From Facebook to YouTube, which social network ranked highest among Gen Z and Millennials in 2022?

YouTube remains the most used social network among young people of Generations Z and Y, according to a YPulse study. Image: Look Studio / Shutterstock

As we head into 2023, it's time to take stock of which social platforms took the lead in this year's popularity stakes. Between TikTok, Twitter and Meta, social players have done everything to seduce younger generations, but which ones won their favor? Find out which social networks were the most popular with Generations Z and Y in 2022.

Social platforms have once again pulled out all the stops to capture the interest of young users in 2022. With more features, more ways to earn money, or even more freedom, some platforms have managed to attract new users compared to 2021. So reports a study from YPulse, conducted among 1,500 young users, ages 13 to 39, in the United States and Canada. While Generations Z and Y are using each platform for a specific purpose, they are still most likely to use YouTube.

The video streaming site remains the most popular platform for young people at 72%, despite a slight drop in use from 74% in 2021.

Despite repeated scandals and controversy, Meta manages to hold its own with two of its social networks in the top three. Facebook and Instagram, respectively second and third in the ranking, also show a decline in usage among young people of Generations Z and Y. Just like Facebook Messenger, which has suffered the biggest drop in usage at 10%, dropping from 53% to 43%.

WhatsApp, another platform belonging to Mark Zuckerberg's Meta group, takes ninth place with 26% of respondents saying they currently use this application. Despite being placed at the bottom of the ranking, WhatsApp is among the six platforms that have seen an increase in usage among the young people surveyed in the space of one year. The platform gains 10 percentage points compared to 2021. A feat that Reddit has also managed, going from 17% to 27% usage among young people.