135 Social Media Addiction Statistics You Must Know (2025) + How to Prevent

Social media addiction is at an all-time high due to the excessive use of social media platforms and the internet. This addiction has impacted everyone alike from teens to the elderly. 

It is about time that social media addiction is treated as a serious matter and not some vague notion. To assess the rising trend in social media usage and addiction, we have done extensive research and gathered 135 social media addiction statistics. This will help you better analyze the situation and take preventive measures for yourself and your loved ones accordingly. 

Global Addiction to Social Media Statistics 

1. Approximately 210 million people (4% to 5% of all users) worldwide suffer from social media addiction.

2. The daily average use of social media has increased to 143 minutes in 2025 from just 90 minutes in 2012.

3. From 2018-2025, the average number of social media accounts per person has increased from 4.8 to 8.5.

4. Teenagers aged 13 to 18 spend an average of 3 hours daily on social media.

5. 32% of women and 6% of men feel addicted to the social media worldwide.

6. Between 2023 and 2024, there was an increase of 256 million new social media users globally.

7. As of October 2024, 63.8% of the global population are active social media users, which correlates with rising addiction rates.

8. Around 75% of social media users are highly dependent on social media and check their accounts within 15 minutes of waking up.

9. 40% of social media users admit to spending more time on social media than they originally intended daily.

10. Over 60% of college students report being addicted to social media.

Don’t Forget to Check Out These Blogs

💡  15 WhatsApp Scams You Didn’t Know About + How to Prevent Them
🔥  150+ Social Media Acronyms Every Parent Should Know
⚡  Dangerous TikTok Challenges Every Parent Should Be Aware Of

Addiction to Social Media by Region

11. Approximately 8-10% of social media users in North America exhibit signs of addiction.

12. 5-7% of users in Europe are affected by social media addiction, with the younger demographic raising the most concerns.

13. 6-9% of users in Africa use social media excessively and are highly dependent on it.

14. The Middle East has the highest social media penetration rate worldwide, and almost 10-12% of its users are addicted to social media.

15. 7-11% of Asian users are social media addicts, mainly in areas that have high mobile usage and internet penetration.

16. 8-10% of social media users in South America display addictive behavior and use various social media platforms for over 3 hours.

17. 7-9% of users in Oceania exhibit symptoms of social media addiction.

18. 6-8% of users in Central Asia, particularly in urban areas, excessively use social media.

19. 5-7% of social media users in Eastern Europe exhibit signs of compulsive behaviors and increased smartphone penetration. 

20. 7-9% of users in the Caribbean depend heavily on social media and display signs of addiction. 

Statistics on Social Media Addiction by Country

21. The Philippines has 38% addicted users with an average daily social media usage of 4 hours, and 45 minutes.

22. Brazil has 35% addicted users with an average daily social media usage of 4 hours, and 20 minutes.

23. India has 32% addicted users with an average daily social media usage of 3 hours, and 55 minutes.

24. Nigeria has 30% addicted users with an average daily social media usage of 3 hours, and 50 minutes.

25. The United States has 28% addicted users with an average daily social media usage of 3 hours, and 30 minutes.

26. Egypt has 27% addicted users with an average daily social media usage of 3 hours, and 20 minutes.

27. The United Kingdom has 25% addicted users with an average daily social media usage of 3 hours, and 10 minutes.

28. South Korea has 23% addicted users with an average daily social media usage of 3 hours, and 5 minutes.

29. Canada has 22% addicted users with an average daily social media usage of 3 hours.

30. Australia has 20% addicted users with an average daily social media usage of 2 hours, and 50 minutes.

Statistics of Social Media Addiction in the US

31. Around 70% of adults in the United States report using social media daily.

32. 95% of teenagers in the United States own a smartphone, and 94% of them use social media platforms regularly. 

33. 80% of teenagers report spending at least 2 hours per day on social media. 

34. 62% of adults spend an average of 2-3 hours daily on social media platforms.

35. 40% of teens say they find it hard to disconnect from social media for more than 24 hours.

36. The average teen spends 4-5 hours per day on social media, with an additional 2 hours on average spent on streaming platforms.

37. 72% of women aged 18-34 report checking social media at least 10 times a day.

