Time Spent on Social Media by Age Group (2025)

Social media usage is sharply stratified by age. As of 2025, the global average daily social media time stands at 2 hours and 41 minutes — up from 2 hours 35 minutes in 2024 — but this aggregate masks an enormous generational gap. Teenagers and Gen Z users scroll for nearly 5 hours daily, while Baby Boomers and seniors barely reach 1–1.5 hours. This divide reflects not just different habits, but fundamentally different relationships with digital identity, entertainment, and social connection.

Daily Usage by Age Group

Global benchmark: Internet users aged 16–24 spend more than 41 hours per week consuming online media — nearly 6 hours per day.

Teens (Ages 13–17): Highest Usage Group

American teenagers average 4.8 hours per day on social media alone — far exceeding any other demographic. Total screen time reaches 7 hours and 22 minutes daily, representing nearly half of all waking hours. Video dominates teen consumption: YouTube alone accounts for close to 2 hours daily, with TikTok adding another significant portion.

A notable gender gap exists: girls aged 13–17 average 3.7 hours of social media per day, nearly 45 minutes more than boys in the same age group. Over half of US teenagers report spending more than 4 hours daily on social platforms. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends no more than 2 hours per day for this age group — a threshold the majority of teens far exceed.

Top platforms for teens (2025):

• YouTube (~2 hours/day)
• TikTok (89 minutes/day for users aged 13–24)
• Snapchat (52 minutes/day from Gen Z users)
• Instagram (~53 minutes/day)

Gen Z (Ages 18–24): Most Active Adult Cohort

Gen Z adults log between 3 hours 8 minutes (Statista, US-specific) and 3 hours 18 minutes (global) per day on social platforms. An S&P Global Market Intelligence Kagan survey recorded even higher figures: 5.1 hours per day in Q1 2025, nearly double that of Millennials and triple that of Gen X or Boomers.

The platform mix is broad and video-heavy. Globally, 91% of Gen Z uses YouTube, 86% uses Instagram, 79% uses TikTok, and 77% uses Facebook. Gen Z users interact with an average of 6 different platforms daily, compared to just 3.2 for Gen X. They also check social media over 17 times per day — twice the frequency of Gen X.

Usage has slightly declined since 2020 (down 3 minutes from that peak), but Gen Z remains the most active adult demographic by a wide margin.

Millennials (Ages 25–44): High but Purposeful Engagement

Millennials aged 25–34 average approximately 2 hours 42–47 minutes per day, the second-highest among adults. The 25–34 cohort represents the largest demographic segment on most major platforms, accounting for roughly 31% of total global social media users. On Facebook, 26.8% of all users are in this age range; on X (Twitter), the 25–34 bracket makes up 37.5% of the user base.

Older Millennials (35–44) drop to about 2 hours 12 minutes daily, with usage split more evenly across personal and professional platforms. This cohort’s time on career platforms like LinkedIn rose 19% in 2025, reflecting a growing focus on professional networking. Millennial social media time increased 12% from 2021 levels — a trajectory that contrasts with Gen Z’s marginal decline.

Gen X (Ages 45–54): Selective and Functional

Gen X averages 1 hour 53 minutes to 1.9 hours per day on social media — focused, platform-selective, and purpose-driven. A 2023 survey found 92% of Gen Xers use social media daily, but their engagement prioritizes utility: news consumption, professional networking, and family updates rather than passive scrolling.

Only 15% of Gen X uses social platforms as a primary search tool (compared to younger cohorts who increasingly turn to TikTok or Instagram for search). Facebook and LinkedIn dominate their platform preferences, with Instagram, Pinterest, and YouTube also seeing significant Gen X participation.

Baby Boomers (Ages 55–64): Fastest-Growing Demographic

Baby Boomers average approximately 90 minutes (1.5 hours) per day on social media — a figure that reflects a 68% increase over the last decade and a 25% year-over-year growth rate, making them the fastest-growing demographic on social platforms. Time spent on social media by Boomers increased by 14 minutes since 2020, while Gen Z’s usage fell by 3 minutes over the same period.

Facebook remains dominant, used by 78% of Boomers, who spend about 1 hour 48 minutes combined on Facebook and Instagram daily. Boomers are also 19% more likely to share content than any other generation. Media consumption forecasts indicate Boomers (ages 55–64) will spend more than half of their total media time on digital platforms in 2025.

Seniors (Ages 65+): Growing, Intentional Engagement

Seniors average roughly 1 hour per day on social media — up significantly from near-zero engagement a decade ago. In the US, 90% of adults 65+ are now online (per AARP), and 73% of adults 50+ use social media regularly. Nearly half of older adults spend more than 1 hour daily on social platforms.

Facebook and YouTube dominate senior usage. Pew Research finds 57% of those 65+ use Facebook, while 74% of the 50–64 cohort do. Seniors primarily use social media to maintain family connections, watch informative videos, read news, and research products before purchasing — behavior that is intentional rather than habitual or compulsive.

Platform-Specific Time by Generation

Key Trends and Takeaways

The generational gap is widening in reverse: As Gen Z usage has slightly declined since 2020, Boomer and senior usage is surging — driven by more intuitive interfaces, pandemic-induced habit formation, and interest-based algorithmic content that appeals to older users.

Video is universal: Across all age groups, video content — particularly short-form — now commands the largest share of social media time. TikTok leads among under-35 users; YouTube spans all generations.

Gender compounds the age effect: Women aged 18–29 average 3.5 hours daily, the highest of any demographic sub-group. Teen girls at 3.7 hours outpace teen boys, who are more likely to consume media through gaming.

Mobile is the default for young users: Gen Z spends over 3 hours on mobile daily; for older users (55+), mobile usage has grown 2.8× over the past decade but still trails younger cohorts.

Health and policy implications: Average teen social media use far exceeds pediatric guidelines. Australia banned social media for under-16s in 2025, and proposed legislation in the UK targets under-16s as well. In the US, 58% of parents already report limiting their teen’s screen time.