In 2023, everyone knows Facebook, Instagram or YouTube, the largest social networks that each attract a number of active users that exceeds one billion.
But these platforms are not the only ones to take the lion's share of the social media market today.
Hundreds of other Social Media are used on all continents of the planet, most of which are probably unknown to you, because they are mainly used in their countries of origin.
It is for this reason that I have decided to make a ranking of the most used and popular social networks around the world, from Western Europe to North America, Asia, North Africa and Northern Europe.
1. Facebook
We no longer present Facebook, the largest social media site in the world, number 1 in this ranking with almost 3 billion active monthly users and a turnover of more than $120 billion, which places its parent company, Meta, among the largest companies in the world.
An amazing figure, nearly 37% of the world's population uses Facebook in 2022, and more than 200 million companies (mainly VSEs and SMEs) use Facebook tools and more than seven million advertisers are actively promoting their business on Facebook, making it a safe bet if you want to be present on social networks.
It is easy to get started on Facebook because almost all content formats work very well on this social network, whether it is publications in the form of text, images, photos, video content or the famous "Stories".
But for your marketing strategy, keep in mind that Facebook's algorithm prioritizes content that generates meaningful conversations and interactions between people, especially those concerning family and friends.
2. YouTube
YouTube has been the number 1 video sharing platform for several years, with 2.2 billion monthly active users.
It is estimated that about one billion hours of videos are viewed each day on average by users of what is the second largest Social Media site in the world.
YouTube is even considered the second most used search engine after Google, its parent company.
So, if you want to use the video format to set up your Social Media marketing strategy, you must absolutely be on YouTube. Simply create a YouTube channel for your brand or business and advertise and SEO to ensure that your videos are seen by as many people as possible.
3. WhatsApp
WhatsApp is a social network of the messaging application type used in more than 180 countries, which has the trifle of 2 billion monthly active users.
Initially, people used WhatsApp to send messages to their family and friends. But little by little, companies also began to use this messaging service.
As a messaging platform, WhatsApp can become an excellent customer service channel for your business.
4. Instagram
This image-oriented social network belongs to the giant Meta. Thanks to its 2 billion monthly active users, Instagram is a perfect social media platform to present your products or services via photos and videos.
On the mobile application, you can share a wide range of content such as photos, videos, stories, live videos and IGTV (longer type).
As a brand, you can create an Instagram company profile, which will provide you with in-depth analysis reports on your publications and give you the opportunity to schedule Instagram posts using third-party tools.
5. Twitter
What differentiates Twitter from most other social media sites is that it places a strong emphasis on real-time information and current events and trends.
Twitter users love to post and share Tweets (a text of up to 280 characters) on news, entertainment, sports, politics, etc.
Many brands use Twitter as an alternative customer service channel. According to statistics made public by advertisers on Twitter, more than 80% of customer service requests on social networks are made on Twitter.
6. Facebook Messenger
You may remember that a few years ago, Messenger was included in the Facebook platform, but since 2011, Messenger has been a standalone application that offers extensive features.
Companies can now advertise, create chatbots, send newsletters, etc.
These features have given companies a myriad of new ways to engage and connect with their customers.
7. WeChat
WeChat is a Chinese social network that was launched in 2011 by Tencent, one of the largest technology companies in the Middle Kingdom.
Apart from usual features such as messaging and calls, WeChat users can shop online, pay bills, shop online, transfer money, make reservations, etc.
WeChat has become the most popular social media platform in China and even has a good penetration rate and in other Asian countries.
So if you want to boost your brand's visibility in China (where popular social networks like Facebook and Twitter are prohibited), WeChat is a good alternative.
You can serve ads on the official WeChat account or on WeChat Moments. There are also many WeChat-based influencers who can help your brand reach millions of Chinese consumers.
8. TikTok
TikTok (known as "Douyin" in China) is a short video sharing application.
Although launched in 2017, it is one of the fastest growing social networks in the world and now has about one billion monthly active users.
In the United States, about 47% of TikTok users are between the ages of 10 and 29. So if your target audience is young, TikTok is an excellent social networking platform to boost the visibility of your company.
9. LinkedIn
LinkedIn has gone from being a simple job search engine and resume presentation site to a professional platform where experts from all sectors of activity around the world share content, build their network and give visibility to their brand.
It has also become a professional social network where companies can display their leadership and attract the best talent.
LinkedIn (300 million monthly active users) also offers advertising opportunities, including the ability to send personalized ads to users' inboxes.
10. Sina Weibo
In Chinese, Weibo means "micro-blog". Launched by the Chinese technology company Sina Corporation in 2009, Sina Weibo, or simply Weibo, is therefore a microblogging platform that resembles Twitter and Instagram.
