Explore We are Flint's 2018 report delving into social media usage in the UK and the US.
The 19 social media networks tested this year were Facebook, Facebook Messenger, Foursquare, Giphy, Google+, Grindr, Instagram, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Reddit, Skype, Snapchat, Tinder, Tumblr, Twitter, Vkontake, WeChat, WhatsApp, and YouTube.
2. We are a creative communications consultancy.
We partner with experts to help them
communicate to the audiences that matter.
1. Welcome & Methodology 3
2. The Social Rankings 5
3. UK Social Profiles 13
4. US Social Profiles 33
5. Frequency of Use (US & UK) 53
3. we are Flint
Seemingly unable to rectify the threat of fake news, fear
is rising that the Facebooks and Twitters of this world are
not a force for good.
It doesn't help that the industry is structurally
compromised with eight of the top ten networks owned
by the FB, GOOG, MSFT oligopoly.
Society’s increasing weariness isn’t enough to stop most
of us logging in but recent studies have pointed at a
trend of “social minimisation”.
Our data points at a marginal decrease in the total
number of social media users in the UK – not sufficiently
significant to report on, but something we will be keenly
looking at next year.
Don’t get me wrong: social media is here to stay. The
question is can the big networks take decisive, effective
action before we lose faith in them.
@tomhashemi
tom@weareflint.co.uk
The boat is rocking.
3
4. we are Flint
We are Flint interviewed n=2,007 US adults and n=2,008 UK adults aged
18+ between the 20th and 22nd January 2018 via online panel survey on
their social media usage. Each market’s respondents were screened and
weighted to be nationally representative of age, gender and region. The
margin of error on the study is +/- 2.2%.
The 19 social media networks tested this year were Facebook, Facebook
Messenger, Foursquare, Giphy, Google+, Grindr, Instagram, LinkedIn,
Pinterest, Reddit, Skype, Snapchat, Tinder, Tumblr, Twitter, Vkontake,
WeChat, WhatsApp, and YouTube.
This presentation contains profiles of each network by gender, age, social
grade (UK only), household income, and geography. Various other
demographic breaks are available on request (hello@weareflint.co.uk).
2016: n=2,092 UK adults (18+) nationally representative of age, gender
region. Fieldwork: 2nd-4th August 2017. Networks: Facebook, Google+,
Instagram, LinkedIn, Periscope, Pinterest, Snapchat, Twitter, WhatsApp,
and YouTube.
2017: n=2,061 UK adults (18+) nationally representative of age, gender,
region. Fieldwork: 25th-28th August 2017. Networks: Facebook, Facebook
Messenger, Foursquare, Giphy, Google+, Instagram, LinkedIn, Pinterest,
Reddit, Skype, Snapchat, Tinder, Tumblr, Twitter, VKontakte, WeChat,
WhatsApp, and YouTube.
