Internet Users on Online Social Networks · U.S. (NTIA, 15+)

## What this measures

The share of U.S. internet users aged 15 and over who use online social networks, from the Census Bureau's Current Population Survey supplement as published by NTIA. July 2015, then every two years from November 2017.

## Why it matters

Social media is the online activity most often named in arguments about attention, loneliness and teen mental health. This is the federal government's own count of how many people use it.

## How to read it

Percent of the named population, from a survey fielded about every two years (July 2011, 2013 and 2015; November 2017 onward). Each point is dated to its survey month. The standard error is about a quarter of a point for the national figure and stored with each point, so moves under a point between editions are within noise.

## What it does not say

It counts whether someone used online social networks at all, not how often or for how long. The base is people who use the internet, so the share can hold still while the number of users grows. NTIA's adults are people aged 15 and over. The survey does not ask children under 15 this question.

## Source

NTIA Internet Use Survey Data Explorer (variable `socialNetworkUser`, universe `adultInternetUser`), ntia-analyze-table.csv at https://www.ntia.gov/data/explorer, from the Census Bureau Current Population Survey Computer and Internet Use Supplement. A U.S. Government work (17 U.S.C. §105). NTIA does not endorse any product or service. Refreshed monthly by ntia-sync; every edition is rewritten so revisions land.