You opened Facebook to check one notification. That was 30 minutes ago.
But if you're under 35, you probably didn't open Facebook at all. This is the story of a platform in demographic reversal: users ages 55-64 spend 45 minutes per day on Facebook, while Gen Z spends just 22 minutes. That's twice as much time for older users, the inverse of every other major social platform.
Facebook remains the largest social network globally with 3.07 billion monthly users and 2.11 billion daily users. But teen usage has collapsed from 71% in 2014 to 32% in 2024, and average screen time is declining: down 10.9 minutes per day year-over-year. The platform that once defined social media now competes for attention with faster, video-first alternatives.
This page compiles comprehensive data on exactly how much time people spend on Facebook, broken down by age, usage patterns, and demographics, and what that time means in the context of social media's evolution. All statistics are cited with sources.
| 30.9 minutes per day : Global average Facebook usage, down from 41.8 minutes in 2023, representing a 10.9-minute annual decline (eMarketer, 2025) |
| 45 minutes per day : Ages 55-64 spend the most time on Facebook, more than double the 22 minutes spent by users aged 18-24 (eMarketer, 2024) |
| 3.07 billion monthly active users : Facebook remains the largest social media platform globally, reaching 37.71% of the world's total population (Meta, 2025) |
| 2.11 billion daily active users : 68.7% of monthly users log in every day, demonstrating strong habitual engagement despite declining time spent (Meta, 2025) |
| Teen usage dropped from 71% to 32% over the past decade (2014-2024), a 55% decline as younger users migrated to Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat (Pew Research, 2024) |
| 98.5% of users access via mobile device, with 81.8% using mobile exclusively, making Facebook a mobile-first platform (Statista, 2025) |
Table of Contents
- How Much Time Do People Spend on Facebook?
- Facebook vs Other Social Media Platforms
- Facebook User Demographics
- Facebook Growth Over Time
- Mental Health and Facebook Usage
- How to Reduce Facebook Screen Time
- FAQ
How Much Time Do People Spend on Facebook?
Facebook's screen time tells the story of a maturing platform: declining overall engagement, but persistent daily habits, especially among older users.
Global and US Averages
30.9 minutes per day is the current global average time spent on Facebook (eMarketer via Digital Web Solutions, 2025). However, this represents a significant decline from previous years. For US adults specifically, the average is even lower at 20 minutes per day (eMarketer, 2024).
That 30.9-minute global average translates to:
- 3.6 hours per week
- 15.5 hours per month
- 188 hours per year (7.8 full days)
- 5.4% of waking hours (assuming 8 hours of sleep)
The monthly average on the Facebook Android app globally is 18 hours 45 minutes (Data Reportal, 2025), slightly higher than the daily-usage-based calculation suggests, indicating variation between Android and iOS users or between mobile and desktop access patterns.
Session Metrics
Understanding how people use Facebook requires looking beyond daily totals:
- 10 minutes 12 seconds : Average session length (Similarweb via DemandSage, 2025)
- ~8 times per day : Average number of times users check Facebook (GetAFollower, 2025)
- 68.7% : Daily Active User to Monthly Active User ratio, meaning 68.7% of monthly users return daily (Backlinko, 2025)
These metrics reveal Facebook's habitual nature: users check frequently throughout the day in short bursts rather than single long sessions. The 10-minute average session combined with 8 daily checks aligns with the 30.9-minute daily average (though individual patterns vary widely).
Usage by Age Group (The Reverse Divide)
Unlike TikTok, Instagram, or Snapchat, Facebook shows a reverse generational pattern: older users spend significantly more time on the platform than younger users.
| Age Group | Daily Minutes (US) | vs 18-24 |
|---|---|---|
| 18-24 | 22 minutes | : |
| 25-34 | 26 minutes | +18% |
| 35-44 | 30 minutes | +36% |
| 45-54 | 36 minutes | +64% |
| 55-64 | 45 minutes | +105% |
| 65+ | 34 minutes | +55% |
Source: eMarketer, 2024
The 55-64 age group leads at 45 minutes per day, more than double the 22 minutes spent by 18-24 year olds. This pattern is unique to Facebook among major platforms and reflects its aging user base as younger demographics migrated to Instagram, TikTok, and other alternatives.
