There are around 3.96 billion social media users globally these days. That is more than half of the world’s population. We’ve made a 2020 review of these social networks last year. Today, here’s our 2021 review of social media and messaging platforms.
From 2.74 billion monthly average users (MAU), Facebook now has an MAU of 2.91 billion. Even though the last quarter of 2021 showed a significant decline in its daily average users (DAU), brands, businesses, and consumers are turning to Facebook to find products and services. The king of social media recorded a revenue of around $118 billion. It was also in October 2021 when Facebook rebranded into Meta, a social tech company.
From 1.16 billion MAU, Instagram now stands at 2 billion MAU. The social media platform is also the number 1 most downloaded app in the last quarter of 2021. In July 2021, Instagram Chief Adam Mosseri announced that the platform is no longer just a photo-sharing app. Instead, it shifted into photo and video sharing.
LinkedIn has witnessed significant growth in 2021. From 740 million MAU, the platform now has an MAU of 800 million. It recorded a 20% revenue increase at $51.7 billion. In March 2021, LinkedIn introduced a new look among company pages. Its features include a creator mode with a video cover story.
Pinterest witnessed a decline in membership from 459 million MAU in 2020 down to 431 million MAU in 2021. Yet, the platform still recorded a 20% global revenue increase at $847 million. Last year, the search engine and social media revamped story pins into idea pins. It also allowed setting up shop tabs on feeds.
Snapchat
From 265 million DAU, Snapchat membership has risen to 319 million DAU. The messaging platform also posed a strong revenue growth of $1.3 billion. Among the major updates of Snapchat in 2021 are the 3D Bitmojis and QR scanners.
Of all the social media platforms in 2021, Twitter experienced the biggest changes. From 340 million MAU, the social media platform grew to 396.5 million MAU. It also recorded a 37% revenue growth at $5.08 billion. In 2021, Twitter relaunched profile verification and included NFTs as part of it. The platform also made a lot of acquisitions like the Breaker, Revue, Sphere, Threader, etc. While Jack Dorsey immediately stepped down as Twitter CEO at the beginning of December 2021.
YouTube
From 2 billion YouTubers, YouTube now has 2.3 billion MAU. The social media video-sharing app also fueled the creator economy with a $28.8 billion ad revenue. In 2021, YouTube enabled automated video chapters to boost video SEO. The platform also officially launched Shorts in the United States by March of 2021.
Implications for Marketers:
Marketers can better understand what social media and messaging platforms have achieved and encountered in 2021. It can help brands decide the best network where they can promote their products and services this 2022.
References:
https://s21.q4cdn.com/399680738/files/doc_financials/2021/q4/FB-12.31.2021-Exhibit-99.1-Final.pdf
https://www.statista.com/statistics/253577/number-of-monthly-active-instagram-users/
https://s23.q4cdn.com/958601754/files/doc_financials/2021/q4/2021-Q4-IR-Earnings-Presentation.pdf
https://s25.q4cdn.com/442043304/files/doc_financials/2021/q4/Q4’21-Earnings-Slides.pdf
https://s22.q4cdn.com/826641620/files/doc_financials/2021/q4/Final-Q4’21-Shareholder-letter.pdf
https://abc.xyz/investor/static/pdf/2021Q4_alphabet_earnings_release.pdf?cache=d72fc76