38. 58% of adolescents report experiencing anxiety, depression, or stress as a result of their social media usage.

39. 45% of young adults report feeling more isolated or disconnected after spending significant time on social media.

40. An average American spends 7 hours and 3 minutes staring at a screen including smartphones, computers, and televisions. 

Social Media Addiction Facts by Ethnicity

 

41. Approximately 29% of Hispanic respondents reported feeling addicted to social media.

42. Hispanic individuals have a social media usage rate of 80%.

43. An estimated 25% of Black Americans report being addicted to social media.

44. Social media usage among Black individuals stands at 77%.

45. Around 32% of White Americans feel addicted to social media.

46. Social media usage among White individuals is 69%.

47. Approximately 27% of Asian Americans report being addicted to social media. 

48. Around 28% of Native American and Alaska Native individuals experience social media addiction.

49. Due to limited specific data, it’s estimated that 26% of Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Americans experience social media addiction.

50. An estimated 30% of individuals identifying as multiracial report social media addiction.

Social Media Addiction Stats by Demographics 

51. Urban residents are more likely to be addicted to social media (70%) compared to rural residents (64%).

52. Approximately 45% of college students admit that social media use has negatively impacted their academic performance.

53. Around 30% of professionals in the U.S. feel compelled to check social media during work hours.

54. About 28% of parents acknowledge spending more time on social media than with their children.

55. 15% of retirees have developed habits of frequent social media use.

Social Media Addiction Facts About Age Groups 

56. 40% of U.S. online users aged 18 to 22 report feeling addicted to social media.

57. 37% of Americans aged 23-38 self-report being addicted to social media.

58. 26% of individuals aged 39-54 acknowledge a dependency on social media platforms.

59. 21% of Americans aged 55 to 64 report being addicted to social media.

60. Nearly 50% of U.S. teens are online “constantly” and display potentially addictive behaviors.

Gender-Based Facts about Social Media Addiction

61. In the U.S., 34% of women and 26% of men report feeling addicted to social media platforms.

62. 51.2% of social media users in the United States are women, while 48.8% are men.

63. Women in the U.S. have an average daily screen time of 6 hours and 29 minutes.

64. Men in the U.S. have an average daily screen time of 6 hours and 28 minutes. 

65. Women check social media 24 times per day, while men check it around 17 times daily.

66. 74% of women and 59% of men report using social media late at night even when they know it negatively affects their sleep.

67. 28% of women and 19% of men admit that social media distractions have caused them to miss important deadlines, work tasks, or household chores.

68. 23% of men and 15% of women admit to checking social media while driving.

69. 70% of women and 54% of men report feeling uneasy or anxious when they cannot access social media for extended periods.

70. 45% of men have tried to take a break from social media for a week or longer, while only 31% of women have done the same.

Social Media and Addiction in Gen Z

71. Approximately 91% of Gen Z adults use at least one social media platform.

72. Over 50% of Gen Z and Millennial users confess to feeling addicted to social media.

73. Gen Z adults spend an average of 4.5 hours per day on social media platforms.

74. 60% of Gen Z adults believe they spend too much time on social media.

75. 70% of Gen Z adults report that late-night social media use negatively affects their sleep quality.

76. 65% of Gen Z adults experience FoMO which drives them to check social media compulsively.

77. 50% of Gen Z adults admit that comparing themselves to others on social media negatively impacts their self-esteem.

78. 40% of Gen Z adults acknowledge that social media distractions have hindered their academic or work performance.

79. Females in Gen Z report higher feelings of social media addiction (58%) compared to males (42%).

80. Within Gen Z, individuals aged 18-22 exhibit the highest daily social media usage, averaging 5 hours per day.

How Many Teens Are Addicted to Social Media?

81. Approximately 96% of U.S. teens use social media platforms daily.

82. 70% of U.S. teens feel they are addicted to social media.

83. Teens spend an average of 4.8 hours per day on social media platforms.

84. 60% of teens feel they cannot live without access to their favorite social media platforms.

85. 41% of teens with the highest social media use rate their overall mental health as poor or very poor.

86. 10% of teens in the highest social media use group expressed suicidal intent or self-harm in the past 12 months.

87. Teen girls are more likely to report feelings of social media addiction, with 54% acknowledging dependency, compared to 38% of teen boys.