Declining Engagement Trend
Facebook's screen time is dropping year-over-year:
- 10.9-minute decrease in average daily time from 2023 to 2024 (eMarketer via Backlinko, 2025)
- 20 minutes per day in 2024 (US) vs approximately 31 minutes in 2023 (eMarketer, 2024)
- Usage shifting to older demographics as younger users spend less time or abandon the platform entirely
Device Usage Patterns
Facebook is overwhelmingly a mobile platform:
- 98.5% of users access via mobile device (Statista, 2025)
- 81.8% access ONLY via mobile phone (Statista, 2025)
- 16.7% use both phones and computers (Statista, 2025)
- 1.5% use desktop-only (Statista, 2025)
Alternative data shows 52.66% prefer accessing solely through phones globally, while 47.34% prefer using desktop (DemandSage, 2025). The discrepancy likely reflects the difference between "can access" and "primary access method."
Facebook vs Other Social Media Platforms
Facebook's competitive position has eroded significantly. Once the dominant platform for daily engagement, Facebook now ranks near the bottom among major social networks in time spent.
| Platform | Daily Minutes | Difference from Facebook |
|---|---|---|
| TikTok | 53.8 min | +22.9 min (+74%) |
| YouTube | 48.7 min | +17.8 min (+58%) |
| X (Twitter) | 34.1 min | +3.2 min (+10%) |
| 33.1 min | +2.2 min (+7%) | |
| 30.9 min | : | |
| Snapchat | 30.0 min | -0.9 min (-3%) |
| 24.1 min | -6.8 min (-22%) |
Source: eMarketer, 2024-2025
Facebook trails TikTok by 22.9 minutes (74% less time), YouTube by 17.8 minutes (58% less), and even its sibling platform Instagram by 2.2 minutes (7% less). Only Snapchat and Reddit command less daily attention than Facebook among major platforms.
This positioning explains Meta's aggressive push into Reels across both Facebook and Instagram: video-first platforms (TikTok, YouTube) dominate attention, and Facebook's text-and-link-heavy feed can't compete with autoplay video for engagement time.
Facebook User Demographics
Facebook remains the largest social network globally by user count, but its demographic composition tells the story of a maturing platform losing ground with younger users.
User Base Size
- 3.07 billion monthly active users globally (Meta Investor Relations, 2025; Backlinko, 2025)
- 2.11 billion daily active users (Meta, 2025; DemandSage, 2026)
- 68.72% of monthly users log in daily (DemandSage, 2026)
- 54.33% of world's active internet users access Facebook monthly (Backlinko, 2025)
- 37.71% of world's total population uses Facebook monthly (Backlinko, 2025)
- 25.79% of world's total population uses Facebook daily (Backlinko, 2025)
- 37.35% of world's active internet users access Facebook daily (Backlinko, 2025)
- #1 ranking as largest social media platform globally (Business of Apps, 2026)
Facebook's scale remains unmatched. No other platform reaches nearly 40% of Earth's population monthly.
Age Distribution
Facebook's user base skews older than competing platforms:
Global Age Distribution:
| Age Group | Global Percentage | US Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| 18-24 | 15.71% | 18.6% |
| 25-34 | 24.97% | 24.2% |
| 35-44 | 18.68% | 19% |
| 45-54 | 16.31% | : |
| 55-64 | 14.31% | 11.7% |
| 65+ | 10.02% | 12.3% |
Sources: DemandSage, 2026; Statista, 2025
Adults ages 25-34 remain the largest demographic at nearly 25%, but the platform's strength among users 45+ is notable: 30.33% of global users are 45 or older.
Gender Distribution
- Global: 55.26% male, 44.74% female (DemandSage, 2026)
- US: 53.8% female, 46.2% male (Statista, 2025) : US skews female
- 77% of US women use Facebook compared to 61% of US men (Pew Research via Backlinko, 2025)
Teen Usage Collapse
The most dramatic demographic trend is teen abandonment:
- Only 32% of US teens use Facebook in 2024 (Pew Research, 2024)
- Down from 71% in 2014-2015, a 55% decline over a decade (Pew Research, 2024)
- Only 20% of teens report using Facebook daily (Pew Research, 2024)
- Only 6% use Facebook "almost constantly" (compared to 12% for Instagram) (Pew Research, 2024)
- Facebook use has steeply declined among teens while remaining stable for adults (Pew Research, 2024)
Notably, Facebook is more common among lower-income teen households: 45% of teens in households earning under $30,000 use Facebook, compared to just 29% in households earning $75,000+ (Pew Research, 2024).
