How Many Americans Use Facebook in 2024? (the Latest Data)

Hey there! If you‘re reading this, chances are you use Facebook. Or at least have an account you rarely check. I‘m guessing you‘re curious whether Facebook is still a big deal these days? Especially with teens and young people flocking to newer, shinier apps like TikTok and Snapchat.

Well as a long-time tech expert and digital privacy advocate, I‘ve been digging into the data. I wanted to find out how many Americans from different generations still actively use Facebook today.

The answer? Facebook remains massively popular overall. But some worrying trends put its future growth at risk.

Let‘s get into the numbers…

Facebook Usage in America: At a Glance

Before we dive into the data, here are the key stats you need to know:

• 193.9 million Americans used Facebook monthly in 2022. That‘s 58.8% of the total U.S. population.

• 44% of 18-29 year old Facebook users deleted the app in the past year.

• Just 10% of U.S. teenagers say Facebook is their most used social platform.

• Daily time spent by young users has dropped by nearly half since 2014.

• Facebook lost 15 million U.S. users between 2020 and 2022.

So while Facebook still enjoys a huge user base, it‘s trending down among younger demographics. Keep reading to understand why.

Yes, Facebook is Still Absurdly Popular…For Now

It‘s easy to assume Facebook is a dinosaur heading for extinction. But the reality is 58.8% of ALL Americans still actively use it.

That‘s nearly 200 million users just in the United States!

To put Facebook‘sscale in perspective, check out this map:

The "State of Facebookland" would be America‘s most populous state by far with 40 million more people than California.

Just look at these other mind-blowing usage stats:

• 81% of American adults have a Facebook account.

• Women make up 62.4% of U.S. Facebook users.

• 27.1% of Facebook‘s U.S. audience is aged 25-34.

• California has the most users at 18 million. Wyoming the least at 252,020.

• Hispanics (62%) and Blacks (61%) have higher usage rates than Whites (55%).

Still not convinced of Facebook‘s dominance?

Facebook‘s own apps like WhatsApp, Instagram, and Messenger each have over 1 billion monthly active users worldwide.

But Facebook‘s core app remains the mothership holding this social media empire together.

So case closed right? Facebook has already won social media…

Not so fast. Let‘s look at why usage is declining among teens and young adults.

Teens and Young People Are Adandoning Facebook

Here comes the bad news for Facebook.

While older demographics are still hooked, teens and young adults are dropping the Facebook habit. Just look at these alarming stats:

• Only 10% of teens say Facebook is their most used social media platform, down from 71% in 2014-15.

• Instagram beats out Facebook as the most used platform among 18-29 year olds.

• 44% of 18-29 year old Facebook users deleted the app from their phones in the past year.

• The percentage who use Facebook daily has dropped from 48% to just 27% since 2014-15.

And get this…back in 2021, Facebook revealed that young users spend just 15 minutes a day on its platforms on average.

15 minutes!

That‘s down massively compared to the 1 hour plus teens spent on Facebook back in its heyday.

But why the dramatic shift? As a tech expert, I see 3 big reasons:

1. Cool Factor

Simply put, Facebook is not cool anymore for teens and young people. Platforms like Snapchat and TikTok feel more modern, fun, and "where it‘s at" culturally.

Facebook to them is something their parents and grandparents use. Not exactly an enticing sell.

2. Privacy Concerns

Young people are especially wary of privacy violations given all Facebook‘s data leaks and scandals. When your personal info could be exposed, why overshare your life?

3. Video & Images Rule

Apps like Snapchat and TikTok are built for smartphones and mobile-first users. Video, photos, messaging, and visual creativity take center stage – not text status updates.

Facebook feels outdated compared to these polished, visually engaging platforms purpose-built for Gen Z.

In sum: Facebook has a perception problem. It‘s seen as past its prime, invasive of privacy, and irrelevant to mobile-social habits of younger generations.

Unless it can evolve its product to be more mobile-friendly and address privacy concerns, this trend seems likely to continue. Potentially costing Facebook tens of millions of future users.

