Social media
- What were the top three social media sites, in terms of traffic, in 22-23? List them in order of popularity.
Depending upon which website and the time the article was posted #1 and #2 seem to flip flop between YouTube and Facebook (1) (2). When it comes to #3, it seems to have no clear third line; so for the purpose of using the most recent data, we’ll go with Instagram. (3)
2. Provide a brief summary of how each social media site works and why people use it.
You Tube uses a video platform. “At YouTube Search, we prioritize three main elements to provide the best search results: relevance, engagement and quality.” (4) People utilize YouTube to learn “How To” information.
Facebook allows users to share texts, photos, videos, and GIFS for what’s going on with them or in their community. “The algorithm uses dwell time (how long you view a post), engagement, page likes, posts, and more to determine the type of content you want to see.”(5)
Instagram allows users to share photos and videos mostly with friends and family.
“Each part of the app – Feed, Explore, Reels – uses its own algorithm tailored to how people use it….We rank things differently in different parts of the app, based on how people use them.” (6)
3. What are “demographics” and why is it important in social media?
Demographics are characteristics that make up a group of people i.e. age, sex, race, etc. Demographics are important to social media for reasons such as: marketing for advertising product purposes, content purposes, and information regarding the targeted audience.
4. Explain any demographics that stand out among the three social media sites you listed above. (More popular with a specific age group, are majority of users male or female, married or single, employees or self-employed, etc.)
“YouTube and Facebook are the only two platforms that majorities of all age groups use.” (7)
I found more information on Instagram demographics: 78% of 18- to 29-year, less than half are white adults, more women than men, and those women have either some college or college degrees. (8)
5. On average, how much time do users spend on each social media site during a day, week or month? Provide a resource that supports your answer.
One day is 2 hour 24min. (9) I had to do the following math calculations based on the information I found: 7 days Is 16.8 hours, a month is 3 days.
6. Which of the three social media networks is growing the fastest? Why do you think that is?
Forecasted for 2024: Instagram base growth 7.9% & Facebook user growth rate 0.7% (10),
YouTube annual growth rate 7.5% (11). I think Instagram is growing the fastest because of 78% of the age group the age group is 18 -29 year olds and they have grown up/are growing up during this social media explosion.
7. How are the majority of visitors accessing these three sites (computer, mobile device, tablet)?
I would say these sites are being accessed via mobile device based upon the age group utilizing Instagram.
- https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2024/01/31/americans-social-media-use/
- https://www.ecwid.com/insights/most-popular-social-networks
- https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2024/01/31/americans-social-media-use/
- https://www.youtube.com/howyoutubeworks/product-features/search/
- https://blog.hubspot.com/marketing/how-to-use-facebook
- https://about.instagram.com/blog/announcements/shedding-more-light-on-how-instagram-works
- https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2024/01/31/americans-social-media-use/
- https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2024/01/31/americans-social-media-use/
- https://explodingtopics.com/blog/social-media-usage
- (10)https://www.oberlo.com/statistics/facebook-user-growth
- (11)https://www.oberlo.com/statistics/how-many-people-use-youtube