Do People Still Use Instagram and Why It Matters

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Instagram is still a widely used social media platform, with over 1 billion active users worldwide. Its user base has been steadily growing since its acquisition by Facebook in 2012.

More than 500 million people use Instagram every day, making it a significant platform for businesses and individuals alike. In fact, 71% of online adults in the United States use Instagram, according to a survey.

Despite its popularity, Instagram's user growth has been slowing down in recent years, with a 12% decrease in user growth rate between 2018 and 2019. However, its user base is still highly engaged, with the average user spending 53 minutes per day on the app.

Instagram Usage Statistics

Instagram has over 2 billion monthly active users, making it the third most popular social network globally, behind Facebook and YouTube.

The app is most popular in India, with 413.85 million users, followed by the United States, Brazil, Indonesia, and Turkey.

Credit: youtube.com, How to Use Instagram Beginners Guide

Instagram users spend an average of 33.9 minutes per day on the app.

Here's a breakdown of Instagram's monthly active user growth rate:

  • 2020 to 2021 – 170 million user growth (4.31% year-over-year change)
  • 2021 to 2022 – 70 million user growth (3.98% year-over-year change)
  • 2022 to 2023 – 70 million user growth (4.05% year-over-year change)
  • 2023 to 2024 – 50 million user growth (3.75% year-over-year change)
  • 2024 to 2025 – 40 million user growth (3.47% year-over-year change)

MAU vs. DAU

Instagram's user base is massive, with 2 billion monthly active users (MAUs) globally. This makes Instagram the 3rd largest social network worldwide.

MAUs are registered and logged-in users who visit Instagram's App or web application within 30 days from the date of measurement. In contrast, daily active users (DAUs) are registered and logged-in users who visit Instagram's App or web application every day.

The number of DAUs is not publicly disclosed by Meta, Instagram's parent company, but we do know that Instagram hit 500 million DAUs back in 2017. This was a time when the platform had 800 million MAUs.

Here's a comparison of MAUs and DAUs:

Instagram's massive user base is a testament to its popularity and widespread adoption. In fact, 35.97% of the world's 5.56 billion internet users access the app monthly, making it one of the most widely used social media platforms globally.

Monthly Active Users

Credit: youtube.com, Instagram crosses 1 billion monthly active users

Instagram has over 2 billion monthly active users, making it the third most popular social network in the world.

This number represents a significant increase from 2020 to 2021, with 170 million user growth, and from 2021 to 2022, with 70 million user growth.

Instagram's monthly active user growth rate has been steadily increasing over the years, with a 4.31% year-over-year change from 2020 to 2021, and a 3.98% year-over-year change from 2021 to 2022.

Here are some notable Instagram MAU milestones:

  • February 2013: Instagram hit 100 million users (MAU)
  • June 2016: Instagram hit 500 million users (MAU)
  • June 2018: Instagram hit 1 billion users (MAU)
  • October 2022: Instagram hit 2 billion users (MAU)

Instagram's user base is diverse, with 34.6% of the world's 5.78 billion active mobile phone users accessing the app monthly, and 24.39% of the world's 8.2 billion population using Instagram monthly.

Instagram is still growing, with an estimated 70 million new users joining every year since 2020. The platform's user growth rate has been consistent over the past few years.

In 2020, Instagram's monthly active user growth rate was 170 million, followed by 70 million in 2021 and 2022, and 50 million in 2023. This growth rate is expected to slow down to 40 million by 2025.

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Instagram's monthly active user base has exceeded 2 billion, making it the 3rd largest social network worldwide. The platform's user base is expected to reach 2.5 billion by 2023, with a significant presence in countries like India, the United States, and Brazil.

Here's a breakdown of Instagram's monthly active user growth rate over the past few years:

  • 2020 to 2021 – 170 million user growth (4.31% year-over-year change)
  • 2021 to 2022 – 70 million user growth (3.98% year-over-year change)
  • 2022 to 2023 – 70 million user growth (4.05% year-over-year change)
  • 2023 to 2024 – 50 million user growth (3.75% year-over-year change)
  • 2024 to 2025 – 40 million user growth (3.47% year-over-year change)

Is Still Growing

Instagram is still growing, with an estimated 70 million new users added every year since 2020. This consistent growth rate is a testament to the platform's enduring popularity.

According to the latest data available via Instagram, the company has seen a significant increase in monthly active user growth, with 170 million new users added between 2020 and 2021. This growth rate has slowed down slightly in recent years, with 70 million new users added between 2021 and 2022, and 70 million again between 2022 and 2023.

The platform's user base is expected to continue growing, with estimates suggesting that Instagram will reach 2.5 billion monthly active users by 2023. This growth is driven in part by the platform's efforts to become more of an open app, with features like the "explore" page and recommended posts below the feed.

