Despite a crowded landscape of new competitors, X (formerly Twitter) has largely maintained its user base among U.S. adults, according to the latest findings from the Pew Research Center. The report, released this week, indicates that newer platforms like Threads and Bluesky still have significant ground to cover to challenge X's position in the U.S. market.
Pew's research, which for the first time surveyed usage of these smaller services, found that Threads and Bluesky are each used by fewer than 1 in 10 U.S. adults. This contrasts sharply with X, which, while not among the largest social networks overall, remains a dominant force within its niche of short, real-time text-based posts presented in a vertical feed.
X's Resilience Amidst Intense Competition
The competitive landscape for text-centric social apps has intensified significantly since Elon Musk acquired Twitter in October 2022 and subsequently rebranded it as X. Musk's changes to content moderation policies and the platform's perceived political shift prompted some users to seek alternatives, leading to a proliferation of new services.
Beyond decentralized, open-source networks like Mastodon and Bluesky, numerous startups launched as potential Twitter rivals. These included Spill, Post, T2 (Pebble), and Hive. However, many of these ventures have since ceased operations.
Pew's data underscores X's enduring market presence. Even Meta, with its vast resources, has yet to significantly outperform X with its competitor, Threads. The report found that 21% of U.S. adults reported using X, compared to just 8% for Threads, 4% for Bluesky, and 3% for Truth Social.
Remarkably, X's usage has seen only a minimal decline over the past few years. Pew's report from early last year indicated 22% of U.S. adults used X, while its 2021 report (pre-rebranding) showed 23% used Twitter. This suggests that any decline in X's user base has been a gradual, slow process rather than a sharp drop.
Broader Social Media Landscape: Dominance and Growth
Beyond the text-based platforms, the 2025 Pew report also reaffirms the continued dominance of YouTube and Facebook. These platforms remain the most widely used by U.S. adults, with 84% and 71% reporting usage, respectively.
Other major social media services also show significant adoption: 50% of U.S. adults use Instagram, 37% use TikTok, 32% use WhatsApp, 26% use Reddit, and 25% use Snapchat.
Many of these platforms have experienced notable growth over time. TikTok's adoption has risen from 21% in 2021 to 37% today. Instagram, now used by half of U.S. adults, is up from 40% in 2021. Approximately a third of adults now use WhatsApp, an increase from 23% in 2021.
Reddit, which has gained popularity in the AI era through numerous content licensing deals, has also seen its user base expand from 18% of U.S. adults in 2021 to 26% currently.
It's important to note that these figures present a different picture compared to U.S. teens' social media use, where YouTube remains number one, but is followed by a distinct set of top applications including TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat.
