List of Social Media Sites: 40+ Platforms by Category
There are now 5.66 billion social media users worldwide, roughly 70% of the global population. Choosing where to focus your business marketing means understanding what each platform actually does, who uses it, and whether it fits your goals. This list covers over 40 active social media sites and apps, grouped by category, with current monthly active user (MAU) counts and practical business applications. ProfileTree, a Belfast-based digital agency, maintains this guide as a reference for businesses building their social media marketing strategies.
Three things to know before you scroll:
- The average person now uses 6 to 7 different social platforms each month (DataReportal, 2026)
- Video content accounts for over 60% of all social media consumption
- Social commerce is growing fast; 1 in 7 global shoppers say social media will be their primary shopping channel within five years
Contents
- Social Media in Numbers
- The Full List of Social Media Sites by Category
- How to Choose the Right Platforms for Your Business
- FAQs About Social Media Platforms
Types of social media sites
Social Media in Numbers
Before diving into individual platforms, here are the headline figures shaping social media in 2026. These numbers come from DataReportal, Statista, and platform earnings reports.
| Metric | Figure |
|---|---|
| Total social media users worldwide | 5.66 billion |
| Percentage of world population on social media | 69.9% |
| Average platforms used per person per month | 6.75 |
| Average daily time spent on social media | 2 hours 21 minutes |
| Percentage of internet users on social media | 93.8% |
| Platforms with 1 billion+ monthly active users | 7 |
Seven platforms now exceed one billion monthly active users each: Facebook, YouTube, WhatsApp, Instagram, TikTok, WeChat, and Telegram. That is a significant shift from just five years ago, when only three platforms had crossed that mark.
The Full List of Social Media Sites by Category
Social Networking Platforms
These are the general-purpose platforms where people connect with friends, family, brands, and communities. They offer the broadest marketing reach.
Facebook | 3.07 billion monthly active users
Facebook remains the world’s largest social network. Despite jokes about it being “for older users”, the platform still reaches more people than any competitor. Over half of Facebook users are millennials (aged 25 to 45), and the platform accounts for roughly 59% of global social media ad spend. For businesses, Facebook Groups, Marketplace, Events, and detailed advertising tools make it one of the most versatile platforms for both local and international marketing. If your business serves customers locally in Northern Ireland or across the UK, Facebook’s location targeting is particularly strong.
Instagram | 2.3 billion monthly active users
Owned by Meta, Instagram has grown well beyond photo sharing. Reels now drive the majority of engagement, and Instagram Shopping lets businesses tag products directly in posts and stories. The platform skews younger than Facebook, with 61% of users aged 18 to 34. For businesses in retail, hospitality, food, fashion, or any visually driven sector, Instagram remains one of the highest-return platforms. It also integrates with Meta’s advertising tools, so campaigns can run across both Facebook and Instagram from a single dashboard.
Instagram (Meta)
LinkedIn | 1 billion+ members
LinkedIn has quietly become one of the most engaged platforms in 2026. Comments on posts are up significantly year-on-year, and the platform’s publishing features give businesses a direct channel for thought leadership. For B2B companies, recruiters, consultants, and professional service providers, LinkedIn is where decisions get influenced. Company pages, LinkedIn articles, and employee advocacy programmes all contribute to brand visibility. If you are offering services to other businesses, LinkedIn should be one of your two or three core platforms.
Threads | 350 million monthly active users
Meta’s text-based platform launched in July 2023 and hit 100 million sign-ups in its first week. After initial hype faded, growth steadied, and the platform now has around 350 million MAU. By early January 2026, Threads overtook X in daily mobile users. The platform connects directly to Instagram accounts, making it a natural extension for brands already active there. It works well for conversational content, quick updates, and behind-the-scenes commentary.
X (formerly Twitter) | 335 to 660 million monthly active users
User figures for X vary depending on the source, and the platform has undergone significant changes since Elon Musk’s acquisition. Reported MAU figures range from 335 million (Buffer) to 660 million (NewMedia). X still functions as a real-time news and conversation platform, and its Spaces feature provides live audio rooms. For businesses, X works best for customer service, industry commentary, and participating in trending conversations. The advertising landscape has shifted, with some brands reducing spend while others find reduced competition an opportunity.