Usage by Income (US)
| Household Income | Facebook Usage |
|---|---|
| Under $30,000 | 63% |
| $30,000-$69,999 | 70% |
| $70,000-$99,999 | 61% |
| $100,000+ | 68% |
Source: Pew Research, 2025
Geographic Distribution
Facebook's global reach is unmatched, with particularly strong penetration in developing markets:
Top 10 Countries by User Count:
| Rank | Country | Users (Millions) | % of Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | India | 581.6 | 40.08% |
| 2 | United States | 279.8 | 81% |
| 3 | Brazil | 175.1 | 82.6% |
| 4 | Indonesia | 174.0 | 61.38% |
| 5 | Mexico | 111.4 | 85.13% |
| 6 | Philippines | 102.3 | 88.32% |
| 7 | Vietnam | 86.1 | 85.27% |
| 8 | Russia | 70.6 | 48.76% |
| 9 | Turkey | 70.3 | 80.37% |
| 10 | Bangladesh | 67.2 | 38.71% |
Source: World Population Review via DemandSage, 2026
The Philippines leads in penetration at 88.32% of the population, followed by Vietnam (85.27%) and Mexico (85.13%). India leads in absolute numbers with 581.6 million users, though this represents only 40% of India's massive population.
Meta Family Metrics
Facebook's ecosystem extends beyond the core platform:
- 3.98 billion : Family Monthly Active People (MAP) across Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Messenger (Backlinko, 2025)
- 3.35 billion : Family Daily Active People (DAP) (Meta, 2025)
- 3.43 billion : Family DAU across core products (Statista, Q1 2025)
- 3.58 billion : Family DAU in Q4 2025, up 7% year-over-year (Marketing4Ecommerce, 2025)
- 80.15% of monthly family users log in daily (Backlinko, 2025)
Meta's family of apps reaches more than half of humanity monthly.
Facebook Growth Over Time
Facebook's growth trajectory shows a platform approaching market saturation in developed countries but continuing to expand in emerging markets.
Historical User Growth
| Year | MAU (Billions) | Growth from 2014 |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 1.39 | : |
| 2015 | 1.59 | +14.4% |
| 2016 | 1.86 | +33.8% |
| 2017 | 2.13 | +53.2% |
| 2018 | 2.32 | +66.9% |
| 2019 | 2.50 | +79.9% |
| 2020 | 2.80 | +101.4% |
| 2021 | 2.91 | +109.4% |
| 2022 | 2.96 | +113.0% |
| 2023 | 3.03 | +118.0% |
| 2025 | 3.07 | +120.9% |
Sources: Meta Investor Relations, Statista, Data Reportal
Facebook achieved 120.86% growth over the past decade (1.39B → 3.07B). However, growth has dramatically slowed: from +14.4% annual growth in 2014-2015 to just +1.6% annual growth in Q4 2023 to Q4 2024 (Statista, 2025).
The Q4 2021 User Loss
Facebook experienced its only user loss ever in Q4 2021, dropping 1 million users. The platform recovered dramatically the following quarter with +201 million users (DemandSage, 2026), demonstrating resilience despite increasing competition.
Recent Growth Metrics
- 5.5% DAU increase year-over-year (Backlinko, 2025)
- 1.6% growth from Q4 2023 to Q4 2024 (Statista, 2025)
- Growth slowing but stable : natural for a platform of this size approaching market saturation
Download Trends
| Year | Downloads (Millions) |
|---|---|
| 2017 | 660 |
| 2018 | 710 |
| 2019 | 682 |
| 2020 | 540 |
| 2021 | 416 |
| 2022 | 413 |
| 2023 | 553 |
Source: Business of Apps, Apple, DemandSage
Download trends show volatility but general decline from the 2018 peak of 710 million to a low of 413 million in 2022, with partial recovery to 553 million in 2023.
