Social media has become an integral part of life for people around the world, allowing them to stay connected and share experiences. Hong Kong is no exception, with high social media penetration across all demographics. This article will explore the most popular social media platforms used by people in Hong Kong.
Facebook is the most used social media platform in Hong Kong. As of 2023, there are an estimated 5.7 million Facebook users in Hong Kong, representing around 77% of the total population. The platform is popular across all age groups but sees high usage among 25-34 year olds in particular.
Some key statistics on Facebook usage in Hong Kong:
- 77% of Hong Kong’s population are active Facebook users
- There are 5.7 million Facebook users in Hong Kong
- 25-34 year olds are the biggest users
- 93% of users access via mobile devices
- The peak usage times are from 9-10pm daily
Facebook is ingrained in daily life for most Hong Kong residents. It serves as a platform to stay connected with friends and family, follow news and trends, join interest-based groups, and promote businesses. Its popularity can be attributed to the broad range of features it offers including photo/video sharing, messaging, stories, marketplace and more.
YouTube
YouTube is also hugely popular in Hong Kong, with an estimated user base of around 5.1 million as of 2023. The video sharing platform sees significant engagement across all age groups in Hong Kong.
Key YouTube statistics for Hong Kong:
- 68% of the population are active YouTube users
- 5.1 million estimated YouTube users
- Most popular among 15-34 year olds
- 70% of views are on mobile
- Average viewing session is 40 minutes
People in Hong Kong use YouTube to watch a diverse range of entertainment content, from music videos to vlogs, viral clips, movies, tutorials and more. It has also become an important platform for marketers and brands aiming to engage audiences. Many local Hong Kong creators have built large followings by producing content for YouTube.
WhatsApp is the most widely used messaging app in Hong Kong, with around 5.5 million active users. It has become an essential communications channel for most people.
- 72% of Hong Kong’s population use WhatsApp
- 5.5 million active users
- Most popular among 25-44 year olds
- Daily usage is approximately 32 minutes per user
- 90% of users access WhatsApp daily
WhatsApp is popular for its ease of use, group messaging capabilities, voice/video calling features and ability to share photos, videos and files. It has largely replaced SMS messaging as the primary communications platform for many in Hong Kong. WhatsApp is frequently used for both personal and professional communications.
Instagram has experienced rapid growth in Hong Kong over the past few years. It now has an estimated user base of 3.1 million. Usage is highest among younger demographics.
Key Instagram stats for Hong Kong:
- Around 42% of the population use Instagram
- 3.1 million estimated users
- Most popular with 18-34 year olds
- 60% of users check Instagram daily
- Average daily usage is 25 minutes
People in Hong Kong leverage Instagram for photo and video sharing, visual self-expression, following interests, and staying up to date on trends. Influencers, brands, businesses, and organizations have also established active presences on Instagram to engage and market to Hong Kong audiences. Instagram Stories, Reels, and shopping features are all widely used.
WeChat has a significant user base in Hong Kong of around 3 million people. The Chinese super app offers messaging, social networking, payments and a range of other functions.
- Approximately 3 million users
- Most popular among 25-44 year olds
- Used daily by around 40% of users
- Key functions used are messaging, moments, payments
- Average daily usage is 20 minutes
WeChat usage is concentrated among Hong Kong’s Chinese population, particularly those with close connections to mainland China. Its multifunctionality and integration with Chinese services have made it an essential app for this demographic. WeChat has struggled to gain traction among non-Chinese ethnic groups in Hong Kong.
As Hong Kong’s major financial hub, LinkedIn has an important presence for professional networking and recruitment. It has around 1 million users in Hong Kong.
Key LinkedIn stats:
- 13% of Hong Kong’s population use LinkedIn
- Estimated 1 million users
- Most popular among 25-54 year olds
- Used weekly by around 30% of users
- Main use cases are professional networking and job seeking
LinkedIn caters to Hong Kong’s large white-collar workforce across fields like finance, technology, consulting and more. Users leverage LinkedIn to network, build their professional brand, seek new career opportunities, showcase expertise, and follow industry developments. Usage is concentrated in traditional work hours.
While Twitter has a smaller user base than other platforms in Hong Kong, it plays an influential role in public discourse. There are around 700,000 Twitter users.