Bluesky | 40+ million registered users
Bluesky is a decentralised social network originally incubated inside Twitter. It launched publicly in February 2024 and grew rapidly through late 2024 and into 2025, driven partly by users leaving X. The platform now has over 40 million registered users with around 4 million daily active users. It appeals to tech-savvy creators, writers, and communities who want more control over their feeds and data. For most businesses, Bluesky is still too small for significant marketing investment, but it is worth watching.
Video and Short-Form Platforms
Video dominates social media consumption. These platforms are where most of that viewing happens.
YouTube | 2.85 billion monthly active users
YouTube is the second most-visited website in the world and functions as both a social platform and a search engine. Over 1 billion hours of video are watched daily. For businesses, YouTube offers long-form content opportunities that no other platform matches: tutorials, product demonstrations, interviews, case studies, and educational series. YouTube SEO is a discipline in its own right, and businesses that invest in it consistently see compounding returns over time. YouTube Shorts, the platform’s short-form video feature, now competes directly with TikTok and Instagram Reels.
TikTok | 1.6 to 2 billion monthly active users
TikTok’s growth has been extraordinary. The platform’s algorithm-driven content discovery means that even accounts with zero followers can reach millions of viewers if the content resonates. Average daily usage exceeds 55 minutes per user, and the platform is increasingly used for product discovery and purchasing decisions. TikTok Shop has turned the app into a direct sales channel, and nearly half of users have made purchases through the platform.
TikTok’s origins in lip-sync video have also fuelled a new wave of AI-powered content creation. Lip sync AI tools now let businesses produce realistic talking-head videos from a single photo or script, making multilingual video content and social media ads accessible without expensive production setups. For businesses exploring video marketing, these tools represent a genuine shift in what is possible on a small budget.
Snapchat | 946 million monthly active users
Snapchat is closing in on the 1 billion user mark. The platform’s core audience skews young (under 25), and its disappearing content format creates a sense of urgency and authenticity. Snapchat’s AR (augmented reality) features are among the most advanced of any platform, with over 700 million people engaging with its AI-powered lenses. For brands targeting younger audiences, particularly in fashion, entertainment, and retail, Snapchat offers creative tools that other platforms lack.
Messaging and Communication Apps
Messaging apps have evolved beyond simple chat. Many now offer business tools, payment systems, and marketing features.
WhatsApp | 2.8 billion monthly active users
WhatsApp is the world’s most popular messaging app and the dominant communication tool across Europe, Latin America, Africa, and South Asia. WhatsApp Business allows companies to create product catalogues, set up automated responses, and communicate directly with customers. For service businesses in the UK and Ireland, WhatsApp is increasingly used as a customer service channel, and it is worth integrating into your website design with click-to-chat buttons.
Telegram | 950 million monthly active users
Telegram has crossed 950 million MAU and is now one of the seven platforms with a billion-user trajectory. Its focus on privacy, speed, and large group functionality (channels can have unlimited subscribers) makes it popular for news distribution, community building, and niche interest groups. Telegram is particularly strong in India, Brazil, and Russia.
Facebook Messenger | 1 billion monthly active users
Messenger remains widely used for personal and business communication. Its chatbot functionality and integration with Facebook’s advertising tools make it useful for automated customer service and lead generation.
Discord | 400 million monthly active users
Originally built for gaming communities, Discord has expanded into education, brand communities, and collaborative workspaces. Its server-based structure allows businesses to create dedicated spaces for customers, fans, or team members. Discord is particularly strong with audiences aged 18 to 35.
Content Publishing and Discussion Platforms
These platforms focus on longer-form content, community discussion, and knowledge sharing.
Reddit | 500+ million monthly active users
Reddit organises conversations into topic-specific communities called subreddits. With over 100,000 active communities covering virtually every subject, the platform offers access to highly engaged niche audiences. Reddit’s user base has grown significantly since its IPO, and the platform now reaches well beyond its original tech-focused demographic. For businesses, Reddit works best when you participate genuinely in relevant communities rather than posting promotional content. Reddit AMAs (Ask Me Anything) and helpful contributions to industry subreddits build credibility over time.
Medium | Significant readership, exact MAU not publicly reported
Medium is a publishing platform for long-form articles, thought leadership, and storytelling. It functions well as a content distribution channel for businesses that want to reach audiences beyond their own website. Articles published on Medium can rank in Google search results and build author authority.
Tumblr | Niche but active community
Tumblr remains popular with creative communities, fandoms, and younger users who prefer a blend of blogging and social networking. It supports multimedia content including photos, GIFs, videos, and audio. For businesses in creative industries, art, or entertainment, Tumblr offers an engaged audience that is often overlooked.
