls averaged 1 billion minutes daily in 2023
- Twitter Spaces hosted 100 million daily listening minutes in 2023 peak
- 82% of US adults used YouTube in 2023, with 54% daily usage
- Global social media users projected to hit 5.85 billion by 2027, up 16.8% from 2023
- In 2023, 95.5 million US Facebook users were aged 18-29, representing 70% penetration
Social Media Usage Interpretation
We’ve so thoroughly outsourced our community, shopping, news, and self-expression to these glowing rectangles that the global average of two and a half hours a day feels less like a pastime and more like a compulsory second shift.
Streaming Media Usage
- In 2023, Netflix streaming hours surpassed linear TV in US for first time at 52% share
- US streaming video usage averaged 24 hours 36 minutes per week per person in Q4 2023
- YouTube held 9.9% share of US TV viewing time in 2023, second to Netflix's 7.9%
- Disney+ had 150 million global subscribers in 2023, with 40% ad-supported tier growth
- Amazon Prime Video reached 200 million subscribers worldwide in 2023
- Hulu's ad-supported viewing hours tripled to 1.1 billion in 2023
- Globally, SVOD subscribers hit 1.3 billion in 2023, up 11.7% YoY
- TikTok streaming captured 1.7% of US TV time in 2023 among 18-34 demo
- Peacock grew to 28 million paid subscribers in Q4 2023, boosted by NFL games
- Max (HBO Max) had 97.6 million global subs in 2023, with 20% ad-tier
- Paramount+ reached 60 million subs in 2023, with 2 million monthly adds
- Apple TV+ viewing hours increased 25% YoY to 1.5 billion in 2023
- US FAST (free ad-supported streaming) services reached 41% household penetration in 2023
- Netflix ad-tier subs grew to 15 million globally in first 6 months of 2023 launch
- YouTube Premium had 100 million subs in 2023, driving 10% of watch time
- 89% of US streaming viewers used multiple services in 2023, averaging 5 subs per household
- Global video streaming market revenue hit $130 billion in 2023, up 12%
- Twitch averaged 2.3 million concurrent viewers daily in 2023 for gaming streams
- Roku channels streamed 28.4 billion hours in 2023, up 23% YoY
- 68% of Gen Z preferred streaming over linear TV in 2023 surveys
- US streaming ad spend reached $18 billion in 2023, 20% of total TV ads
- Discovery+ merged into Max, retaining 50 million subs in 2023 transition
- Pluto TV had 80 million monthly active users in 2023, with 500+ channels
- 47% of US broadband homes used streaming sticks/devices exclusively in 2023
- Global OTT revenue projected $200 billion by 2027 from $129 billion in 2023
Streaming Media Usage Interpretation
The screen has officially usurped the throne, but its kingdom is now a hopelessly crowded, ad-infested, and subscription-fatigued democracy where we all rule as content-drunk monarchs of our own pixelated domains.
Television Usage
- Average US TV viewing time was 2 hours 46 minutes per day in 2023, down 4% from 2022
- Cable TV subscribers in the US dropped to 65.2 million households in 2023, a 7% decline YoY
- Live sports accounted for 52% of US TV viewing time in primetime 2023
- US adults over 65 watched an average of 4 hours 28 minutes of TV daily in 2023
- Broadcast TV reached 90% of US households in 2023, but viewing share fell to 20%
- UK linear TV viewing averaged 2 hours 51 minutes per day in 2023, down 9% YoY
- In 2023, 44% of US TV time was on smart TVs, up from 39% in 2022
- News programs captured 15% of US TV viewing share in 2023, led by ABC and NBC
- Hispanic viewers in US watched 10% more TV than average in 2023 at 3 hours daily
- Primetime TV viewing in US fell to 4.9% rating in 2023, lowest on record
- 68% of US TV households had DVRs in 2023, time-shifting 25% of viewing
- Children aged 2-11 watched 1 hour 12 minutes of TV daily in US 2023
- Local news viewing on TV reached 32 million US viewers daily in 2023
- US TV ad spend totaled $61 billion in 2023, with 40% on national broadcast
- Women aged 18-49 watched 2 hours 52 minutes of TV daily in US 2023
- Over-the-air antenna households grew 5% to 19 million in US 2023
- Evening news programs averaged 5.8 million viewers per night in US 2023
- 55% of US TV viewing occurred on weekends in 2023
- Traditional TV penetration in Europe averaged 85% in 2023, but usage down 10%
- US men aged 18-34 watched 2 hours 10 minutes TV daily in 2023
- Scripted series accounted for 28% of US TV viewing time in 2023
- 72% of US seniors over 75 watched TV daily for companionship in 2023
- Late-night talk shows averaged 2.1 million viewers in US 2023, down 15%
- US TV households totaled 122.4 million in 2023, with 81% subscribing to video services
- Reality TV genre grew 3% in viewing share to 18% in US 2023
Television Usage Interpretation
Americans are collectively clinging to the couch for their live sports and news, even as they steadily cut the cable cord and let their DVRs do the heavy lifting, proving that television is not dying but rather evolving into a strange, antenna-topped weekend companion for our nation's seniors.
