Ghosted: Instagram Is Now More Popular Than Snapchat Among Teens

Spoooooky!

For the first time in more than two years, it seems that Instagram has overtaken Snapchat as the #1 social media platform of choice among teenagers.

According to stats from the researchers at Piper Jaffray, Instagram is now used at least once a month by 85 per cent of American teens (average age, 16), while Snapchat is used by 84 per cent.

Though that difference may not seem like much, it comes after five consecutive quarterly surveys of teens primarily saying they used Snapchat at least once a month, with Instagram in second place.

But after several years of bad news, a disastrous redesign, boycotts and Instagram replicating Snapchat’s most beloved features, the tide has finally turned for Snap.

However, it’s important to note that 46 per cent of teens still call Snapchat their favourite social platform, compared to 32 per cent for Instagram. Still, Instagram has closed that gap by seven per cent over the last year.

Ironically, Facebook—which owns Instagram—has cratered in popularity over the last two years, and is only used at least once a month by 36 per cent of teenagers today. Only five per cent call it their favourite social platform. This, similarly, may have to do with the bad news stories centering on FB since the 2016 American presidential election.

Earlier this year, we surveyed Aussie students specifically, who still said Snapchat was their preferred social platform, followed by YouTube, Instagram and Facebook. But a lot has changed since then, like Rihanna jumping ship.

The time has come to pick a side: Snapchat or Rihanna.

Header Image: iStock.com/stockcam