YouTube is the widest used social platform

If you’re wondering where Americans actually hang out online, this chart from Pew drops the truth bomb: 83% of U.S. adults use YouTube. Facebook trails at 68%, and the rest are far behind.

What This Means for Marketers

YouTube isn’t just for video nerds—it’s the mainstream social platform. That’s where the biggest audience is, and it’s where your brand should be if reach matters.

Why It Works

• Video connects emotionally and visually
• YouTube blends search + social, making content findable for years
• Ads integrate smoothly with creator content
• Evergreen videos keep compounding over time

Real-World Examples

• MrBeast pulls 200M monthly views—long-tail engagement at scale
• HubSpot runs how-to videos that drive traffic to their courses
• Nike ads on YouTube see higher recall than on TV
• Small creators build income streams purely from how-to content