Thanks to Weibo, users can publish images, videos and stories, but also see trending topics, use hashtags in their posts and use the platform as instant messaging.
Weibo also allows companies to create official and verified accounts to communicate with their subscribers and deploy paid advertising campaigns.
If you want your brand to become "viral" in China, Weibo is the essential social network.
11. QQ
QQ was launched in China in 1999 by Tencent. Before the release of WeChat, QQ was considered the number one messaging application in China.
In addition to its instant messaging features, QQ also allows users to beautify their avatars, watch movies, play online games, stream music, shop online, blog and make payments.
While WeChat has become the market leader in China, QQ is still popular with young users. It is also used in 80 countries and is available in many other languages.
One of the advantages of QQ is that you don't need a phone number to register.
Today, QQ is popular as an office email for businesses, thanks to its ease of use and ability to transfer files over 25 MB, which WeChat does not allow.
12. Telegram
Telegram is a free messaging application that has 550 million monthly active users and runs on several types of devices.
The well-known and appreciated feature of Telegram is its high-performance encryption that protects all your activities, including discussions and media shared between group participants.
This security highlight has attracted more and more customers to Telegram, especially since WhatsApp announced changes to its privacy policy that allow it to share information with its parent company Meta.
Brands can use Telegram in several ways, in addition to providing personalized customer support. For example, you can include chatbots on the Telegram platform or use the power of this tool to broadcast messages for up to 200,000 people at a time.
13. Skype
Skype is a mobile and web application for video, audio and text communication, which allows more than 300 million monthly active users to make and receive free video calls and send instant messages to other Skype users around the world.
Skype started as an independent company in 2013, but it was acquired by the giant Microsoft.
Skype for Business has all the features offered by Skype, plus advanced features ideal for small and medium-sized businesses. For example, Skype for Business allows you to add up to 250 people to your online meetings, offers you an advanced level of security, and allows you to manage your employees' accounts.
Another advantage of this Social Media tool is that it has several integrations compatible with Microsoft Office applications.
14. Snapchat
Snapchat is a social network that has more than 500 million monthly active users and focuses on sharing photos and short videos (called "snaps") with friends.
It was this Social Media that made the vertical video format popular, a format that was then taken over on other platforms such as Instagram and TikTok.
But the recent rise of Instagram Stories seems to have slowed Snapchat's growth, and there is a decrease in the interest of marketers in Snapchat at the moment.
Nevertheless, many teenagers still claim to use Snapchat, so if your target audience is mainly made up of young people, you should consider including this application in your marketing strategy.
15. Kuaishou
Kuaishou is TikTok's Chinese rival. Like its competitors, Kuaishou allows users to overlay text and stickers on images or videos and add sound extracts. Users can also stream live streaming content to their subscribers on the platform or record longer videos.
Compared to TikTok, Kuaishou is more popular with an older audience, especially in rural China. The application, which has more than 500 million monthly active users, is also based more on e-commerce revenues than on advertising revenues.
16. Qzone
Qzone is another social network launched in China by Tencent, which mixes Social Media and the blog. Users can download multimedia, keep a diary, write blog articles, play video games and stream music.
As on Facebook, Qzone users can easily connect with their friends, see news feeds, comment, share or react to messages and update their profile photos.
Qzone has more than 510 million monthly active users.
17. Pinterest
Pinterest is a unique social network to discover new trends and new products.
On Pinterest, users "pin" photos that refer to websites, product pages, blog posts and other content on the internet.
It's really an excellent platform to traffic your website, and the data shows that Pinterest users are 7 times more likely to buy products they have pinned.
Among the most popular topics and themes on the social platform are fashion, beauty, home, garden and DIY.
So, if your company operates in one of these sectors, you should strongly consider using the possibilities offered by Pinterest marketing to make your company known to a pool of users that exceeds 440 million each month.
18. Reddit
Reddit is a popular social network in North America (430 million monthly active users) known for its voting function, and which many Internet users call the "the first page of the net", thanks to its mix of news, events of all kinds, policies, and even in-depth discussions on niche topics.
There are "subreddits" (i.e. specialized forums) that cover almost every possible and imaginable topic.
These subreddits show very variable levels of engagement. You will therefore have to look for popular subreddits of which your brand can be a part.
It should be noted, however, that most subreddits do not allow self-promotion.
The objective, on this American social network platform, is to dialogue with the members of the respective subreddits by asking questions and providing answers, but also by sharing advice and resources and through thematic discussions.
In addition to submitting your content to Reddit and participating in discussions, you can also find ideas to create your new content and advertise.
