The social media landscape has undergone many changes in recent years. The health crisis has also shaken things up, allowing some platforms like TikTok to gain a competitive edge. So, which social media platforms are the most popular today? Here's a quick summer check-up of the platforms most favored by users and therefore potentially attractive to brands.

While Facebook still dominates the social media rankings, TikTok is the fastest-growing social network among all social media platforms in recent years. Since its launch just five years ago, the video platform has now reached fifth place among social networks in terms of monthly active users (MAU). 

If you want to connect with Generation Z, TikTok is THE platform to invest in. Its users are also highly engaged thanks to its diverse and high-quality content. In fact, in January 2021, the time spent per user on TikTok exceeded that of Facebook. 

At the same time, Instagram has also experienced significant growth. Launched in 2010, the photo and video sharing app ranks fourth in terms of monthly active users (MAU). It's worth noting that if your target audience is under 35, Instagram is a goldmine: 75% of 18-24 year olds use the app daily, compared to 67% of Generation Z and 57% of Generation Y.

For brands, the ever-evolving landscape of social media means they must remain highly vigilant about emerging platforms to which their audience may potentially migrate. For example, unlike its beginnings in 2004, Facebook is now characterized by older users, while Generation Z and Millennials have migrated to Instagram or TikTok.

On Snapchat, brands are primarily targeting young teenagers, as the most active users are on average 13 years old and spend more than 30 minutes a day on the app. Offbeat, playful, and highly creative, the platform is also attracting major luxury brands like Chanel looking to rejuvenate their image.  

If you have a predominantly female audience, head straight for Pinterest, as women make up 81% of its users. However, that doesn't mean men aren't there: according to the platform's latest statistics, they actually account for 40% of new sign-ups. Once again, social media surprises us with its ability to be multifaceted and reach a wide range of audiences.

Finally, let's not forget Twitter and LinkedIn. On Twitter, there's (still!) room for brands to appear intelligent and friendly, in addition to being informative and useful. Jump into the threads, provide value, share your own content, and embrace the "non-stop talk" concept.

On the other hand, if you're looking for decision-makers who have the power to grow your brand and business, and help you sell your products or services, LinkedIn is the place to be. Thanks to its highly targeted approach, the platform offers unlimited potential for connecting with professionals or investors who can make a real difference to your business.

In conclusion, to avoid choosing the wrong social media platform, the best approach is to determine which channels are right for your audience. Start by testing your presence on social media sites you deem relevant and, based on the results, strategically choose the ones where you will publish your content and build that authentic and lasting connection with your target audience.

So Bang, so social media!

Thesocial media agency So Bang helps brands and businesses position themselves on the best social platforms based on their brand identity and marketing objectives. With us, every social media strategy is unique and adaptable.

Our community management solutions allow you to build strong and authentic content and campaigns with your community to develop your online reputation and sales on social media (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Snapchat, TikTok, blogs, etc.). This way, your customers become not only your best fans but also your best . brand advocates

Thanks to this pragmatic and responsive approach, our Paris-based social media agency positions your brand perfectly to adapt and grow in the ever-changing social media landscape. So, take the plunge and activate your new social media strategy with So Bang now!

Top 10 social media platforms (by number of monthly active users)

1. Facebook (2.7 billion UAM – $86 billion in revenue)

2. YouTube (2 billion UAM – $19.8 billion in revenue)

3. WhatsApp (2 billion UAM – 5 billion USD in revenue)

4. Instagram (1.16 billion UAM – $6.8 billion in revenue)

5. TikTok (689 million UAM – $35 billion in revenue)

6. Snapchat (433 million UAM – $911 million in revenue)

7. Reddit (430 million UAM – $212.5 million in revenue)

8. Pinterest (416 million UAM – $1.693 billion in revenue)

9. Twitter (353 million UAM – $3.72 billion in revenue)

10. LinkedIn (310 million UAM – $8.05 billion in revenue)

(Article freely inspired by The Top 10 Social Media Sites & Platforms 2021, Search Engine Journal, 22/06/21)