Methodology
& Approach
4
6. we are Flint
We’re all at it: over eight in ten US and UK
adults use social media
6
251.5
million3
100%
223.8
million4
89%
215.2
million
86%
UK: 1 ONS, UK mid-2016 population projection; 2 ONS, Internet Users 2017; USA: 3 US Census Bureau 2017; 4 Pew
Research Center 2018; * the 2016 version of this report used a 16+ figure for the UK adult population
51.8
million1
100%
46.1
million2
89%
43.1
million
83%
Adult (18+)*
population
Adult (18+)* online
population
Adults who
use social media
7. we are Flint
Facebook, YouTube and Facebook Messenger
dominate both the US and UK markets
Among online UK and US adults aged 18+, the % who use each network
7
Base: All US (n=2,007), All UK (n=2,008)
1
79%
86%
UK
US
Facebook
2 YouTube
79%
83%
UK
US
3 Facebook
Messenger
68%
72%
UK
US
9. we are Flint
18-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65-75 75+
Most used YouTube YouTube YouTube YouTube YouTube Facebook Facebook
2 Facebook Facebook Facebook Facebook Facebook YouTube YouTube
3 FB Messenger FB Messenger FB Messenger FB Messenger FB Messenger FB Messenger FB Messenger
4 Instagram WhatsApp WhatsApp WhatsApp WhatsApp WhatsApp Skype
5 WhatsApp Instagram Twitter Twitter Twitter Skype WhatsApp
6 Snapchat Twitter Instagram Skype Skype Google+ Twitter
There’s little difference by age among the top
three – the battle rages for fourth place
Top 6 networks by usage per age group in the UK, USA
9
Base: All US (n=2,007), All UK (n=2,008)
Most used YouTube YouTube Facebook Facebook Facebook Facebook Facebook
2 Facebook Facebook YouTube YouTube YouTube YouTube YouTube
3 FB Messenger FB Messenger FB Messenger FB Messenger FB Messenger FB Messenger FB Messenger
4 Instagram Instagram Instagram Pinterest Pinterest Google+ Google+
5 Snapchat Pinterest Pinterest Google+ Google+ Pinterest Pinterest
6 Pinterest Snapchat Google+ Twitter Twitter LinkedIn LinkedIn
10. we are Flint
85%
78%
48%
45%
29%
50%
29% 30%
20%
85%
79%
55%
44%
35%
26%
34%
29%
25%
79% 79%
58%
47%
41%
39%
36%
33%
30%
YouTube Facebook WhatsApp Twitter Instagram Google+* Pinterest LinkedIn Snapchat
10
* Google+ question reworded in 2017 to remind respondents that this
specifically referred to the social media network (i.e. not the search engine)
2016 2017 2018
YouTube and Facebook plateau since 2016;
several smaller networks see growth
Among online UK adults aged 18+, the % who use each network 2016-2018
11. we are Flint
79% 79%
68%
58%
47%
41% 40% 39%
36%
33%
83%
86%
72%
24%
44%
47%
37%
50% 52%
40%
YouTube Facebook Facebook
Messenger
WhatsApp Twitter Instagram Skype Google + Pinterest LinkedIn
Corporate ownership: Google, Facebook,
Microsoft dominate (8 of the top 10)
Among online UK and US adults aged 18+, the % who use each network
11
Base: All US (n=2,007), All UK (n=2,008)
UK USA
12. we are Flint
86%
72%
83%
47% 50%
44%
34%
52%
24%
40%
66%
38% 37%
25% 22% 20% 19% 17% 10%
9%
Facebook Facebook
Messenger
YouTube Instagram Google+ Twitter Snapchat Pinterest WhatsApp LinkedIn
79%
68%
58%
79%
47%
41%
30%
39% 36%
40%
61%
37% 35% 33%
23% 22% 16% 15%
8% 7%
Facebook Facebook
Messenger
WhatsApp YouTube Twitter Instagram Snapchat Google+ Pinterest Skype
Facebook-owned platforms dominate daily
use of social in both markets