19. Quora
Quora is a community question and answer website and application where people can find information on a wide variety of topics. Questions and answers are classified by users according to the number of views, votes, reviews and shares.
As a brand, you can create a Quora page for your company or use your employees as ambassadors to answer questions about your products or services, or your industry.
Quora also has an advertising platform that you can use to promote your business.
As 63% of Quora users (300 million monthly active users) are looking for online shopping opportunities, it is an excellent platform to reach customers who are actively looking for a product or service.
20. Microsoft Teams
Microsoft Teams is a collaboration and videoconferencing platform that allows users to communicate by text chat, voice, or video call.
It integrates perfectly with other Microsoft 365 services and products, such as OneDrive and PowerPoint.
Microsoft Teams is more suitable for large companies than its main competitor, Skype, because this platform offers an optimal level of security for your business, allows groups of up to 10,000 people to meet and collaborate, users to share large files (up to 1 TB per user) and offers a larger list of features and collaboration options than Skype for Business.
Microsoft Teams is now 300 million monthly active users.
21. Tumblr
Owned by Yahoo since 2013, Tumblr is a social media and microblogging platform that can be used to find and track topics and themes you like. You can also use it to publish articles on all topics, including multimedia content on a blog.
In addition, Tumblr offers many customization possibilities.
This social network has about 555 million active users per month.
22. Viber
This social networking platform available in more than 30 languages is known for its instant text messaging and voice messaging capabilities.
But with Viber, you can also share photos, videos and audio messages with ease.
This tool, which has about 249 million active users, even offers you the possibility to call non-Viber users via a feature called Viber Out.
23. Line
Line is a social network with more than 210 million active users, which specializes in messaging.
Available worldwide, it allows you to share photos, videos, text messages and even messages or audio files.
In addition, thanks to Line, you can make voice and video calls at any time of the day.
24. Foursquare
This is a local Social Media platform based on search and discovery that allows you to find the ideal places (depending on your location) to go with your friends and loved ones.
This tool also offers a social networking feature, available in a separate application called Swarm.
25. Flixster
Here is an American social network intended primarily for people who love movies and who want to share their passion with people who have the same sensitivity, for example by rating films and submitting criticism.
It is the ideal platform for film lovers who want to get information about new films and enrich their film culture.
26. Upstream
Upstream is a new social network for professionals that comes as a mobile application.
This platform, which was developed by the same team that created SocialRank, is very similar to LinkedIn, and could soon compete with the number 1 professional social network.
Thanks to Upstream, you will be able to build a professional network around a community of friends and professionals, who will be there to help you when you need it.
27. Picsart
Picsart is a technology company based in Miami, Florida, which has developed the "Picsart" series of online photo and video editing applications.
This platform allows users to take and edit photos and videos, make drawings with layers and share images, not only on Picsart, but also on other social networks.
It is one of the most popular mobile applications in the world, with more than a billion downloads in 180 countries.
28. Flickr
Flickr is another very popular photo sharing website. It mainly serves as a platform to download high-quality photographs, often taken by professional photographers or photo enthusiasts.
It is also an effective service for managing and sharing online photos, forums, which gives it a similar usefulness to that of a social network.
29. Tribe
Tribe is a cloud-based platform that allows consumers to discuss their favorite brands. It is an excellent social network for companies, because it allows them to connect directly with fans of their brand.
Companies can get feedback on products, answer questions and interact with those who support them.
As a user, you can also connect with other people who like the brand, ask questions, launch surveys and participate in broader discussions, all focused on the brands you love.
30. Discord
Discord is one of the most popular social networking platforms at the moment with more than 250 million users per month, and this number is constantly increasing.
Initially designed for communities of video game players, its use has diversified over time, and it is possible to organize group discussions.
This tool is 100% free, secure and works on both your desktop computer and your phone.
It is an excellent free alternative to premium services such as TeamSpeak.
31. WT Social
WT Social was launched by Wikipedia co-founder Jimmy Wales (WT means "WikiTribune").
It is a new social network that is positioning itself as a real alternative to major commercial platforms such as Facebook and Twitter.
WT Social is an advertising-free social network funded by donations from its users. The objective of WT Social is to allow members to choose their own content choices.
32. Triller
With more than 23 million downloads in recent months, Triller is becoming the new fashionable application, and a real competitor for TikTok.
It is an AI-powered music video application that allows users to take professional-quality videos in seconds, with features and features similar to those of TikTok. Users can create fun music videos, including lip synchronization, that they can then share with their subscribers.
33. Houseparty
Initially launched in 2016, HouseParty is a network for "Face to face" communication.
