Social Media has revolutionized content consumption, significantly impacting every aspect of our lives, worldwide, from purchasing decisions to political ideologies. But where did it all start? Six Degrees is the first social media platform, founded in 1996 by Andrew Weinreich. Since then, the use of social networking has grown exponentially.
As of 2026, there are over 5.66 billion social media users worldwide, making up about 68.7% of the global population. In India, over 500 million people use social media, accounting for around 34.25% of the country’s population.
In this post, we are shedding light on the social media demographics of India and the globe.
Top Social Media User Statistics In 2026
- India has over 500 million social media users as of 2026.
- Nearly 34.25% of India’s population uses social media.
- An average Indian spends 2 hours and 44 minutes daily on social media platforms.
- Around 68.6% of social media users in India are male, while 31.4% are female.
- WhatsApp is the most popular social networking platform in India, with 83% of internet users using it.
- Nearly 99% of global social media users access social media apps on their smartphones.
- YouTube has over 500 million users in India, making it the most popular social media platform in the country.
History of Social Media Platforms in India
The timeline of social networking platforms is more recent than you might expect. Check out the infographic below to see when each social media platform entered the Indian market.
| Platform | India Launch Year | Global Launch Year |
| 2006 | 2004 | |
| 2006 | 2006 | |
| MySpace | 2008 | 2002 |
| 2009 | 2002 | |
| 2012 | 2005 | |
| 2012 | 2010 | |
| TikTok | 2016 | 2016 |
| Snapchat | 2019 | 2011 |
| Threads | 2023 | 2023 |
How many people use social media in India?
As of 2026, India has over 500 million social media users, making up 34.25% of its population. It ranks second globally in social media users, following China, which leads with 1.28 billion users. The United States holds third place with 254 million users.
By 2029, 1.3 billion Indians are expected to use social media platforms actively. India will surpass China, which is projected to have 1.36 billion users and secure its position as the global leader in social media usage.
| Country | Social Media Users in 2026* | Social Media Users in 2029* |
| China | 1.28 billion | 1.36 billion |
| India | 500 million | 1.3 billion |
| United States | 254 million | 328.91 million |
| Indonesia | 203.35 million | 235.58 million |
| Brazil | 160.06 million | 181.39 million |
| Russia | 132.21 million | 138.3 million |
| Japan | 103.65 million | 107.84 million |
| Mexico | 114.28 million | 127.56 million |
| Philippines | 114.62 million | 123.88 million |
| Vietnam | 91.05 million | 99.75 million |
| Turkey | 78.21 million | 84.4 million |
| Germany | 69.27 million | 71.96 million |
| United Kingdom | 58.01 million | 61.71 million |
Social Media Statistics in India by Year
As the Internet has reached a significant portion of the global population, a common query arises: How many people use social media? The following statistics provide an overview of total social networking app users over the years and other key factors.
- As of early 2026, over 1,002.85 million people in India use the internet. Among them, 49.86% actively engage with social media platforms.
- Globally, roughly 5.66 billion people actively use social media.
- This number is significant because 6.04 billion people worldwide use the Internet. Of these, 93.71% are already active on at least one social network platform.
- Internet user statistics show that social media usage in India increased by 5.23% from 2024 to early 2026. In contrast, global social media usage decreased by 0.81% during the same period.
- Reports from GWI suggested that the average social media user visits approximately 6.7 different platforms each month and spends about 2 hours and 44 minutes on them daily.
Source: DataReportal, Statista, Statista 2, Statista 3.
Social Media Statistics in India by Platform
WhatsApp is India’s most popular social media platform, with 84.6% of internet users accessing it. It is followed by Instagram and Facebook with 79.8% and 70.7% share, respectively.
Here is a table with the most popular social media platforms in India:
| Platform Name | Share Of Indian Internet Users On The Platform |
| 84.6% | |
| 79.8% | |
| 70.7% | |
| Telegram | 56.8% |
| Snapchat | 52.3% |
| Facebook Messenger | 39.8% |
| 36% | |
| 33.5% | |
| Twitter (X) | 30.9% |
| Quora | 19.2% |
While WhatsApp is the most popular platform, reports suggest that 37.3% of active social media users in India consider Instagram their favourite social network app. WhatsApp, Facebook, and Telegram follow in the second, third, and fourth positions, with 27.7%, 14.2%, and 3.7%, respectively.
YouTube Users Statistics in India
- YouTube has more than 500 million users in India, making it the largest user base globally.
- It is projected that YouTube will have around 859.26 million users in India by 2029.
- An average Indian spends around 29 hours using the platform monthly.
- The platform’s largest user base in India is between 18 and 35 years old.
- In India, YouTube’s user base consists of 65.5% male users and 34.5% female users.
Instagram Users Statistics in India
- Instagram has 481 million users in India.
- Virat Kohli is the most followed Indian on the platform with 275 million followers.
