X use among US adults falls to 18% in 2026 from 21% in 2025, report says

A big shift is visible in the US social media market. A new report says the popularity of X (formerly Twitter), the platform owned by Elon Musk, the world's richest man, is falling fast there, and users are widely disappointed.

According to the figures, about 21 per cent of American adults used X in 2025. In 2026 the figure has dropped to 18 per cent. The report says that since Musk bought the platform, there have been several major changes in its functioning, policies and algorithms. Because of these changes, many long-time users and experts appear to be moving away from it.

On the other hand, Google's YouTube and Meta's Facebook and Instagram have become part of Americans' daily lives. The report says 84 per cent of American adults use YouTube. A major reason is the abundance of video content there, including educational, entertainment and informational videos.

After YouTube comes Mark Zuckerberg's Facebook, which is still active on the phones of 70 per cent of Americans. People still rely on it to stay in touch with friends and relatives, to remember old acquaintances, to share photos and videos and to join community groups. Instagram and TikTok have also grown in popularity among young people. In the US, 51 per cent of adults use Instagram, while 37 per cent have TikTok on their phones.

A survey also found that level of education affects usage. Among those who studied only up to high school, YouTube (77 per cent), Facebook (67 per cent) and TikTok (43 per cent) are the most used. But preferences change as the level of education rises.

Among those with higher education and college graduates, LinkedIn use is 51 per cent, compared with just 13 per cent among those who studied up to high school. This shows that educated people prefer LinkedIn for careers and professional networking. Similarly, Reddit use rises from 12 per cent to 36 per cent among graduates. TikTok is used by 43 per cent of those with less education, but only 28 per cent of college graduates.

As for WhatsApp, in India it is no longer just a means of chatting but has become the backbone of business and everyday life. From small tea stalls to large corporate firms, everyone uses it. Conversations with customers, digital payments and family groups make it hugely popular here.

The picture is the reverse in the US. Only 33 per cent of people there use WhatsApp, and most prefer the iPhone's iMessage or other messaging apps for text messages. Between 2023 and 2026, WhatsApp use in the US has hovered around 18 to 21 per cent. Political platforms such as Truth Social are used by only 3 to 4 per cent of people, meaning the other apps dominate the mainstream.