Quora | 300+ million monthly visitors
Quora is a question-and-answer platform where users ask and respond to questions on every topic imaginable. For businesses, answering questions related to your industry builds visibility and authority. Well-written Quora answers can rank in Google search results and drive traffic for months or years.
Visual Discovery and Creative Platforms
These platforms are built around images, design, and visual inspiration.
Pinterest | 500+ million monthly active users
Pinterest operates as a visual search and discovery engine. Users “pin” images to boards organised by theme, making it particularly effective for retail, home improvement, food, fashion, and lifestyle businesses. Pinterest drives significant website traffic because users actively seek ideas and products to purchase. The platform’s audience skews female (76% women) and tends to be in a buying mindset rather than a browsing one.
Flickr | 100+ million users
Flickr remains a photo-sharing platform used by photographers and visual creators. Its large library of Creative Commons-licensed images makes it a resource for content creators. Business applications are limited compared to Instagram or Pinterest, but photographers and visual agencies still use it as a portfolio platform.
Behance | Part of the Adobe ecosystem
Behance is Adobe’s platform for showcasing creative work, including graphic design, illustration, photography, and UI/UX design. It functions as both a portfolio site and a professional network for creatives.
Niche and Emerging Platforms
These platforms are smaller but serve specific audiences or represent growing trends.
BeReal | 100+ million monthly active users
BeReal prompts users to share one unfiltered photo per day at a random time. The format prioritises authenticity over polish, which has resonated particularly with Gen Z. Brand adoption is still limited, but the platform signals a broader trend toward authentic, unedited content.
Lemon8 | 15+ million monthly active users
Owned by ByteDance (TikTok’s parent company), Lemon8 combines elements of Instagram and Pinterest. It focuses on lifestyle content: beauty, wellness, fashion, and food. The platform is growing in the UK and US markets and is worth watching for businesses in lifestyle sectors.
Mastodon | Decentralised, federated network
Mastodon is an open-source, decentralised social network that gained users during the Twitter exodus. It operates through independently run servers (instances) that can communicate with each other. The user base is smaller and more technically oriented than mainstream platforms.
Audio and Music Platforms
Audio content has carved out its own social media niche.
SoundCloud | 175+ million monthly users
SoundCloud allows musicians, podcasters, and audio creators to upload, share, and discover music and audio content. It tracks trending sounds and lets users create playlists. For businesses in music, entertainment, or podcasting, SoundCloud provides a distribution channel and community.
Spotify | 600+ million monthly active users (with social features)
While primarily a music streaming service, Spotify’s social features (shared playlists, collaborative listening, podcast comments) give it social media characteristics. Spotify’s podcast platform is relevant for businesses investing in content marketing through audio
Regional and International Platforms
These platforms dominate in specific countries or regions.
| Platform | Region | Monthly Active Users |
|---|---|---|
| China | 1.3 billion | |
| Douyin (Chinese TikTok) | China | 750 million daily active users |
| China | 599 million | |
| VK (VKontakte) | Russia | 100+ million |
| LINE | Japan, Thailand, Taiwan | 200+ million |
| KakaoTalk | South Korea | 50+ million |
For businesses operating internationally or targeting specific markets, these regional platforms are often more important than Western-focused networks. A social media strategy for the Chinese market, for example, needs to centre on WeChat and Douyin rather than Facebook or Instagram, which are blocked in mainland China.
Discontinued Platforms (Historical Reference)
Several platforms that were once prominent have since closed or been absorbed into other services:
- Google+ closed in April 2019
- Vine was discontinued in 2017 (its short-video format directly inspired TikTok)
- Musical.ly merged into TikTok in 2018
- Blab closed in August 2016
- Yik Yak closed in April 2017
- Periscope shut down in March 2021
These platforms shaped how social media evolved, and their features live on in the platforms that replaced them.
How to Choose the Right Platforms for Your Business
“Many businesses make the mistake of trying to be active on every social platform without understanding where their customers actually spend time,” explains Ciaran Connolly, founder of ProfileTree, a Belfast-based web design and digital marketing agency. “We have worked with over 1,000 clients since 2011, and the pattern is consistent: businesses that focus on two or three platforms where they can deliver genuine value outperform those spreading themselves across a dozen networks with sporadic posting.”