- 44.4% of Indian users of the platform are from the 18-24 age group.
- 70.8% of Instagram’s users in India are male, and 29.2% are female.
Telegram Users Statistics in India
- Telegram has around 104.04 million users in India and 950 million worldwide.
- India tops the list for Telegram app downloads with around 104 million downloads.
- An average Indian spends around 9 minutes and 39 seconds on the platform per visit.
- The platform’s demographics by gender are 59.41% male and 40.59% female users.
- News is the most popular category on Telegram.
Threads Users Statistics in India
- Threads has over 26.6 million users in India.
- The Thread app was the most downloaded in India on its launch (22%).
- The average time spent per visit on the platform by an Indian is 1 minute and 40 seconds.
- The platform’s app was downloaded 54.2 million times in India.
- Threads has gained a user base of 2 million within 2 hours of its launch.
Which state has the most social media users in India?
According to various surveys conducted in India, it was found that in states where internet penetration is high, social media usage is also high, and vice versa. For example, internet penetration rates in Goa, Maharashtra, and Kerala are 73%, 69%, and 69%, respectively. Surveys indicate that these states also have the most social media users. However, in states like Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Jharkhand, where internet penetration is among the lowest in the country, social media penetration remains significantly low.
Most Used Social Media Platforms in India by Type
In India, 64.03% of internet users use Facebook. Instagram follows with 25.61%, while YouTube ranks third with 6.07%. X (formerly Twitter), Pinterest, and LinkedIn hold the fourth, fifth, and sixth spots, with 1.75%, 1.69%, and 0.43% of users, respectively.
The table below shows the most used social media platforms by type in India.
| Social Media Platform Type | Number of Social Media Users |
| 64.03% | |
| 25.61% | |
| YouTube | 6.07% |
| X (formerly Twitter) | 1.75% |
| 1.69% | |
| 0.43% |
Social Media User Demographics in India by Gender
Reports suggested that roughly 64.4% of India’s social media users are male, while 35.6% are female. Upon calculation, we can say that there are around 322 million male users and 178 million female users.
Recent surveys indicate that the number of female social media users in India is rapidly increasing. Soon, the percentage of female users is expected to match that of male users.
Gender Distribution on Social Media Platforms in India: Who Uses Them More?
In India, social media adoption rates have consistently favoured male users. Facebook leads with 72.7% male users and 27.3% female users. Instagram and YouTube are in the second and third positions, with 69.7% and 61.2% male users, respectively.
Instagram and YouTube are widely popular among female users, with each platform attracting over 29.9% and 38.8% of them, respectively.
The table below illustrates the current distribution of social network users by gender across various platforms in India:
| Platform Name | Male Users (%) | Female Users (%) |
| 72.7% | 27.3% | |
| 69.7% | 29.9% | |
| YouTube | 61.2% | 38.8% |
| 69.2% | 30.8% | |
| X (Twitter) | 87.4% | 12.6% |
| Messenger | 76.2% | 23.2% |
| Snapchat | 62.6% | 36.1% |
Source: DataReportal
Social Media Users in India by Age
38.1% of India’s population aged 18 and above use social networking platforms. Reports revealed that most users using popular platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Facebook Messenger are between 18 and 34.
This table will help you understand the user demographics of Facebook, Facebook Messenger, and Instagram by age and gender in India.
| Age Group | Male Users (%) | Female Users (%) |
| 18 – 24 Years Old | 22.6% | 10.3% |
| 25 – 34 Years Old | 25.4% | 10.7% |
| 35 – 44 Years Old | 11.6% | 4.4% |
| 45 – 54 Years Old | 4.7% | 2% |
| 55 – 64 Years Old | 2.1% | 1% |
| Above 65 Years Old | 1.4% | 0.6% |
Source: DataReportal
Average Time Indians Spend on Different Social Media Platforms
Regarding time spent on social media apps, Indians spend around 1 hour and 30 minutes per day watching videos on YouTube. Instagram and Facebook follow the list with 1 hour and 19 minutes, and 1 hour and 06 minutes, respectively.
The table below provides complete information about the time Indians spend on social media daily.
| Platform | Hours Spent Per Month |
| YouTube | 1 hour 30 minutes |
| 1 hour 19 minutes | |
| 1 hour 06 minutes | |
| TikTok | 42 minutes |
| IMO | 40 minutes |
| 38 minutes | |
| 26 minutes | |
| Discord | 22 minutes |
| X (Twitter) | 19 minutes |
| Snapchat | 18 minutes |
Source: DataReportal, Statista
Time Spent on Social Media by Indian Youth
IIM-Rohtak conducted a study involving 38,896 youth aged 18 to 25 years to study how much time Indian youth spend on social media daily.
- On average, male users spend 6 hours and 45 minutes on social media apps, while female users spend 7 hours and 5 minutes.