The principle behind Houseparty is simple: members can create digital "rooms" to chat by video with up to eight different people at a time.
Every time friends open the app and join a room, users receive notifications to connect instantly. There is no limit to the number of rooms users can create, so people can switch from one video chat to another while staying connected.
The Houseparty platform has gained popularity during the coronavirus pandemic and is developing rapidly.
34. Twitch
Twitch is one of the latest resounding successes in social networks, so much so that this platform is becoming a heavyweight of social media.
It is simply a live streaming platform that has about 140 million daily active users in 2022.
Twitch is mainly used by gamers, and the platform has launched the careers of many professional eSports players, but today, Twitch users can stream or download all kinds of content covering a wide range of topics and styles.
35. CaringBridge
CaringBridge is a unique social network that has existed since 1997 and offers a very valuable service.
CaringBridge's goal is to help those who have to undergo long treatment or serious medical intervention to stay in touch with their loved ones.
Users/patients can create individual sites that relate their life and experience in the hospital, publish updates and send messages to their family members.
On the other hand, loved ones can learn more about what is really happening using a secure platform.
It is the only social network of its kind in the world.
36. Soundcloud
Soundcloud is a social network that demonstrates that it is not necessary to sign a contract with a record company to create its fanbase.
This music sharing platform launched in 2008 has continued to develop and this is where the musical talents of tomorrow intersect.
Creators can download the original tracks of their songs that can be listened to and shared by all Soundcloud users, to try to create their fanbase.
It is of course possible to follow your favorite creators and know when they release a new song.
37. CouchSurfing
Launched in 2004, CouchSurfing is a social network that aims to connect travelers with people from all over the world, in a spirit of sharing. Thanks to CouchSurfing, users who like to go on an adventure can find people who offer to welcome them to their home for a night or more, for free.
It is also a tool that allows you to meet other travelers and explore your holiday destination together.
38. Renren
Renren is one of the largest social networks in China, which is very popular with young people because of its similarity to Facebook. This Social Media thus allows Internet users to easily connect and communicate with each other, to quickly share content and messages, and even to update their mood of the moment.
39. Tagged
Tagged is an excellent Social Media site based on friendship and dating that acquired another social network platform called Hi5 in 2011.
Tagged allows you to create friendships with people from all walks of life, through games, common interests, etc.
40. Italki
If you want to learn a foreign language online, italki is a social network to consider.
Launched in 2007, this platform connects you with teachers and other learners, and offers a multitude of languages.
You can even do your learning for free thanks to the Italki community.
41. Vimeo
Vimeo is a video sharing platform similar to the heavyweights in the sector such as YouTube.
But, this tool is more rich in features and rather dedicated to video creation professionals
Vimeo is a paid platform that offers several levels of membership, offering different features.
For example, the high-end option gives you the ability to organize live events with an audience chat, surveys, charts, etc.
42. Influenster
Influenster is a social network, which is dedicated to the discovery of new products. You can find products for a wide range of consumers and users can leave comments, discuss brands, etc.
What is interesting about Influenster is that the application uses social media analysis methods to measure the level of influence of its users. Those who are well followed on social networks can even participate in marketing campaigns and events.
43. Badoo
This social network specialized in dating and dating is used by more than 20 million active users per month in more than 200 countries.
Badoo offers you details about the people who live near you, in your area, and even about people you may have already met in real life.
44. Likee
Likee is a mobile application for creating and sharing short videos available for iOS and Android operating systems. It belongs to the Singaporean company BIGO Technology.
Inside this social network, you will find a ton of features, such as visual effects, as well as shooting and video editing tools.
45. DeviantArt
DeviantArt is considered the largest online community for art lovers and artists. This social network simply allows its users to take photos and share them with their community.
46. Myspace
Myspace is a social network platform with about 20 million active users per month, focused on music.
Thanks to Myspace, you will be able to create a personal profile, an interactive network of friends and enjoy blogs, groups, photos, videos, etc.
Skyrock is not just a radio. It is also a French social network that offers its users a free and personal web space to create and publish blog articles, add profiles and exchange messages. It is available in 7 languages, including French and English.
48. Meet Me
Formerly known as "MyYearbook", MeetMe is a social network for people who want to find new friends and chat with them.
It is a very popular platform for teenagers and young people.
49. Spreely
The name "Sherely" is composed of "Speak" and "Freely", which gives an indication of the objectives of this social network platform free of censorship.
Spreely promotes freedom of expression for all its users.
50. Taringa
Taringa is one of the largest social networking platforms available in South America, and it allows its users to share their experiences, content and much more.
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