Declining Engagement Time
While user counts grow slowly, time spent is declining:
- 10.9-minute decrease in average daily time from 2023 to 2024 (eMarketer via Backlinko, 2025)
- 20 minutes/day in 2024 (US) vs approximately 31 minutes in 2023 (eMarketer, 2024)
- Usage shifting to older demographics as younger users spend less time or migrate entirely to Instagram/TikTok
Content Consumption Patterns
Facebook's content mix remains text-and-link-heavy despite Meta's push into video:
| Content Type | Share of Posts | Engagement Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Link posts | 42.9% | 0.06% |
| Photo posts | 34.3% | 0.24% |
| Video posts | 19.3% | 0.30% |
| Status posts | 3.5% | 0.12% |
Source: Data Reportal, 2025
Link posts dominate at 42.9% of content but have the lowest engagement rate (0.06%). Video has the highest engagement (0.30%) despite representing only 19.3% of posts.
- 1.75 posts per day : Average number of posts shared by Facebook pages (Data Reportal, 2025)
Mental Health and Facebook Usage
Facebook's impact on mental health centers less on body image (unlike Instagram) and more on social comparison, loneliness despite connection, and the psychological effects of performative social interaction.
Depression and Anxiety
- Social media use is linked to dendrite pruning : the elimination of unused neural connections, which is linked to neurological disorders (Ballard Brief, 2024)
- Neurochemical alterations: Social media can alter the flow of dopamine, cortisol, and oxytocin (Ballard Brief, 2024)
- Higher social media use is associated with: Depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, and problematic use patterns bordering on addiction (Sala et al., 2024)
Social Comparison and Self-Worth
- 1 out of every 10 thoughts involves comparison of some kind (Ballard Brief, 2024)
- Social comparison theory: Individuals determine their worth based on comparison to others, and Facebook provides constant material for upward social comparison (Ballard Brief, 2024)
- 71% of women reported higher body dissatisfaction after viewing "ideal" model images on social media (Ballard Brief, 2024)
- Nearly 50% of American girls at age 13 felt unhappy about their bodies, growing to 80% by age 17 (Ballard Brief, 2024)
The Loneliness Paradox
Facebook promises connection but often delivers isolation:
- Users often experience greater loneliness despite easier access to social interaction (Ballard Brief, 2024)
- 57% believe social media improved access to information (Statista via Cropink, 2024)
- 57% believe it improved ease of communication (Statista, 2024)
- Only 31% believe it improved overall quality of life (Statista, 2024)
The gap between perceived communication benefits (57%) and quality of life improvement (31%) reveals the loneliness paradox: Facebook makes it easier to communicate but doesn't necessarily make people happier.
Sherry Turkle, Professor of the Social Studies of Science and Technology at MIT, captures this phenomenon: "We expect more from technology and less from each other. Facebook promised connection but often delivers isolation. The 'always on' culture means we're never fully present, never fully alone : caught in a state of continuous partial attention." (Turkle, 2011)
Cyberbullying and Mental Health
- Nearly half of teens ages 13-17 have experienced cyberbullying (Pew Research via Ballard Brief, 2024)
- Body image teasing is associated with higher anxiety and lower self-esteem (Ballard Brief, 2024)
Algorithm and AI Impact
- 20%+ of Facebook feed content is now recommended by AI from accounts users don't follow (DemandSage, 2026)
- AI-generated content is increasingly prevalent on the platform
- Algorithms create filter bubbles that reinforce existing beliefs and limit exposure to diverse viewpoints
Expert Perspectives
Dr. Jean Twenge, Professor of Psychology at San Diego State University, notes: "Facebook, while less popular with teens now, set the template for the attention economy that dominates social media today. The more time people spend on platforms like Facebook, the more likely they are to report unhappiness. The correlation between rising screen time and declining teen mental health around 2012 is unmistakable." (Twenge, 2023)
Dr. Jonathan Haidt, social psychologist at NYU Stern School of Business, adds: "The constant social comparison, the fear of missing out, and the public performance of identity that Facebook pioneered are especially harmful to adolescents. The data shows a clear inflection point around 2012 when smartphones became ubiquitous and mental health metrics began to worsen." (Haidt, 2024)
How to Reduce Facebook Screen Time
For users looking to reduce Facebook usage, the most effective strategies combine built-in tools, device-level controls, and behavioral changes that introduce friction.
