Who Is Using Instagram in the US?

How Many People Are Using Instagram?

This year, 104.7 million people in the US—or 31.8% of the population—will use Instagram, a 13.1% increase from 2017, according to eMarketer estimates.

"This will also be the first year that more than half (52.6%) of US social network users will access Instagram at least once a month," said eMarketer forecasting analyst Corey McNair in a report published earlier this year, "US Social Network Users: eMarketer's Estimates for 2018-2022."

This week, we'll be looking at the audiences of social media platforms, including Facebook, Snapchat and Twitter. Each day, we'll feature a different platform. First up: Instagram.

What's Driving Instagram's Growth?

Instagram Stories.

Stories was a major growth driver in 2017, and even though this year's growth won't be as high as last year, the feature is still attracting new users to the platform.

"When Instagram stole Snapchat’s thunder and launched Instagram Stories in 2016, some thought its version would be yet another in a line of failed features that Facebook has rolled out. Instead, stories on Instagram took off," wrote Debra Aho Williamson, principal analyst at eMarketer in her report Marketing with Stories on Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat.

How Old Are Instagram Users?

For the most part, Instagram's user base skews younger, with millennials making up the largest share and representing nearly half of the platform's US user base this year.

It also skews female. Roughly 56% of female social network users will access Instagram in 2018, compared with 48.6% of male social network users.

"Instagram is succeeding in attracting new users of all ages," said eMarketer senior forecasting analyst Chris Bendtsen. "While Facebook has had trouble with teens and Snapchat with older generations, Instagram’s popularity is more balanced across all age groups."

"Among those three platforms this year, Instagram is the only one where the split of new users over the age of 35 vs. under 35 will be nearly 50-50," he added. "Instagram will add just more than 12 million new users this year, which is more than double any other social network. And while Facebook, Snapchat and Instagram all have a 'Stories' feature, it’s Instagram Stories that will be especially successful in capturing new sign-ups."

More on Instagram from eMarketer

Podcasts:

• Which Social Networks Are US Users Most Likely on?
• The Weekly Listen: Online Sales Taxes, 'Carbnb' and Vertical Videos

Articles:

• Instagram Leads as a Global Platform for Influencer Marketing
• Instagram Is Giving the Buy Button a Makeover

Reports:

• Marketing with Stories on Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat
• Global Influencer Marketing: What Platforms to Use, Policies to Follow and the Paths to Purchase Around the World
• US Social StatPack: Usage and Ad Spending for 2017-2021