Among online UK and US adults aged 18+, the % who use each network vs. daily use
12
Use Use Daily
Base: All US (n=2,007), All UK (n=2,008)
34. we are Flint
Facebook
Among online US adults aged 18+, the % who use Facebook
71%
76%
82%
89%
91%
94%
87%
89%
82%
75+
65-75
55-64
45-54
35-44
25-34
18-24
Female
Male
34
85%
86%
85%
88%
81%
88%
86%
86%
Rural
Urban
Under $30k
$30-60k
$60-70k
$70-80k
$80-100k
$100k+
Gender
Age
HH Income
Geography
Base: All US (n=2,007)
35. we are Flint
YouTube
Among online US adults aged 18+, the % who use YouTube
35
79%
84%
83%
81%
80%
80%
82%
89%
Rural
Urban
Under $30k
$30-60k
$60-70k
$70-80k
$80-100k
$100k+
51%
66%
79%
85%
90%
95%
96%
83%
83%
75+
65-75
55-64
45-54
35-44
25-34
18-24
Female
Male
Gender
Age
HH Income
Geography
Base: All US (n=2,007)
36. we are Flint
Facebook Messenger
Among online US adults aged 18+, the % who use Facebook Messenger
40%
50%
67%
73%
85%
89%
81%
77%
67%
75+
65-75
55-64
45-54
35-44
25-34
18-24
Female
Male
36
71%
73%
73%
74%
73%
75%
72%
69%
Rural
Urban
Under $30k
$30-60k
$60-70k
$70-80k
$80-100k
$100k+
Gender
Age
HH Income
Geography
Base: All US (n=2,007)
37. we are Flint
Pinterest
Among online US adults aged 18+, the % who use Pinterest
21%
33%
47%
53%
62%
69%
62%
65%
40%
75+
65-75
55-64
45-54
35-44
25-34
18-24
Female
Male
37
51%
53%
45%
52%
55%
62%
58%
58%
Rural
Urban
Under $30k
$30-60k
$60-70k
$70-80k
$80-100k
$100k+
Gender
Age
HH Income
Geography
Base: All US (n=2,007)
38. we are Flint
Google+
Among online US adults aged 18+, the % who use Google+
39%
35%
41%
49%
59%
60%
59%
48%
52%
75+
65-75
55-64
45-54
35-44
25-34
18-24
Female
Male
38
48%
51%
52%
50%
39%
56%
45%
51%
Rural
Urban
Under $30k
$30-60k
$60-70k
$70-80k
$80-100k
$100k+
Gender
Age
HH Income
Geography
Base: All US (n=2,007)
39. we are Flint
Instagram
Among online US adults aged 18+, the % who use Instagram
11%
18%
29%
42%
63%
69%
79%
49%
45%
75+
65-75
55-64
45-54
35-44
25-34
18-24
Female
Male
39
35%
51%
44%
45%
36%
55%
46%
60%
Rural
Urban
Under $30k
$30-60k
$60-70k
$70-80k
$80-100k
$100k+
Gender
Age
HH Income
Geography
Base: All US (n=2,007)
40. we are Flint
Twitter
Among online US adults aged 18+, the % who use Twitter
16%
25%
33%
43%
55%
58%
58%
39%
48%
75+
65-75
55-64
45-54
35-44
25-34
18-24
Female
Male
40
34%
47%
38%
44%
40%
52%
49%
53%
Rural
Urban
Under $30k
$30-60k
$60-70k
$70-80k
$80-100k
$100k+
Gender
Age
HH Income
Geography
Base: All US (n=2,007)
41. we are Flint
LinkedIn
Among online US adults aged 18+, the % who use LinkedIn
20%
26%
30%
43%
50%
51%
45%
34%
46%
75+
65-75
55-64
45-54
35-44
25-34
18-24
Female
Male
41
27%
44%
27%
38%
40%
49%
50%
60%
Rural
Urban
Under $30k
$30-60k
$60-70k
$70-80k
$80-100k
$100k+
Gender
Age
HH Income
Geography
Base: All US (n=2,007)
42. we are Flint
Skype
Among online US adults aged 18+, the % who use Skype
16%
26%
25%
33%
42%
52%
51%
32%
42%
75+
65-75
55-64
45-54
35-44
25-34
18-24
Female
Male
42
28%
39%
26%
38%
39%
40%
43%
51%
Rural
Urban
Under $30k
$30-60k
$60-70k
$70-80k
$80-100k
$100k+
Gender
Age
HH Income
Geography
Base: All US (n=2,007)
43. we are Flint
Snapchat
Among online US adults aged 18+, the % who use Snapchat
5%
6%
11%
24%
45%
60%
78%
35%
33%
75+
65-75
55-64
45-54
35-44
25-34
18-24
Female
Male
43
26%
37%
32%
33%
31%
42%
39%
39%
Rural
Urban
Under $30k