Built-In Facebook Tools
- Set daily time limits: Menu → Settings → Your Time on Facebook → Set Daily Reminder. Facebook will notify you when you reach your limit.
- Schedule Quiet Mode: Your Time on Facebook → Quiet Mode lets you set hours when Facebook won't send notifications and shows a screen when you try to open the app.
- View usage dashboard: Your Time on Facebook shows daily average, time spent today, and usage trends.
- Notification control: Settings → Notifications → turn off everything except truly important alerts (messages from close friends, event reminders).
- News Feed preferences: Unfollow, snooze, or hide content from accounts that trigger negative emotions or excessive scrolling.
Device-Level Approaches
- iOS Screen Time limits: Settings → Screen Time → App Limits → Add Limit for Facebook. Set a passcode someone else holds for true accountability.
- Focus Mode: Settings → Focus → create a work or study mode that hides Facebook from your home screen during specific hours or locations.
- Remove from home screen: Long-press Facebook → Remove App → Remove from Home Screen (keeps the app installed but requires searching to access).
- Website blocking: Settings → Screen Time → Content & Privacy Restrictions → Content Restrictions → Web Content → Limit Adult Websites → Never Allow → Add facebook.com
Friction-Based Strategies
The most effective long-term approach involves redesigning your relationship with your phone. For users looking to build healthier habits, tools that create friction between impulse and action can be effective. Removing Facebook from your home screen, disabling notifications, or using tools like Blank Spaces that redesign the entire interface to remove visual triggers all help ensure opens are conscious choices rather than reflexive habits.
Behavioral Strategies
- Unfollow negative triggers: If political content, family arguments, or social comparison triggers stress, unfollow aggressively. Facebook is more useful for events and groups than feed scrolling.
- Use browser-only access: Delete the app and access Facebook only through a web browser, adding friction to every visit.
- Set specific check-in times: Designate 2-3 times daily to check Facebook (morning, lunch, evening) rather than responding to every notification.
- Delete during focused periods: Remove the app entirely during work hours, exams, or vacation, then reinstall when needed.
- Prioritize groups and events over feed: Use Facebook for its organizational tools (events, groups, marketplace) and avoid the News Feed entirely.
Understanding Generational Context
For older users (ages 55-64, who spend 45 minutes daily), Facebook often provides legitimate social connection with family, friends, and community groups. Reduction strategies should acknowledge this value while addressing compulsive checking. For younger users migrating to other platforms, the question may be less "how do I reduce Facebook time?" and more "do I still need Facebook at all?"
FAQ
How much time does the average person spend on Facebook per day?
The global average is 30.9 minutes per day (eMarketer, 2025). However, US adults average 20 minutes per day, and usage varies dramatically by age: the 55-64 age group spends 45 minutes daily while 18-24 year olds spend just 22 minutes (eMarketer, 2024).
How does Facebook screen time compare to other social media apps?
Facebook (30.9 min/day) trails TikTok (53.8 min) by 74%, YouTube (48.7 min) by 58%, and Instagram (33.1 min) by 7%. Only Snapchat (30.0 min) and Reddit (24.1 min) have comparable or lower engagement times (eMarketer, 2024-2025).
What age group spends the most time on Facebook?
Ages 55-64 spend the most time at 45 minutes per day, followed by 45-54 at 36 minutes. This is the reverse of other platforms where younger users dominate. Facebook's usage increases with age until 65+, when it drops to 34 minutes (eMarketer, 2024).
Why do older people spend more time on Facebook than younger people?
Several factors explain this reverse generational divide: (1) Facebook was the first major social platform for today's 45-65 demographic, creating strong network effects with their peer group; (2) younger users migrated to Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat, leaving Facebook as an "older" platform; (3) Facebook's groups, events, and marketplace features serve needs more relevant to older adults (community organizing, local sales, family updates); (4) the text-and-link-heavy feed appeals less to video-native younger generations.
How many people use Facebook daily?