- The study also revealed that around 60.66% of youth use social networking apps the most during evening hours.
- Entertainment-related content leads the list of Content Preferences with 54.52% viewership. It is followed by professional and self-help content (26.23%), education, knowledge, and news content (14.28%), and political content (4.97%).
- The most commonly used social media platforms among Indian Youths are Instagram (31.27%), WhatsApp (28.32%), Snapchat (19.78%), and Facebook (17.20%).
- OTT platform usage has also increased exponentially in the past few years. YouTube leads the list with roughly 32.03% viewership.
Average Time Spent on Social Media by Age and Gender in India
The average social media usage of the Gen Z population in India is around 3 hours daily. On the other hand, millennials are in the second spot with an average usage of 2 hours and 48 minutes daily. Users above 55 years use social media apps for 1:46 hours per day only. Reports also suggest that females in the country use social media apps more than the male population.
The table below shows the average time Indians spend using social media apps daily.
| Age Group | Male (in hours) | Female (in hours) |
| 16 to 24 years | 2:32 hours | 2:59 hours |
| 25 to 34 years | 2:31 hours | 2:48 hours |
| 35 to 44 years | 2:17 hours | 2:21 hours |
| 45 to 54 years | 1:52 hours | 2:10 hours |
| 55 to 64 years | 1:31 hours | 1:46 hours |
Source: Soax
How Does Social Media Affect Youngsters in India?
LocalCircles found that 39% of Indian youngsters (ages 9 to 17) feel aggressive after using social media. Other emotions reported include impatience (37%) and lethargy (27%).
Refer to the table below for detailed information on the emotional and mental health impact of social media on young people in India.
| Emotions Shown by Youngsters | % of Responses |
| Happier | 8% |
| More Social | 10% |
| Impatient | 37% |
| Aggressive | 39% |
| Depressed | 22% |
| Hyperactive | 25% |
| Lethargic | 27% |
| None of the above | 2% |
| Other Impacts | 6% |
Source: LocalCircles
Social Media Rules and Regulations in India
In India, social media is primarily regulated by the Information Technology Act, 2000, and the IT (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021. Here are a few rules and regulations introduced by the Government of India for social media usage:
Major 2026 Amendments (Effective Feb 20, 2026)
The government has updated the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, to specifically regulate Synthetically Generated Information (SGI), including AI-generated content and deepfakes:
- 3-Hour Takedown Rule: Social media platforms must remove “unlawful or harmful” content within 3 hours of a government/court order, replacing the earlier 36-hour deadline.
- Mandatory AI Labeling: Any AI-generated or modified content must be clearly and prominently labeled, so users can easily identify it.
- Traceability and Metadata: Synthetic content must include embedded permanent metadata or identifiers that cannot be easily removed, ensuring traceability.
- User Declarations: Users must disclose if their content was created using AI before uploading it. Platforms are also expected to use automated tools to verify and validate these disclosures.
- Frequent Warnings: Every three months, platforms must send users a reminder about penalties for improper use of AI content.
Core IT Rules (2021 Framework)
The IT Rules 2021 remain the foundation of social media regulation in India, setting out obligations for platforms:
Significant Social Media Intermediaries (SSMIs)
Social media platforms with over 5 million users in India, such as WhatsApp, Instagram, and X, face stricter compliance requirements:
- Chief Compliance Officer: A resident Indian official responsible for ensuring legal compliance.
- Nodal Contact Person: Available 24/7 to coordinate with law enforcement.
- Resident Grievance Officer: Handles user complaints and must acknowledge them promptly.
- Monthly Compliance Reports: Platforms must publish stats on how they handled grievances and takedowns.
- Traceability of First Originator: Authorities can request the identity of the first sender of problematic messages. This issue is subject to legal dispute due to encryption-related concerns.
General Due Diligence (Applies to All Platforms)
All platforms must:
- Maintain a grievance redressal mechanism for users.
- Act against prohibited content, which includes information that:
- Threatens national security or public order.
- Is defamatory, obscene, or pornographic.
- Includes Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM).
- Infringes intellectual property rights like patents and trademarks.
Penalties and Safe Harbour
- Safe Harbour Under Section 79 of the IT Act: Platforms are generally not held liable for user content if they follow due diligence requirements laid out in the IT Rules.
- Loss of Protection: If platforms do not comply, such as missing takedown deadlines within three hours, they could lose safe harbour protection and be held legally responsible under laws like the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
Conclusion
In the above blog, we discussed the demographics of social media users in India and worldwide. The Internet penetration rate in India is increasing rapidly every year, resulting in the rise of the social media user base. We have also seen a dip in the Y-o-Y growth rate of these platforms’ user count. However, the major concerns with social media usage that need to be curbed are mental health and online fraud. Our Indian Government has taken various steps to resolve these issues, but stricter actions must be taken in the future.