Daily Usage and Engagement Dropping Steadily

We‘ve established the younger generation has basically ditched regularly using Facebook. But are older demographics following suit?

While not as dramatic, the data shows cracks are forming across age groups:

• 15 million fewer Americans used Facebook monthly in 2022 vs 2020.

• Just 12% of 50-64 year olds say they‘ve taken a break from Facebook for weeks/months in the past year. This rises to 19% for ages 30-49.

• American adults over 65 spend around 40 minutes on Facebook daily. For 50-64 it‘s half an hour.

• In 2021 the average user scrolled their news feed 40 times a day. Down from 60+ times in 2016.

Not exactly a Facebook exodus. But a clear downward slope in daily engagement and usage habits.

So why are older generations using Facebook less?

As a cybersecurity expert, I see a few factors at play:

• Content quality – Misinformation and polarizing political content have made Facebook less enjoyable for many.

• Privacy – Data scandals like Cambridge Analytica have also unnerved older users. No one wants their personal info misused.

• Saturation – After 15+ years, some longer-term users are simply bored of the Facebook routine.

• Effort – Facebook can feel like a chore to maintain versus visual social apps that are easier to dip in and out of.

In short: Older users aren‘t deleting their accounts en masse. But malaise is setting in after years of privacy issues and algorithmic-driven content. Declining enthusiasm across age groups spells trouble for Facebook.

Key Demographic Stats on Facebook Users in America

Getting granular, let‘s examine some key stats within Facebook‘s massive 193.9 million monthly U.S. users:

By Age:

• 25-34 year olds are the largest group at 27.1% of monthly users.

• 18-24 year olds are next at 18.4% of the total.

• Teen usage continues to plummet. Just 10% now say Facebook is their most used platform.

By Gender:

• 62.4% of U.S. Facebook users are female.

• 37.6% are male.

By U.S. State:

• California: 18 million monthly users

• Texas and Florida: 11 million

• New York: 10 million

• Wyoming: 252,020 users

By Race:

• Hispanic adults: 62% are Facebook users

• Black adults: 61%

• White adults: 55%

So Facebook still enjoys broad demographic reach. But retaining teens and young adults is crucial for the future.

Let‘s dig into forecasts.

Projections: Is Facebook‘s Decline Inevitable?

Given the trends we‘ve discussed, it seems unlikely Facebook can sustain its 200 million+ American user base long-term.

My expert projections on what to expect:

• Younger users will continue flocking to Snapchat, TikTok, Instagram etc. I expect under 18 usage to keep rapidly shrinking.

• Without more young people joining, overall U.S. user numbers will erode steadily as older generations leave/reduce usage.

• Monthly users will likely dip below 150 million by 2030 if current trends in age demographics persist.

• Engagement metrics like time-on-site and sessions-per-day will also decrease across age groups.

But there are a few ways Facebook could turn the tide:

• Roll out product changes to win back teens and appeal to young adults focused on video/visual content.

• Improve privacy safeguards and transparency around data practices.

• Clean up misinformation and polarizing content that turns off users.

Given Facebook‘s track record however, I‘m skeptical they are willing to trade short-term profits for long-term user trust and growth.

The Bottom Line

• Facebook remains the dominant social media platform in America with 193.9 million monthly users.

• But it is trending down, especially among teens and young adults flocking to Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok.

• User growth and engagement across age groups is declining. 15 million fewer Americans used Facebook in 2022 compared to 2020.

• For Facebook to reaccelerate growth, it will require winning back younger users by addressing privacy concerns and product stagnation issues.

• If current trends continue, expect Facebook‘s U.S. user base to shrink steadily in coming years. Potentially dropping below 150 million monthly users by 2030.

So is Facebook‘s reign as social media king coming to an end? Not yet. But the cracks are spreading and the foundations are rumbling.

Stay tuned to see if Facebook can innovate its way out stagnation and rebuild user trust. Or if other platforms ultimately dethrone it. Exciting times ahead!

Let me know if you have any other questions on the data. I‘m happy to chat more about Facebook, social media trends, and teens/young people ditching old platforms.

Talk soon,

[Your Name]