{
  "schema_version": "1.1",
  "id": "gwi-keeping-in-touch-top-reason-for-social-50-2-percent",
  "slug": "gwi-keeping-in-touch-top-reason-for-social-50-2-percent",
  "url": "https://groundedkit.com/claims/gwi-keeping-in-touch-top-reason-for-social-50-2-percent/",
  "api_url": "https://groundedkit.com/api/claims/gwi-keeping-in-touch-top-reason-for-social-50-2-percent.json",
  "claim": "Keeping in touch with friends and family is the top reason people use social media (50.2%), ahead of filling spare time (39.7%)",
  "commonly_cited_as": "\"Why do people use social media?\"",
  "verdict": "verified",
  "verdict_definition": "Primary source found; it says the same thing, the scope matches, and it is reasonably current.",
  "confidence": "medium",
  "rating": {
    "value": 5,
    "best": 5,
    "worst": 1
  },
  "origin": {
    "publisher": "DataReportal (Kepios), citing GWI",
    "title": "Digital 2026 Global Overview Report (published Oct. 2025)",
    "year": "2025"
  },
  "quote": "Globally, “ keeping in touch with friends and family ” remains the top motivation for accessing social platforms, with more than half (50.2 percent) of adult social media users around the world citing this as a primary reason for using social media. However, it’s interesting to note that “ filling spare time ” ranks second (39.7 percent)",
  "method": "GWI online survey of internet users aged 16+ (Q2 2025), as reported by Kepios/DataReportal.",
  "drift": [
    "Respondents could pick several main reasons"
  ],
  "interest": "DataReportal reports are produced with Meltwater and We Are Social, which sell marketing services.",
  "safe_rephrasing": "GWI's 2025 survey found 50.2% of adult social media users worldwide cite keeping in touch with friends and family as a main reason for using social media, and 39.7% cite filling spare time.",
  "sources": [
    {
      "title": "DataReportal — Digital 2026 Global Overview Report",
      "url": "https://datareportal.com/reports/digital-2026-global-overview-report",
      "primary": true
    }
  ],
  "kind": "reference_fact",
  "as_of": "GWI Q2 2025 survey",
  "last_checked": "2026-10-17",
  "stale": false,
  "date_reviewed": "2026-10-17",
  "license": "CC BY 4.0",
  "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"
}