The Demographics of Social Media Users — 2012

Social Networking Site Users

A demographic portrait of users of various social media services

Twitter users

The percentage of internet users who are on Twitter has doubled since November 2010, currently standing at 16%.  Those under 50, and especially those 18-29, are the most likely to use Twitter.  Urban-dwellers are significantly more likely than both suburban and rural residents to be on Twitter.

Twitter demographics

Pinterest users

Pinterest, the online pinboard, has attracted 15% of internet users to its virtual scrapbooking.  Whites, young people, the well-educated, those with higher income, and women are particularly likely to use the site.  Pinterest is equally popular among those 18-29 and 30-49 (19%).  Women are about five times as likely to be on the site as men, the largest difference in gender of any site featured in this report.

Pinterest demographics

Instagram users

Thirteen percent of internet users are taking and sharing pictures with Instagram.  Women are more likely than men to use the site, as are those under 50.  African-Americans and Hispanics are more likely than whites to use Instagram, along with urban residents.

Instagram 

Tumblr users

Tumblr is significantly less popular among internet users than the other social networking sites featured in this report.  Just 6% of those online use the site.  It is much more popular, however, among the youngest cohort — 13% of those 18-29 are blogging on Tumblr.

Tumblr 

Facebook users

Facebook remains the most-used social networking platform, as two-thirds of online adults say that they are Facebook users.  Women are more likely than men to be Facebook users, and Facebook use is especially common among younger adults.

Facebook demographics

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Copyright 2013 Pew Internet & American Life Project

The Pew Research Center's Internet & American Life Project is one of seven projects that make up the Pew Research Center. The Center is supported by The Pew Charitable Trust.