Here is a practical framework for choosing platforms:
Start with your audience, not the platform. If your customers are business owners and decision-makers, LinkedIn and YouTube should be your focus. If you sell consumer products, Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook are likely your highest-return channels. If you are targeting under-25s specifically, TikTok and Snapchat are where they spend the most time.
Match your content strengths to platform formats. If you are comfortable on camera or have video production capabilities, prioritise YouTube and TikTok. If your strength is written thought leadership, LinkedIn and Medium make more sense. If you have strong visual assets (product photography, design work), Instagram and Pinterest will serve you well.
Consider your resources honestly. Each platform requires different content types, posting frequencies, and engagement styles. A small business with one person handling marketing will get better results from two platforms done well than six platforms done poorly.
Think about the full customer journey. Social media is one piece of the puzzle. Your profiles should drive traffic to a well-designed website that converts visitors into customers. Without that connection, social media activity generates attention but not revenue.
Use cross-promotion strategies to get more value from each piece of content. A YouTube video can become a TikTok clip, a LinkedIn article, an Instagram carousel, and a blog post. This multiplies your output without multiplying your workload.
For businesses that want to integrate social media with SEO, video production, and AI-powered tools, working with a specialist who understands how these channels connect will save time and improve results. Contact ProfileTree on 028 9568 0364 or at hello@profiletree.com to discuss how your social media strategy fits into your broader digital presence.
FAQs About Social Media Platforms
How many social media platforms are there in total?
There are hundreds of social media platforms operating globally, but only around 15 to 20 have significant user bases above 100 million monthly active users. The exact number changes regularly as new platforms launch and others shut down. For business purposes, most companies will only ever need to focus on 2 to 5 platforms based on where their specific audience is active.
What is the most popular social media platform in 2026?
Facebook remains the largest social media platform with over 3.07 billion monthly active users. YouTube is the second largest with approximately 2.85 billion. WhatsApp and Instagram are close behind with around 2.8 billion and 2.3 billion respectively. In terms of engagement and cultural influence with younger audiences, TikTok is often considered the most impactful platform despite having fewer total users.
Which social media platforms are best for small businesses in the UK?
For most small businesses in the UK, a combination of Facebook (for local community reach), Instagram (for visual marketing), and LinkedIn (for B2B relationships) provides the strongest foundation. If your business can produce video content, YouTube should also be a priority. The specific mix depends on your industry and target audience; a restaurant will get more from Instagram and TikTok than LinkedIn, while a consultancy firm will find LinkedIn far more valuable.
Are Threads and Bluesky worth using for business?
Threads is becoming increasingly relevant, with 350 million monthly active users and strong integration with Instagram. If you are already active on Instagram, Threads requires minimal additional effort. Bluesky, with around 40 million registered users, is still too small for most business marketing purposes, but it appeals to a tech-savvy, early-adopter audience and may grow significantly over the coming year.
How often should a business post on social media?
Posting frequency matters less than consistency and quality. One well-crafted post that provides genuine value will outperform five rushed posts that add nothing new. As a general guide: LinkedIn works well at 3 to 5 posts per week, Instagram at 4 to 7 posts (including Stories and Reels), TikTok rewards daily posting, and Facebook performs best at 3 to 5 posts per week. YouTube benefits from a consistent weekly or fortnightly schedule.
What is the difference between social media and social networking?
Social media is the broader term covering any platform where users create, share, or consume content. Social networking specifically refers to platforms where the primary purpose is building and maintaining relationships between people. Facebook and LinkedIn are social networking platforms. YouTube and TikTok are social media platforms focused on content consumption. In practice, the lines have blurred; most platforms now combine both functions.
Which social media platforms are growing fastest?
Based on 2025 to 2026 data, TikTok, LinkedIn, and Threads are showing the strongest growth trajectories among major platforms. Snapchat is approaching 1 billion monthly active users, and Telegram has crossed 950 million. Among smaller platforms, Bluesky and Lemon8 are growing rapidly from smaller bases.
How does social media affect SEO?
Social media does not directly influence Google search rankings as a ranking factor. Social signals (likes, shares, followers) do not feed into Google’s algorithm. What social media does do is drive traffic to your website, increase brand searches (which does help SEO), earn backlinks when your content gets shared and referenced, and build the brand recognition that correlates with higher click-through rates in search results. A joined-up approach to search engine optimisation and social media produces better results than treating them separately.