Turned-on Phone Displaying Instagram Application
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Instagram's user base is not just growing, but also becoming more diverse, with 38% of users logging on multiple times per day, and 70% of users watching Instagram stories daily. The platform also has a diverse demographic of users, with 56.9% of all Instagram users in the United States identifying as women and 43.1% identifying as men.

Here's a rough breakdown of Instagram's growth rate over the past few years:

History of

Instagram started out in October 2010 and hit 1 million registrations by December, marking the beginning of its rapid growth.

Version 2.0, released in 2011, allowed people to edit their uploaded photos and was downloaded over 1 million times a day.

Facebook acquired Instagram in 2012, a move that would shape the platform's future.

The launch of video content in 2013 brought Instagram to over 150 million active monthly users.

Sponsored posts were introduced in November 2013, marking a significant shift in the platform's monetization strategy.

Close-up of a hand holding a smartphone with Instagram open, showcasing technology in use.
Credit: pexels.com, Close-up of a hand holding a smartphone with Instagram open, showcasing technology in use.

Instagram ads became global in 2015, reaching a massive 400 million monthly users.

The introduction of algorithmically ordered feed posts in 2016 changed the way users interacted with the platform.

Stories, launched in 2016, followed Snapchat's lead and quickly gained popularity.

IGTV was launched in 2018 to compete with YouTube, a move that aimed to expand the platform's video offerings.

Instagram shop was announced in 2019, allowing businesses to have a storefront on their accounts.

The guides feature was launched in 2020, enabling users to create a miniature blog with commentary.

Reels were launched in 2020 to compete with TikTok, a move that aimed to boost user engagement.

User Demographics

Instagram has a massive user base in the US, with 143.2 million active users, accounting for 41.9% of the population.

Instagram's user demographics are diverse, with a significant presence among younger adults. For instance, 76% of people aged 18-29 use Instagram, making it a go-to platform for this age group.

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Here's a breakdown of Instagram's user demographics by age:

  • 76% of people aged 18-29 use Instagram
  • 66% of people aged 30-49 use Instagram
  • 36% of people aged 50-64 use Instagram
  • 19% of people aged 65+ use Instagram

Education level also plays a significant role in determining Instagram's user demographics. Interestingly, 57% of people educated at more than college level use the app, highlighting its appeal to the more educated and affluent segments of the population.

Instagram's user base is also almost evenly split by gender, with 55.4% of users in the US being female and 44.6% being male.

US Regional

US Regional Demographics of Instagram Users are quite interesting. People living in urban areas make up a significant portion of Instagram users, with 51% using the app. This is likely due to the higher population density and accessibility to technology in urban areas.

Suburban areas follow closely, with 54% of people using Instagram. This is not surprising, given the fact that many suburban areas have a mix of urban and rural characteristics.

In contrast, rural areas have a lower percentage of Instagram users, with 39% using the app. This may be due to the lower population density and limited access to technology in rural areas.

Here's a breakdown of Instagram users by region:

Most by Country

Silver Iphone 5s Showing Instagram
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Most Instagram users by country are a diverse bunch, and India takes the lead with an impressive 413.85 million users.

The United States comes in second with 171.7 million users, a significant number but still far behind India's total.

Brazil is the third most populous Instagram country with 140.7 million users, followed closely by Indonesia with 103.4 million users.

Turkey rounds out the top five with 58.45 million users, a substantial number that shouldn't be overlooked.

Here's a breakdown of the top 10 countries with the most Instagram users:

Income

Income plays a significant role in determining user demographics on Instagram.

People with lower incomes are more likely to use the app, with 40% of those earning less than $30,000 using Instagram.

In contrast, higher-income individuals are also frequent users, with 58% of those earning more than $100,000 using the app.

Here's a breakdown of the income demographics on Instagram:

  • 40% of people earning less than $30,000 use the app
  • 47% of people earning between $30,000 to $69,999 use the app
  • 54% of people earning between $70,000 to $99,999 use the app
  • 58% of people earning more than $100,000 use the app

Average Followers

Most Instagram users have a relatively small following, with over 49% of users having between 1,000 to 10,000 followers.

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The vast majority of users, at 26.43%, have less than 1,000 followers, which can make it tough for new accounts to gain traction.

Brands often turn to micro-influencers with 50,000 to 100,000 followers to promote their products, which accounts for just 3.15% of the platform's total population.

Here's a breakdown of the follower distribution on Instagram:

  • 26.43% of users have less than 1,000 followers
  • 49.94% of users have between 1,000 to 10,000 followers
  • 15.21% of users have between 10,000 to 50,000 followers
  • 3.15% of users have between 50,000 to 100,000 followers
  • 3.89% of users have between 100,000 to 500,000 followers
  • 0.62% of users have between 500,000 and 1 million followers
  • 0.76% of users have more than 1 million followers

Platform Comparison

Instagram is still a very popular social media platform, with over 2 billion monthly active users worldwide. This number has increased by 1 billion in just 4 years.

