The Influence of Social Media on Daily Life
For several years now, our daily lives have been (more or less) largely filled with our social media. Many of us spend several hours every day scrolling through Facebook and/or Instagram, checking news (and TV shows) on X (formerly Twitter) or even killing time on TikTok or Snapchat, not forgetting the YouTube platform, whose Shorts, among other things, can be very time-consuming.
The Gap between Baby Boomers and Generation Z
A recent study by Statista now allows us to learn a little more about the gap that separates users of one network from another. So, we already knew that Facebook was the favorite network of the Baby Boomers (between 1959 and 1964), and the latter leads among the older generation with 84% of users, according to Generation © Statista Network. Facebook is also the only network that unites the “older” generations, as the share of users significantly drops with YouTube, followed by Snapchat, TikTok, and the most experienced old Internet users.
Conversely, the youngest generation, Generation Z, is especially fond of the Instagram app, with almost 80% of them using it. YouTube is a close second with around 70% usage among Gen Z. Snapchat and TikTok follow with 66% and 60% respectively. Interestingly, TikTok is currently developing a paid version of the application, allowing subscribers to enjoy the service ad-free for $4.99 per month.
On the other hand, X (formerly Twitter) seems to be struggling to connect users regardless of generation, with attendance below 50% and even 40% among all age groups. Only 18% of Baby Boomers are active on the platform, which is now led by Elon Musk. Among the various platforms studied, YouTube was the one most likely to connect across all age categories.
Officially, Facebook remains the social network favorite of Baby Boomers, while Instagram takes the lead among Generation Z, followed by Snapchat and TikTok.