88. 72% of parents are concerned about their teen’s social media usage and its potentially addictive nature.

89. Over 20% of 13-year-old girls exhibit signs of problematic social media use, a rate that has doubled in recent years.

90. 46% of U.S. teens describe their online presence as “almost constant.”

What is the Most Addictive Social Media App?

TikTok

91. 46% of U.S. teens say they use TikTok almost constantly.

92. 83% of TikTok users report feeling addicted to scrolling through videos.

93. 82% of TikTok users report that they find themselves scrolling for more than an hour.

Instagram

94. 70% of young adult women (18-29) report feeling addicted to Instagram.

95. 45% of U.S. teens believe they could not live without Instagram.

Youtube

96. 67% of teenagers watch YouTube daily, with many reporting “binge-watching” behavior.

97. Teens aged 16-19 spend an average of 2 hours daily on YouTube, with 49% of them reporting it as a highly addictive platform.

Snapchat

98. 54% of U.S. teens use Snapchat daily, with 36% saying they check it “constantly.”

99. Snapchat users spend an average of 30 minutes daily, with teens spending up to 3 hours per day.

Facebook

100. 63% of teens report feeling somewhat addicted to Facebook.

101. 82% of women in their late teens and early twenties report feeling emotionally attached to the app.

Twitter (X)

102. 48% of Twitter users report logging in several times a day due to its addictive nature.

103. 65% of Twitter users aged 18-34 are addicted to receiving constant updates.

Pinterest

104. 43% of Pinterest users report feeling “addicted” to the endless browsing of its personalized content.

WhatsApp

105. 70% of teenagers report checking WhatsApp more than 10 times a day.

106. 55% of teens believe they could not function without WhatsApp.

Is Social Media Addictive?

All social media platforms aim to keep the users on the app as long as possible. To achieve this goal, there are various addictive features attributed to all popular platforms. 

TikTok

107. 85% of TikTok users report that they are drawn to the platform for extended periods due to its “For You” page.

108. 88% of TikTok users report feeling addicted to the platform due to its short-form videos.

Instagram

109. 77% of Instagram users report feeling hooked due to its infinite scroll feature.

110. 72% of teens say that the “like” system on Instagram fuels a sense of addiction, as they seek validation and social approval.

Snapchat

111. 60% of Snapchat users say they feel compelled to keep their streaks alive, making it one of the most addictive features on the app.

112. 55% of Snapchat users report using filters for prolonged periods because it provides instant gratification and a self-esteem boost.

Facebook

113. 69% of Facebook users find themselves scrolling mindlessly through the news feed.

Youtube

114. 56% of YouTube users report watching videos for hours due to the autoplay feature.

Twitter (X)

115. 60% of Twitter users report feeling addicted to the app due to the constant engagement.

Harmful Effects of Addiction to Social Media Statistics

Everything in excess causes some damage, the same is the case with social media addiction. The statistics on social media addiction above are a reflection of how commonplace the issues below will continue to become. 

116. 41% of young adults report feeling more anxious and stressed after spending prolonged periods on social media.

117. 28% of teenagers say they feel depressed after using social media.

118. 48% of social media users report sleep disturbances, such as insomnia.

119. 60% of teenagers report experiencing a decline in self-esteem due to social media.

120. 63% of social media users report experiencing FOMO.

121. 44% of women aged 18-29 report feeling dissatisfied with their bodies due to unrealistic beauty standards on social media.

122. 55% of social media addicts report feeling emotionally drained after spending time on platforms.

123. 45% of adults say that social media makes them feel more isolated and lonely. 

124. 25% of people who use social media excessively report experiencing difficulties with focus and memory retention.

125. 50% of adults report a significant decline in their productivity due to social media addiction.

Reasons People Wish to Quit Social Media

126. 45% of social media users say they want to quit because they feel it negatively affects their mental health.

127. 38% of social media users report wanting to quit because they feel overwhelmed by the constant flow of information, notifications, and the pressure to stay engaged.

128. 61% of users who are trying to quit social media say they do so because they feel that they are wasting too much time scrolling through platforms.

129. 42% of users state they want to quit social media to reclaim their privacy.

130. 55% of people who report quitting social media say they were struggling with addictive behaviors.