$30-60k
$60-70k
$70-80k
$80-100k
$100k+
Gender
Age
HH Income
Geography
Base: All US (n=2,007)
44. we are Flint
Reddit
Among online US adults aged 18+, the % who use Reddit
4%
6%
11%
19%
32%
45%
42%
17%
32%
75+
65-75
55-64
45-54
35-44
25-34
18-24
Female
Male
44
17%
21%
18%
24%
23%
32%
29%
35%
Rural
Urban
Under $30k
$30-60k
$60-70k
$70-80k
$80-100k
$100k+
Gender
Age
HH Income
Geography
Base: All US (n=2,007)
45. we are Flint
WhatsApp
Among online US adults aged 18+, the % who use WhatsApp
9%
9%
8%
19%
32%
42%
38%
19%
28%
75+
65-75
55-64
45-54
35-44
25-34
18-24
Female
Male
45
14%
26%
19%
20%
17%
28%
31%
37%
Rural
Urban
Under $30k
$30-60k
$60-70k
$70-80k
$80-100k
$100k+
Gender
Age
HH Income
Geography
Base: All US (n=2,007)
46. we are Flint
Tumblr
Among online US adults aged 18+, the % who use Tumblr
2%
4%
8%
16%
26%
34%
43%
14%
27%
75+
65-75
55-64
45-54
35-44
25-34
18-24
Female
Male
46
14%
22%
15%
22%
15%
24%
25%
27%
Rural
Urban
Under $30k
$30-60k
$60-70k
$70-80k
$80-100k
$100k+
Gender
Age
HH Income
Geography
Base: All US (n=2,007)
47. we are Flint
Tinder
Among online US adults aged 18+, the % who use Tinder
4%
2%
4%
8%
20%
25%
35%
10%
20%
75+
65-75
55-64
45-54
35-44
25-34
18-24
Female
Male
47
9%
16%
12%
15%
6%
20%
20%
20%
Rural
Urban
Under $30k
$30-60k
$60-70k
$70-80k
$80-100k
$100k+
Gender
Age
HH Income
Geography
Base: All US (n=2,007)
48. we are Flint
Foursquare
Among online US adults aged 18+, the % who use Foursquare
2%
2%
3%
10%
19%
24%
26%
8%
18%
75+
65-75
55-64
45-54
35-44
25-34
18-24
Female
Male
48
9%
14%
10%
12%
8%
18%
21%
20%
Rural
Urban
Under $30k
$30-60k
$60-70k
$70-80k
$80-100k
$100k+
Gender
Age
HH Income
Geography
Base: All US (n=2,007)
49. we are Flint
Giphy
Among online US adults aged 18+, the % who use Giphy
2%
1%
4%
7%
19%
26%
28%
10%
17%
75+
65-75
55-64
45-54
35-44
25-34
18-24
Female
Male
49
11%
14%
10%
12%
11%
17%
18%
20%
Rural
Urban
Under $30k
$30-60k
$60-70k
$70-80k
$80-100k
$100k+
Gender
Age
HH Income
Geography
Base: All US (n=2,007)
50. we are Flint
WeChat
Among online US adults aged 18+, the % who use WeChat
3%
2%
2%
7%
18%
22%
23%
6%
17%
75+
65-75
55-64
45-54
35-44
25-34
18-24
Female
Male
50
8%
13%
8%
10%
8%
16%
16%
19%
Rural
Urban
Under $30k
$30-60k
$60-70k
$70-80k
$80-100k
$100k+
Gender
Age
HH Income
Geography
Base: All US (n=2,007)
51. we are Flint
Grindr
Among online US adults aged 18+, the % who use Grindr
2%
1%
1%
7%
16%
19%
23%
5%
15%
75+
65-75
55-64
45-54
35-44
25-34
18-24
Female
Male
51
7%
11%
7%
9%
5%
16%
15%
18%
Rural
Urban
Under $30k
$30-60k
$60-70k
$70-80k
$80-100k
$100k+
Gender
Age
HH Income
Geography
Base: All US (n=2,007)
52. we are Flint
VKontakte
Among online US adults aged 18+, the % who use VKontakte
3%
1%
1%
5%
13%
18%
21%
6%
13%
75+
65-75
55-64
45-54
35-44
25-34
18-24
Female
Male
52
7%
10%
8%
8%
6%
13%
15%
14%
Rural
Urban
Under $30k
$30-60k
$60-70k
$70-80k
$80-100k
$100k+
Gender
Age
HH Income
Geography
Base: All US (n=2,007)
54. we are Flint
19%
14%
17%
10% 9% 10%
21%
26%
12%
16%
9% 11% 10%
16%
Several times a
day
Once a day Once every few
days
Once a week Once every few
weeks
Less often than
every few weeks
Never
YouTube
Among online UK/US adults aged 18+, frequency of YouTube use
54
UK USA
Base: All US (n=2,007), All UK (n=2,008). Don’t knows not included.
