Being Social Is Not a Priority on Social Media These Days
Social media's original purpose is fading. US adults now rank entertainment (48%) and passing time (41%) above communicating with friends and family (40%) as reasons to use social media. Following news ranks last at 26%. 1,249 US respondents, Feb 2026. Source: Statista
Social media's original purpose is slipping down the priority list. A Statista Consumer Insights survey of 1,249 US adults aged 18 to 64, conducted in February 2026, asked respondents which criteria matter most when it comes to social media. Entertainment came out on top at 48%, followed by passing time at 41%. Communicating with friends and family, once the core function of these platforms, ranked third at 40%. Following interests or hobbies came in at 34%, finding new content at 32%, and general social interactions at 31%. Following news and meeting new people ranked lowest, at 26% and 25% respectively. The pattern holds across age groups, though younger adults aged 18 to 29 lean slightly more toward finding new content and slightly less toward passing time or communicating with friends and family than the overall sample. Source: Statista Consumer Insights via Statista.