Twitter usage stats:
- 700,000 estimated users
- 9% of the population have a Twitter account
- Most popular with 25-44 year olds
- 15% of users are daily active
- Key user activities: news, current events, commentary
Among Hong Kong’s politically active internet users, Twitter serves as a key platform for discussion and debate. Major public figures, politicians, activists, journalists, and organizations have a presence on Twitter to share their commentary. Twitter is also used to organize campaigns and social movements in Hong Kong. The platform sees spikes in usage around major news events.
Snapchat
Snapchat has gained some momentum in Hong Kong, particularly among younger demographics who use it for ephemeral messaging and Snapchat Stories. Current estimates point to around 500,000 users.
Snapchat stats for Hong Kong:
- Around 500,000 users
- Mostly popular with 18-34 year olds
- 30% of users are daily active
- Key user activities: messaging, stories, lenses/filters
- Average 30 minutes of daily usage
Snapchat provides a more private space for Hong Kong’s youth to engage in casual communication. The Stories and Discover features are also used to consume curated content and news. Snapchat penetration remains well below other major platforms, but it has cultivated a niche user base among younger demographics in Hong Kong.
Pinterest has gained a passionate user base in Hong Kong who use it for collecting images and creative inspiration. It has around 900,000 users currently.
Pinterest stats:
- 900,000 estimated users
- 12% of the population have Pinterest accounts
- Most usage comes from 25-44 year old women
- 40% of users are monthly active
- Main uses are collecting creative images, style inspiration
The “visual discovery” nature of Pinterest appeals to its Hong Kong users who utilize it to gather ideas for fashion, lifestyle, recipes, travel and more. Brands have also recognized the commercial opportunities on Pinterest, curating shoppable pins for Hong Kong audiences. While it has a smaller user base than leading platforms, Pinterest caters well to its target demographics in Hong Kong.
TikTok
The viral short video app TikTok has been one of the fastest growing social platforms in Hong Kong. It now boasts around 2 million users.
TikTok stats:
- 2 million estimated users
- Mostly popular with teens and young adults
- Around 35% of users are active daily
- Average 31 minutes spent per day
- Main usage is for entertainment videos
TikTok resonates strongly with Hong Kong’s youth who use it to create and consume fun music, dance, comedy and talent videos. Influencers and brands have flocked to the platform to engage with the young audience. TikTok’s user base skews very young, though it is also making inroads with users in their 20s and 30s. Critics have raised concerns about data privacy and censorship around Hong Kong political issues.
Telegram
Following the 2019 Hong Kong protests, the encrypted messenger app Telegram gained popularity as a secure platform for activist coordination and information sharing. It now has around 1 million users in Hong Kong.
Telegram stats:
- 1 million estimated users
- 13% of the population use Telegram
- Skews towards younger male demographics
- 15% of users are daily active
- Provides secure groups and channels
Telegram has become essential for connecting Hong Kong’s activist communities. However, regular non-political users also appreciate the privacy, security and group capabilities it offers compared to other messaging apps. Telegram does not market itself or monetize user data. While the 2019 protests first catalyzed Telegram’s growth in Hong Kong, it has sustained relevance for encrypted communications.
Reddit has a small but engaged base of users in Hong Kong who use it to discuss news, politics, interests and subcultures. It attracts around 300,000 visits per month from Hong Kong.
Hong Kong Reddit stats:
- 300,000 monthly visitors from Hong Kong
- Mostly male users aged 20-40
- Hong Kong subreddit has over 100,000 members
- Active discussion on local news and politics
- Niche hobby subcultures also popular
Amid the political tensions of recent years, Reddit has provided an active forum for Hong Kongers to debate current events and campaigns. The platform facilitates more open discussion of sensitive topics compared to other social networks. Reddit’s anonymity also appeals to its Hong Kong political users. Beyond this, Reddit connects Hong Kong residents around gaming, lifestyle interests, viral trends and internet culture.
Conclusion
Social media has become deeply interwoven into the lives of Hong Kong people, though platform preferences vary across demographics. Facebook remains the most ubiquitous platform, while YouTube, WhatsApp and Instagram are also extremely popular for socializing, entertainment, shopping and visual expression. WeChat caters specifically to the Chinese population in Hong Kong who maintain close ties to mainland China.
Among younger users, TikTok, Snapchat, Telegram and Reddit have carved out growing niches. LinkedIn and Twitter facilitate professional networking and public discourse respectively, though their user bases are smaller. Each platform serves different needs and purposes for Hong Kong social media users, demonstrating the diversity of the local digital landscape.