Traditional Media Usage
- In 2023, US radio listening averaged 1 hour 28 minutes daily per person
- AM/FM radio reached 82% of US weekly listeners in 2023, totaling 242 million
- Newspaper print circulation in US fell to 20.9 million daily in 2023, down 6%
- Podcasts overtook radio in ad revenue at $2 billion vs $1.8 billion in US 2023
- UK radio listening was 4 hours 13 minutes daily average in 2023
- US print magazine readership declined to 194 million adults in 2023, 61% penetration
- Radio news reached 50% of US adults weekly in 2023
- Global newspaper ad revenue dropped to $80 billion in 2023, 50% from digital shift
- HD Radio listeners grew 10% to 35 million in US 2023
- 44% of US adults read print newspapers weekly in 2023, down from 50% in 2019
- SiriusXM had 34.3 million subscribers in US 2023, focusing on satellite radio
- Comic book sales totaled 45 million units in US 2023, up 7% post-pandemic
- Public radio listeners in US averaged 11 hours weekly in 2023
- Print book sales in US reached 767 million units in 2023, up 1.5%
- Radio commuting listenership fell 20% since 2019 to 55% in US 2023
- 28% of US adults subscribed to print magazines in 2023
- Christian radio stations reached 1,800 in US 2023, with 15 million weekly listeners
- Daily newspaper employment in US was 31,100 in 2023, down 50% since 2008
- Audiobook revenue hit $1.8 billion in US 2023, up 20%
Traditional Media Usage Interpretation
Despite podcasts edging out radio in ad revenue and print media continuing its graceful decline into nostalgia, the stubborn persistence of radio's reach and the surprising resilience of print books prove that old media are like stubborn houseguests who refuse to leave just because you bought a new, flashier sofa.
Sources & References
- Reference 1STATISTAstatista.comVisit source
- Reference 2DATAREPORTALdatareportal.comVisit source
- Reference 3NEWSnews.linkedin.comVisit source
- Reference 4PEWRESEARCHpewresearch.orgVisit source
- Reference 5EMARKETERemarketer.comVisit source
- Reference 6BUSINESSbusiness.instagram.comVisit source
- Reference 7ABOUTabout.fb.comVisit source
- Reference 8INVESTORinvestor.snap.comVisit source
- Reference 9BUSINESSbusiness.linkedin.comVisit source
- Reference 10BUSINESSbusiness.pinterest.comVisit source
- Reference 11BLOGblog.twitter.comVisit source
- Reference 12NIELSENnielsen.comVisit source
- Reference 13MPAAmpaa.orgVisit source
- Reference 14OFCOMofcom.org.ukVisit source
- Reference 15RTNDArtnda.orgVisit source
- Reference 16ADWEEKadweek.comVisit source
- Reference 17ECec.europa.euVisit source
- Reference 18AARPaarp.orgVisit source
- Reference 19VARIETYvariety.comVisit source
- Reference 20THEWALTDISNEYCOMPANYthewaltdisneycompany.comVisit source
- Reference 21NBCUNIVERSALnbcuniversal.comVisit source
- Reference 22WBDwbd.comVisit source
- Reference 23IRir.paramount.comVisit source
- Reference 24APPLEapple.comVisit source
- Reference 25BLOGblog.youtubeVisit source
- Reference 26PARROTANALYTICSparrotanalytics.comVisit source
- Reference 27IRir.roku.comVisit source
- Reference 28DELOITTEdeloitte.comVisit source
- Reference 29PARAMOUNTparamount.comVisit source
- Reference 30NTIAntia.govVisit source
- Reference 31ITUitu.intVisit source
- Reference 32GSMAgsma.comVisit source
- Reference 33RADICALIradicali.comVisit source
- Reference 34CISCOcisco.comVisit source
- Reference 35NTIAntia.doc.govVisit source
- Reference 36EDISONRESEARCHedisonresearch.comVisit source
- Reference 37ESAesa.intVisit source
- Reference 38PORTENTportent.comVisit source
- Reference 39IMPERVAimperva.comVisit source
- Reference 40PAGEFAIRpagefair.comVisit source
- Reference 41SANDVINEsandvine.comVisit source
- Reference 42NPRnpr.orgVisit source
- Reference 43RESEARCHresearch.comVisit source
- Reference 44PWCpwc.comVisit source
- Reference 45CLOUDFLAREcloudflare.comVisit source
- Reference 46IABiab.comVisit source
- Reference 47RAJARrajar.co.ukVisit source
- Reference 48MPAmpa.orgVisit source
- Reference 49HDRADIOhdradio.comVisit source
- Reference 50INVESTORinvestor.siriusxm.comVisit source
- Reference 51COMICHRONcomichron.comVisit source
- Reference 52PUBLISHERSWEEKLYpublishersweekly.comVisit source
- Reference 53MAGAZINEmagazine.orgVisit source
- Reference 54CHRISTIANRADIOchristianradio.comVisit source
- Reference 55AUDIOPUBaudiopub.orgVisit source