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Social media use hits 5.66bn as under-16 bans spread

Editorial Team

Global social media use has climbed to 5.66 billion users—more than 68 percent of the world’s population—according to the DataReportal Digital 2026 Global Overview Report, as a growing number of countries move to restrict access for children and curb “addictive” design features.

The latest figures highlight how deeply social platforms are embedded in daily routines and underscore a widening policy fight over child online safety, with lawmakers in Europe and elsewhere weighing minimum-age rules and limits on features such as infinite scroll and autoplay.

Key developments

DataReportal reports 5.66 billion social media users worldwide, representing more than 68 percent of the global population.
DataReportal estimates the average active user spends 18 hours and 36 minutes per week on social media, or about two hours and 39 minutes per day—more than 40 full days over a year.
The European Parliament has backed proposals for a minimum age of 16 for social media access and a ban on addictive design features for younger users; no European Union-wide law is yet in place.
Australia in December became the first country to enforce a blanket ban on social media for children under 16. Australia Bars Children Under 16 from Social Media
Indonesia banned social media for children under 16 in March, and Brazil’s Digital Statute of Children and Adolescents, effective the same month, requires users under 16 to link accounts to a legal guardian and bans addictive features including infinite scroll.
Turkiye passed a law in April restricting social media access for children under 15.
The United Kingdom in June announced plans to ban under-16s from social media platforms, with restrictions expected to take effect in spring 2027.

Context and background

June 30 is marked globally as Social Media Day, a date set by the digital-media website Mashable in 2010 to recognise the growing role of social platforms in global communication.

DataReportal’s figures point to sustained growth over two decades: social media users increased from fewer than 500 million in 2005 to 2.27 billion in 2015 and 5.66 billion in 2025, driven largely by affordable smartphones and expanding internet access.

Details and data

Where social media use is highest and lowest

Global adoption averages 68 percent, with particularly high rates across Europe and North America, according to DataReportal.

East Asia: 88.1 percent
Northern Europe: 79 percent
Western Europe: 77.7 percent
North America: 74 percent

DataReportal reports the lowest usage levels in parts of Africa:

Central Africa: 12.1 percent
East Africa: 12.6 percent
West Africa: 19 percent

Most-used platforms by monthly active users

Statista data compiled in cooperation with Kepios ranks the world’s largest social networks by monthly active users as of October.

Facebook: 3.07 billion monthly active users; Reels is the default format for all video content on the platform.
Instagram: 3 billion monthly active users (acquired by Facebook in 2012).
WhatsApp: 3 billion monthly active users (acquired in 2014). Related: Elon Musk's Criticism of WhatsApp's Security
YouTube: 2.58 billion monthly active users (owned by Google).
TikTok: estimated 1.99 billion users; estimates vary by source. The platform launched internationally in 2017.

Current status and what comes next

No European Union-wide law has yet been adopted on setting a minimum age of 16 for social media access, though some member states have moved ahead independently.

Among the measures already announced or implemented, Australia’s under-16 ban is in force, while the United Kingdom’s proposed under-16 restrictions are expected to take effect in spring 2027. Other rules cited include Indonesia’s under-16 ban, Brazil’s guardian-link requirement and design-feature restrictions for under-16s, and Turkiye’s limits for children under 15.