Ways Used to Treat Social Media Addiction Statistics

People use the following ways to treat their addiction though their success rate may vary from person to person.

131. 18% of social media users who are looking to quit or reduce usage seek professional help by attending digital detox retreats. 

132. 29% of people attempting to reduce their social media usage integrate meditation into their daily routine.

133. 27% of individuals who struggle with social media addiction pursue therapy or counseling, particularly Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT).

134. 34% of social media addicts report using self-imposed social media blackouts.

135. 31% of individuals trying to control their social media habits set scheduled breaks or time blocks during the day to limit usage. 

4 Steps to Prevent Social Media Addiction

However, rather than taking things too far and then taking action by employing these solutions to counter addiction, it is far better to be mindful beforehand about social media and addiction. 

Since teens are the most vulnerable, as is visible in the stats, it is best to use the methods given below to prevent addiction in your children and loved ones.

1. Use XNSPY

XNSPY is a parental monitoring app that helps parents track their children’s online activities without requiring physical access to their devices. You can monitor their social media content consumption, screen time, phone logs, IM chats, media files shared, etc.

With their screen time accessible to you, you can further take measures by blocking particular apps or locking their phone using XNSPY’s app blocker or remote commands.  

Moreover, with the logs and complete phone activity, you can also observe their digital habits, dependency patterns, and apps that are most frequented. Therefore, if your child begins to showcase risky behavior and addictive usage, you can seek therapy and other solutions timely.

2. Set Time Limits

Limitless use of social media, as is observed above, can deem no good results. That is most definitely a disaster waiting to happen. What you can do instead is set time limits for your children. 

For example, allow children only the screen time that is deemed healthy by medical professionals i.e., no more than 1-2 hours. Screen time within the limit will help them evade addictive patterns and not fall victim to this addiction. 

3. Observe a Digital Fast

It is best to discuss this with your children before taking the step. During the discussion, talk to them about the harms of social media usage and encourage them to take some time off social media weekly, like 6-12 hours of screen-free time. 

For the allocated time, they will stay away from all their devices and focus on other recreational activities. By doing so, they can avoid becoming dependent on their phone and decrease their social media penetration.

4. Find Alternatives for Online Activities

But remember that you cannot expect them to leave their phone and social media for a while without getting something else as a replacement. The best route to go about this is by proposing physical activities. 

Engage with them in these activities to keep them focused and also try to help them make real-life friends. Both the physical activities and the real friends will create a distraction and enforce good digital habits. 

Key Takeaways

The key takeaways from all the 135 social media addiction stats are as follows:

• Despite the U.S. having lower average daily usage than some countries, addiction remains a serious issue.
• Hispanic and White Americans report the highest levels of social media addiction in the U.S.
• Women report feeling more addicted than men.
• Teens and young adults are the most affected by social media addiction.
• Short-form video apps, like TikTok, Instagram, etc, contribute the most to addiction patterns. 
• Social media addiction negatively impacts mental health.
• People attempt to curb their addiction through digital detoxes, therapy, and self-imposed restrictions.

Conclusion

The above-mentioned statistics of social media addiction are not mere value but the reality of our society. If we continue to ignore it, the impact, not only on the affected individuals but also on the overall society, will be paramount. 

Therefore, as adults, it is your responsibility to protect those who are young and naive. You cannot expect your teens to understand everything and take proper measures. It falls upon you to save them from social media, its risks, and addiction. 

Regardless of the measure you take to fight addiction, make sure it fulfills your needs. 

Sources

• Addiction Group
• Addiction Help
• American Psychological Association
• AP NEWS
• Backlinko
• Common Sense (1)
• Common Sense (2)
• Cross River Therapy
• DataReportal
• Demandsage
• Electro IQ
• Evoca
• Exploding Topics (1)
• Exploding Topics (2)
• JAMA Network
• Mental Health America
• Mental Health Foundation
• National Library of Medicine
• Pew Research Center (1)
• Pew Research Center (2)
• Priori Data
• Recovery Center of Niagara
• Rosewood Recovery
• Search Logistics
• Sentiment
• Statista (1)
• Statista (2)
• Statista (3)
• Statista (4)
• Statista (5)
• Statista (6)
• The Times
• What’s The Big Data