55. we are Flint
45%
16%
7% 5%
2% 3%
21%
50%
16%
9%
5% 3% 3%
14%
Several times a
day
Once a day Once every few
days
Once a week Once every few
weeks
Less often than
every few weeks
Never
Facebook
Among online UK/US adults aged 18+, frequency of Facebook use
55
UK USA
Base: All US (n=2,007), All UK (n=2,008). Don’t knows not included.
56. we are Flint
26%
10%
13%
6% 6% 6%
31%
27%
11%
14%
7% 6% 7%
27%
Several times a
day
Once a day Once every few
days
Once a week Once every few
weeks
Less often than
every few weeks
Never
Facebook Messenger
Among online UK/US adults aged 18+, frequency of Facebook Messenger use
56
UK USA
Base: All US (n=2,007), All UK (n=2,008). Don’t knows not included.
57. we are Flint
26%
9% 9%
5% 4% 5%
41%
7%
3% 3% 3% 3% 5%
74%
Several times a
day
Once a day Once every few
days
Once a week Once every few
weeks
Less often than
every few weeks
Never
WhatsApp
Among online UK/US adults aged 18+, frequency of WhatsApp use
57
UK USA
Base: All US (n=2,007), All UK (n=2,008). Don’t knows not included.
58. we are Flint
14%
9% 8%
5% 5% 6%
52%
12%
8% 7%
4% 5%
8%
55%
Several times a
day
Once a day Once every few
days
Once a week Once every few
weeks
Less often than
every few weeks
Never
Twitter
Among online UK/US adults aged 18+, frequency of Twitter use
58
UK USA
Base: All US (n=2,007), All UK (n=2,008). Don’t knows not included.
59. we are Flint
14%
8% 7%
4% 4% 4%
58%
18%
7% 7%
4% 4%
7%
51%
Several times a
day
Once a day Once every few
days
Once a week Once every few
weeks
Less often than
every few weeks
Never
Instagram
Among online UK/US adults aged 18+, frequency of Instagram use
59
UK USA
Base: All US (n=2,007), All UK (n=2,008). Don’t knows not included.
60. we are Flint
3% 4% 6% 5% 6%
16%
59%
5% 4% 5% 3%
6%
14%
62%
Several times a
day
Once a day Once every few
days
Once a week Once every few
weeks
Less often than
every few weeks
Never
Skype
Among online UK/US adults aged 18+, frequency of Skype use
60
UK USA
Base: All US (n=2,007), All UK (n=2,008). Don’t knows not included.
61. we are Flint
9%
6% 6% 4% 4%
10%
60%
14%
8% 8%
5% 5%
10%
48%
Several times a
day
Once a day Once every few
days
Once a week Once every few
weeks
Less often than
every few weeks
Never
Google+
Among online UK/US adults aged 18+, frequency of Google+ use
61
UK USA
Base: All US (n=2,007), All UK (n=2,008). Don’t knows not included.
62. we are Flint
4% 4%
8% 5% 6% 9%
63%
8% 9% 10%
7% 8%
11%
46%
Several times a
day
Once a day Once every few
days
Once a week Once every few
weeks
Less often than
every few weeks
Never
Pinterest
Among online UK/US adults aged 18+, frequency of Pinterest use
62
UK USA
Base: All US (n=2,007), All UK (n=2,008). Don’t knows not included.
