UK Social Media Statistics for 2019
Social media continues to be a vital tool for businesses, regardless of size, whether operating in the B2C (business-to-consumer) or B2B (business-to-business) space. It remains an inexpensive yet highly effective marketing option with great ROI—provided you know your audience and craft relevant, specific messages that resonate with them.
To help you locate your ideal audience and plan your 2020 strategy, here’s our annual review of UK Social Media Statistics for 2019:
Facebook UK Users
Facebook remains the dominant platform for social media marketing, offering flexibility and powerful targeting options to reach both local and global audiences.
- User Base: Over 44 million registered users in the UK as of December 2019.
- Reach: 71% of UK adults can be reached via Facebook, which is highly advantageous for targeted advertising.
- Demographics: Fairly even split 52% women and 48% men.
- Engagement: Video content is king, receiving 135% more organic traffic than images.
- Age Range: 85%-92% engagement in the 18-54 demographic across all income groups.
Twitter UK Users
Although Twitter is less popular than Facebook, it continues to offer unique opportunities for businesses to connect and engage.
- User Base: Approximately 13.7 million users in the UK.
- Demographics: Male users dominate at 60% compared to 40% female.
- Mobile Usage: 80% of users access Twitter via mobile devices.
- News Hub: 74% of users engage with Twitter for news updates.
- Video Retweets: Posts with video are six times more likely to be retweeted than those with just an image.
YouTube UK Users
Video remains a key focus in digital marketing strategies, with YouTube continuing to grow as the go-to platform for longer, more engaging content.
- User Base: 37 million adults in the UK used YouTube in 2019.
- Viewing Time: An average session lasts about 40 minutes.
- Mobile Viewership: Over 70% of YouTube views occur on mobile devices.
- Content: Popular genres include comedy, music, popular culture and instructional videos.
Pinterest UK Users
Though often overlooked, Pinterest is a valuable platform for visually driven businesses, particularly those in retail and lifestyle sectors.
- Demographics: 80% of Pinterest users are women.
- Popular Categories: Food and drink, home décor, fashion and beauty products.
- Millennials: 50% of the platform’s users are social-savvy millennials.
- Purchasing Influence: Over 50% use Pinterest to research products they plan to buy.
Instagram UK Users
Instagram continues its steady rise in popularity, driven by its appeal to younger audiences and the power of its visual content.
- User Base: 24 million users in the UK.
- Demographics: 18-34-year-olds account for nearly 60% of users, with a split of 54% female and 46% male.
- Daily Engagement: Users spend an average of 53 minutes per day on the platform.
- Business Engagement: 20% of users interact with a business profile daily, and 80% follow at least one business.
Google My Business
Though not a traditional social media platform, Google My Business remains an essential tool for small businesses.
- Reach: Allows businesses to post updates, showcase products and manage their Google Maps listing.
- Analytics: Offers insights into how users interact with your business, including clicks, calls and website visits.
- Recommendations: Add products or services and post regular updates to maximise visibility.
LinkedIn UK Users
LinkedIn remains the leading platform for professional networking, B2B marketing and corporate engagement.
- User Base: 20 million users in the UK.
- Demographics: 60% male, 40% female.
- Daily Engagement: 40% of active users log in daily.
- B2B Leads: Drives more B2B traffic to websites and blogs than any other platform.
Snapchat UK Users
Snapchat continues to hold its own among younger demographics, although it faces stiff competition from Instagram.
- User Base: 14.5 million users in the UK.
- Demographics: 77% of users are aged 18-24, with 60% female and 40% male.
- App Engagement: Users open the app 20 times a day on average.
- Video Content: Over 50% of brand content is delivered via video.
UK Social Media Statistics for 2019: Summary
With such a diverse range of platforms available, businesses must carefully choose where to focus their resources. Matching the right platform to your target audience is essential for maximising engagement and ROI.
Resources
The data in this article has been drawn from multiple sources, including:
Want to compare statistics with previous years? Check out our articles from previous years:
- Statistics For Social Media Users in the UK for 2018
- Social Media User Stats in the UK for 2017
- Social Media User Statistics in the UK
- The Demographics of UK Social Media Users
For more insights into how to leverage these platforms, get in touch with The Last Hurdle at hello@thelasthurdle.co.uk or call us on 01604 654545.
