Key Figures of Internet and Social Media Worldwide in April 2024

On Wednesday, April 24, 2024, the agency We Are Social released the updated version of its Digital Report. Developed in partnership with Meltwater, this study aims to analyze online behaviors and, more importantly, identify the latest digital trends. Explore the main insights of the report in this article.

Global Trends in April 2024

Internet Connectivity Continues to Surge

• 5.44 billion individuals are now connected to the Internet globally, marking an increase of 178 million internet users since April 2023.
• The report highlights that internet users are now in a “supermajority,” with more than two-thirds of people regularly browsing the web.
• However, despite today’s impressive figures, the goal of universal connectivity declared by the United Nations is still far from achieved, with 2.66 billion individuals unable to access the internet as of April 2024.

Mobile Usage on the Rise

• The number of unique mobile users has increased by 2.4% over the past year, representing a gain of 133 million users worldwide.
• As of April 2024, 69.7% of the world’s 8.10 billion population own a mobile phone connected to the internet.

Social Media Growth in April 2024

• According to We Are Social and Meltwater, the number of social media platform users continues to grow at a “significant rate” (+5.4% compared to last year).
• In April 2024, there are “5.07 billion unique user identities” on social media platforms, accounting for 62.6% of the world’s population.
• However, these figures should be interpreted with caution as they may include fake profiles and duplicates.

Internet Usage Worldwide in April 2024

Key Statistics

• 5.44 billion individuals now have access to the internet globally.
• Globally, an additional 178 million individuals are now connected, representing a 3.4% increase since April 2023.
• On average, an internet user spends 6 hours and 35 minutes browsing the web each day.
• 96.3% of users access the internet from their mobile phones (+1.4%) and 62.2% from their computers (-0.6%).
• 49.6% of the rural population uses the internet, compared to 79.9% of the urban population.
• Northern Europe is the most connected region globally, with 97.4% of internet users.
• Users primarily use the internet for information search (60.3%), staying in touch with family and friends (56.8%), and watching videos, movies, or series (52.3%).

Internet Speed

• Internet connection speed has significantly improved since April 2023, with upload speed increasing by 30.3% and download speed by 17.3%.
• Singapore leads in internet speed, while France ranks 6th.

Browser and Search Engine Usage

• Google Chrome remains the most adopted web browser, with a global market share of 65% (+0.4%).
• The Google search engine accounts for 18.5% of global web traffic.

Social Media Platforms

YouTube Dominates

• YouTube emerges as the most used social media platform globally, followed by WhatsApp and Facebook, according to the Active User Index.

TikTok’s Retention Power

• TikTok retains users effectively, with an average monthly usage time of 31 hours and 47 minutes per user, surpassing YouTube in retention time.

Instagram Leads in Preference

• Instagram remains the preferred social media platform for users, especially among the younger demographic, with 16.6% preferring it over other platforms.

Reddit’s Potential

• Reddit, with over 500,000 unique visitors per month, represents a significant marketing opportunity due to its diverse communities and broad audience reach.

The landscape of internet and social media usage continues to evolve, with mobile devices playing a central role in connectivity and social platforms adapting to changing user preferences. As digital trends shape global interactions, understanding these key figures is crucial for businesses and marketers navigating the digital space in April 2024.