63. we are Flint
3% 4% 5% 6% 6%
9%
66%
4% 5% 7% 6% 6%
12%
58%
Several times a
day
Once a day Once every few
days
Once a week Once every few
weeks
Less often than
every few weeks
Never
LinkedIn
Among online UK/US adults aged 18+, frequency of LinkedIn use
63
UK USA
Base: All US (n=2,007), All UK (n=2,008). Don’t knows not included.
64. we are Flint
10%
6% 5%
3% 3% 4%
69%
13%
6% 4% 3% 3% 5%
63%
Several times a
day
Once a day Once every few
days
Once a week Once every few
weeks
Less often than
every few weeks
Never
Snapchat
Among online UK/US adults aged 18+, frequency of Snapchat use
64
UK USA
Base: All US (n=2,007), All UK (n=2,008). Don’t knows not included.
65. we are Flint
3% 2% 3% 2% 3% 5%
81%
4% 3% 5% 3% 3%
6%
74%
Several times a
day
Once a day Once every few
days
Once a week Once every few
weeks
Less often than
every few weeks
Never
Reddit
Among online UK/US adults aged 18+, frequency of Reddit use
65
UK USA
Base: All US (n=2,007), All UK (n=2,008). Don’t knows not included.
66. we are Flint
2% 2% 3% 2% 3% 5%
82%
4% 3% 4% 2% 2% 4%
79%
Several times a
day
Once a day Once every few
days
Once a week Once every few
weeks
Less often than
every few weeks
Never
Tumblr
Among online UK/US adults aged 18+, frequency of Tumblr use
66
UK USA
Base: All US (n=2,007), All UK (n=2,008). Don’t knows not included.
67. we are Flint
1% 2% 3% 2% 2% 2%
88%
2% 2% 2% 2% 2% 2%
85%
Several times a
day
Once a day Once every few
days
Once a week Once every few
weeks
Less often than
every few weeks
Never
Giphy
Among online UK/US adults aged 18+, frequency of Giphy use
67
UK USA
Base: All US (n=2,007), All UK (n=2,008). Don’t knows not included.
68. we are Flint
2% 2% 2% 2% 1% 3%
88%
2% 3% 3% 2% 2% 3%
84%
Several times a
day
Once a day Once every few
days
Once a week Once every few
weeks
Less often than
every few weeks
Never
Tinder
Among online UK/US adults aged 18+, frequency of Tinder use
68
UK USA
Base: All US (n=2,007), All UK (n=2,008). Don’t knows not included.
69. we are Flint
2% 2% 1% 1% 1% 2%
89%
2% 2% 2% 2% 1% 2%
87%
Several times a
day
Once a day Once every few
days
Once a week Once every few
weeks
Less often than
every few weeks
Never
WeChat
Among online UK/US adults aged 18+, frequency of WeChat use
69
UK USA
Base: All US (n=2,007), All UK (n=2,008). Don’t knows not included.
70. we are Flint
1% 2% 2% 1% 1% 2%
90%
2% 2% 3% 2% 2% 2%
85%
Several times a
day
Once a day Once every few
days
Once a week Once every few
weeks
Less often than
every few weeks
Never
Foursquare
Among online UK/US adults aged 18+, frequency of Foursquare use
70
Base: All US (n=2,007), All UK (n=2,008). Don’t knows not included.
71. we are Flint
1% 1% 2% 2% 1% 2%
91%
2% 2% 2% 1% 2% 1%
88%
Several times a
day
Once a day Once every few
days
Once a week Once every few
weeks
Less often than
every few weeks
Never
Grindr
Among online UK/US adults aged 18+, frequency of Grindr use
71
UK USA
Base: All US (n=2,007), All UK (n=2,008). Don’t knows not included.
72. we are Flint
1% 2% 2% 1% 1% 2%
92%
2% 2% 2% 1% 1% 1%
89%
Several times a
day
Once a day Once every few
days
Once a week Once every few
weeks
Less often than
every few weeks
Never
VKontakte
Among online UK/US adults aged 18+, frequency of VKontakte use
72
UK USA
Base: All US (n=2,007), All UK (n=2,008). Don’t knows not included.