Every year on June 30, people around the world mark Social Media Day, a date set by the digital-media website Mashable in 2010 to recognize the growing role of these platforms in global communication.

Now, 16 years later, social media is no longer just a space for conversation. According to the DataReportal Digital 2026 Global Overview Report, the number of social media users has reached 5.66 billion – equivalent to more than 68 percent of the world’s population.

The number of users has grown steadily from fewer than 500 million in 2005 to 2.27 billion in 2015 and 5.66 billion in 2025, largely driven by the spread of affordable smartphones and expanding internet access.

According to DataReportal, the average active user spends 18 hours and 36 minutes per week on social media, or roughly two hours and 39 minutes every day. Compounded over a year, that adds up to more than 40 full days spent on these platforms.

Global social media usage averages 68 percent, with particularly high rates across Europe and North America. East Asia leads at 88.1 percent, followed by Northern Europe (79%), Western Europe (77.7%), and North America (74%). In contrast, Central Africa has the lowest usage at 12.1 percent, followed by East Africa (12.6%) and West Africa (19%).

The most popular platforms by monthly active users include Facebook (3.07 billion), YouTube (2.5 billion), WhatsApp (2 billion), Instagram (2 billion), and TikTok (1.58 billion).

Behind these numbers lies a growing concern. The European Parliament has backed proposals for a minimum age of 16 for social media access alongside a ban on addictive design features. Australia became the first country to enforce a blanket ban on social media for children under 16 in December.

Indonesia banned social media for children under 16 in March. Brazil requires users under 16 to link accounts to a legal guardian. Turkey passed a law in April restricting access for children under 15. The United Kingdom plans to ban under-16s from social media platforms by spring 2027.

Source: www.aljazeera.com