The research highlights the growing importance of digital in Australia with 25.21 million internet users, representing 95% of the population, and 20.8 million social media identities, equating to 86.5% of the adult population.

Daily time spent on media reflects how prominent digital is for Australians aged 16 to 64, who now spend an average of 6 hours and 14 minutes using the internet each day, and 1 hour and 51 minutes on social media. Conversely, there's a notable decline in time spent watching broadcast and streaming TV (-15%), reading online and press content (-44%), streaming music (-13%), listening to broadcast radio (-15%) and podcasts (-33%), and using game consoles (-30%).

TikTok has the highest average time per Android user of any social app, with over 42 hours and 13 minutes per month - equating to almost one and a half hours per day using the platform. In second place is YouTube, with the average user spending over 21 hours and 36 minutes per month on its Android app. TikTok’s significant ad reach, now close to 10 million (+17%), and high volume of downloads and consumer spend, are proof of its rising prominence in the social media landscape in Australia, otherwise dominated by Meta.

Meltwater executive director Asia Pacific David Hickey said, “The data from this year’s report reaffirms how social media stands as the cornerstone of brand engagement and consumer interaction, with the growing investment in social media advertising further underscoring its pivotal role in a brand’s overall marketing strategy. As social media continues to shape consumer behaviour, it has become imperative for marketers to understand and capitalise on key insights from these platforms. These insights not only inform the refinement and effectiveness of future campaigns, but also serve as the bedrock for maximising returns on their investment.”

Facebook remains the favourite platform for nearly one in four Australians, who spend an average of 20 hours and 15 minutes per month. 20 years after its launch, Facebook is still the leading social media platform in Australia, boasting a potential ad reach of over 16.65 million users, or 66% of internet users.

Instagram follows closely, with three in five internet users engaging with the platform, spending an average of 11 hours and 46 minutes per month. Its total potential ad reach shows the biggest growth among the top social apps, increasing by almost 20% in the past year, now close to 14 million.

Australians stand out amongst top economies as the users spending the most time on Snapchat, with 17 hours and two minutes and 619 sessions per month.

The report also underscores the pivotal role of social media as a key source of information about brands and products, with 58% of users aged 16 to 64 turning to social networks for this purpose.

Furthermore, digital platforms continue to reshape the retail landscape, with a surge in online shopping activities, particularly in categories like electronics, fashion, food, and beverages.

Online spending has grown substantially in the travel and tourism sector, reflecting Australians’ preference for digital booking channels. Notably, the annual online spend on flights surged by 44%, amounting to over US$10 billion, while spending on hotels grew by 34%, reaching almost US$6 billion.

The report sheds light on our gaming habits, revealing that nearly eight out of 10 Australian internet users aged 16 to 64 play video games, with hand-held gaming devices showing the strongest growth, +22%, signalling momentum behind on-the-go gaming.

Australian digital advertising spend continues to grow, reaching US$13.5 billion in 2023, representing 72.4% of total ad spend, now at US$18.6 billion. Social media advertising maintains a significant share of the digital advertising market, with US$3.8 billion (+6%), representing almost one-third of the total digital ad spend. While smaller, at US$460 million, influencer marketing spend has increased by 15%, representing an increasingly larger portion of the digital advertising spend.

“The data in this year’s report speaks volumes about how integral digital platforms have become in the daily lives of Australians. With almost all of the population active on social media, it's clear that these platforms are no longer just an option but a necessity for brands to connect and engage with their audience. The remarkable surge in TikTok usage is proof of its evolution from an 'emerging platform' to a pivotal channel. With its engaging content and sophisticated algorithm, TikTok captivates users' attention like no other platform. Creators can be powerful allies for brands on the platform, boosting their cultural clout, helping them reach new audiences and influencing people's choices. But TikTok is different from any other social platform. Marketers must grasp its nuances to capitalise on its immense potential,” said We Are Social CEO Suzie Shaw.

View and download the full report here.