2.11 billion people use Facebook daily out of 3.07 billion monthly users, representing a 68.7% daily active rate. This means more than two-thirds of monthly users return to Facebook every single day (Meta, 2025).
Is Facebook usage increasing or decreasing?
Facebook usage is declining in time spent but still growing in user count. Average daily time dropped 10.9 minutes from 2023 to 2024 (20 min/day vs ~31 min/day). However, user growth continues at +1.6% year-over-year. Teen usage has collapsed from 71% in 2014 to 32% in 2024 (eMarketer, 2024; Pew Research, 2024).
How long is the average Facebook session?
10 minutes and 12 seconds per session, with users checking the app approximately 8 times per day (Similarweb, 2025; GetAFollower, 2025). This means Facebook usage is typically distributed across multiple short sessions rather than single long visits.
What percentage of Facebook users access it on mobile?
98.5% of users access Facebook via mobile device, with 81.8% using mobile exclusively and only 1.5% desktop-only (Statista, 2025). Facebook is overwhelmingly a mobile-first platform.
How does Facebook affect mental health?
Research links Facebook use to increased social comparison, loneliness despite connection (only 31% believe it improved quality of life, despite 57% saying it improved communication), and performative identity presentation. The platform often delivers isolation rather than genuine connection, what MIT's Sherry Turkle calls "continuous partial attention" (Ballard Brief, 2024; Turkle, 2011).
How can I check my Facebook screen time?
Tap Menu (three horizontal lines) → Settings → Your Time on Facebook. This shows your daily average, time spent today, and lets you set daily reminders or schedule Quiet Mode.
Conclusion
Facebook users spend 30.9 minutes per day on the platform globally, but that average masks a dramatic generational divide. Users ages 55-64 spend 45 minutes daily, more than double the 22 minutes spent by 18-24 year olds. This reverse pattern : unique among major social platforms : tells the story of Facebook's evolution from universal social network to aging platform.
With 3.07 billion monthly users and 2.11 billion daily users, Facebook remains the largest social network by reach. But engagement time is declining: down 10.9 minutes year-over-year, and teen usage has collapsed from 71% in 2014 to 32% in 2024. The platform that once defined social media now competes for attention with faster, video-first alternatives like TikTok (which captures 74% more daily time) and even its sibling Instagram (which leads by 7%).
Yet Facebook's habitual nature persists: 68.7% of monthly users return daily, checking the app approximately 8 times per day in 10-minute sessions. For older users, Facebook provides genuine value through groups, events, and family connection. For younger users, it's increasingly irrelevant : a platform their parents use.
The mental health research reveals a platform that often delivers loneliness rather than connection: only 31% of users believe Facebook improved their overall quality of life, despite 57% saying it improved communication ease. That gap captures Facebook's paradox perfectly.
Understanding Facebook's demographic shift and declining engagement helps users make informed choices. For the 55-64 age group spending 45 minutes daily, Facebook may provide community connection that justifies the time. For younger users already migrating to other platforms, the 10.9-minute annual decline suggests they're voting with their attention. Tools that introduce friction, remove visual triggers, and require conscious action help ensure time spent aligns with intentions. Blank Spaces represents one approach: making the default behavior match what you actually want, rather than what decades of platform optimization have trained you to do.
The question isn't whether Facebook is "good" or "bad." It's whether 30 minutes (or 45, or 22) spent scrolling through algorithmically selected updates, performative posts, and social comparison serves your actual needs. For an aging platform losing ground with younger demographics, that calculation is shifting.
Sources
- Meta Investor Relations (2025) for monthly and daily active user data
- DemandSage (2026) for comprehensive Facebook statistics and demographics
- Backlinko (2025) for user growth and engagement metrics
- Pew Research Center (2024) for teen usage trends and demographic data
- eMarketer (2024) for age-specific usage time and comparative platform data
- Statista (2025) for mobile vs desktop usage and historical growth
- Data Reportal (2025) for content type distribution and engagement rates
- Business of Apps (2026) for revenue data and download trends
- Ballard Brief/BYU (2024) for mental health research and social comparison data
- Similarweb (2025) for session length data
- GetAFollower (2025) for session frequency estimates