In fact, Instagram is ranked 3rd out of all social media networks globally, behind only Facebook and YouTube. This is a testament to its widespread appeal and usage.

Let's take a look at the numbers to get a better understanding of Instagram's popularity. Here are the top 10 social media platforms by active users:

As you can see, Instagram is a close third, with over 2 billion active users. This is a staggering number, and it's clear that Instagram is still a very popular platform.

User Behavior

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Instagram users are spending a significant amount of time on the app, with 95 minutes daily on average, compared to 62 minutes for Instagram.

TikTok has more active users who spend a lot of time on the app, but Instagram still has a huge user base of nearly 1.5 billion monthly active users.

A whopping 38% of Instagram users log on multiple times per day, and 70% of users watch Instagram stories daily.

User Behavior

Instagram has over 2 billion monthly active users, making it the 3rd largest social network worldwide, with 35.97% of the world's 5.56 billion internet users accessing the app monthly.

The majority of Instagram users are under 34 years old, with 70% of users in this age group. This demographic is also the most active on the platform, with users aged 18-24 spending an average of 53 minutes per day on Instagram.

Instagram users in the United States spend an average of 33.1 minutes per day on the app, with users aged 18-24 spending the most time on Instagram - an average of 53 minutes per day.

See what others are reading: Why Do People Use Whats App

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The platform's messaging feature, DMs, has become increasingly important, with the amount of content being shared in DMs staggering. In fact, DMs are the primary place where content is shared on the platform.

Here's a breakdown of the average time spent on Instagram among US adult users by age:

Instagram users are also highly engaged, with 38% of users logging on multiple times per day, and 70% of users watching Instagram stories daily.

Optimizing Video Usage

Video is a key driver of growth on Instagram, with Monica Ghrone's followers increasing from 3,000 to 32,000 in just two weeks.

Using video instructions is a great way to attract a following that sticks, as Ghrone did. She recommended building a series with a definite beginning and end.

A series like this can attract the right people, those looking for exactly what you have to offer. Ghrone's example of implementing local SEO strategies on websites shows how this works.

This type of growth is organic, engaging the right people without relying on viral content. It may not be as viral as TikTok, but it's a more targeted approach.

Future of Instagram

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Instagram still has 2 billion people visiting the platform every month, which is a testament to its enduring popularity.

The platform is still the best place for sharing static photos and checking out businesses and influencers for real-time updates.

Instagram's updates keep us on our toes, with regular features and feed algorithm changes.

To stay relevant in the ever-changing climate of digital marketing, Instagram needs to decide what to prioritize in its algorithm.

Despite uncertainty about its future, Instagram is still keeping up with trends across all apps.

Marketing and Benefits

Instagram remains a top marketing tool for brands, with 90% of users following at least one business account. This is a testament to the platform's effectiveness in reaching diverse audiences and building loyal communities.

According to Social Pilot, 83% of Instagram users discover new products and services on the platform, making it a prime place for brands to showcase their offerings. This is especially true for creators who have built a large following on Instagram.

Credit: youtube.com, Best Instagram Marketing Strategy For Small Business 2025 (PROVEN & PROFITABLE)

Lee Tilghman, a creator with a quarter million followers, uses Instagram to direct her audience to other links via LinkTree. This strategy allows her to divert attention to her Substack newsletter, Pet Hair on Everything.

Jessica Stansberry notes that modern link-in-bio tools have made it easier for creators to send users to multiple platforms with just one link. This eliminates the need for a website as a home base.

Having a sizeable Instagram audience can be a valuable asset for creators, as it provides leverage for promoting other platforms and projects. Community building has become the new conversion, and Instagram remains a key platform for building and engaging with audiences.

Here are some key statistics on Instagram's marketing potential:

  • 50% of Instagram users are more interested in a brand when they see ads on Instagram
  • 90% of all users on Instagram follow at least one business account
  • 83% of Instagram users discover new products and services on the platform

Company and Leadership

Meta, the parent company of Instagram, was founded in 2004 by Mark Zuckerberg, along with his college roommates and fellow Harvard University students.

Instagram was launched in 2010 by Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger, and was acquired by Facebook in 2012 for $1 billion.

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Adam Mosseri has been the CEO of Instagram since 2018, taking over from Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger who left the company in 2018 after a series of disagreements with Facebook's leadership.

Instagram has over 2 billion monthly active users, making it one of the most popular social media platforms in the world.

Adam Mosseri has stated that Instagram's main goal is to be a place where people can share their experiences and connect with others.

Jennie Bechtelar

Senior Writer

Jennie Bechtelar is a seasoned writer with a passion for crafting informative and engaging content. With a keen eye for detail and a knack for distilling complex concepts into accessible language, Jennie has established herself as a go-to expert in the fields of important and industry-specific topics. Her writing portfolio showcases a depth of knowledge and expertise in standards and best practices, with a focus on helping readers navigate the intricacies of their chosen fields.

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