To understand the most used social media in Nigeria, one has to understand social media plays a major role in everyday life. Nigerians have used social media platforms to communicate with fellow compatriots and those outside Nigeria. According to the Nigerian Informer, the number of social media users in the country is about 30 million.
Social media is becoming a go-to place for the dissemination of information. As new platforms continue to emerge in the internet space, Nigerians, especially the youths, are ready to consume whatever they bring. For this list, we will look at the top 10 most used social media platforms in Nigeria, using data from Statistica.
1. WhatsApp
WhatsApp has become the most effective communication platform and marketing tool for businesses. With great features like camera, video, voice notes, and auto-reply, you can promote your business and create strong consumer relationships. Auto-reply alone can help you react to consumers on time and better manage your time. According to Statistica, there are about 91.9% of WhatsApp users in Nigeria. The marketing features of this platform has gradually replaced the traditional media of advertising and marketing.
2. Facebook
Statistica says there are about 86.4% users of Facebook, making it the second most used social media in Nigeria. Facebook is a platform where you will most likely reconnect with both old and new friends, acquaintances, and colleagues. The platform is largely used for sharing personal images, links, and brief remarks, but corporations or organizations can also use the platform for their businesses. Facebook groups and pages are platforms where you can share information and advertise your goods and services. You can share images, videos, and audios on your account and gain followers by building an online community on the platform.
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3. Instagram
Instagram has about 77.9% users in Nigeria, which is why it came third on the list. The platform is home to influencers, bloggers, corporations, small business owners, friends, and everyone in between. Due to its numerous amazing effects, especially on pictures and videos, Instagram is a favorite among teenagers and young adults. The social networking platform is also a fantastic marketing tool for businesses trying to grow their reach and improve product awareness from the beginning.
4. Facebook Messenger
Facebook Messenger follows Instagram with 71.2% of users in Nigeria. This is because most users are also active on Facebook. However, FB Messenger has its own application, which can be used outside Facebook. Like WhatsApp, you can use the platform to chat and connect with family, friends, and colleagues, even total strangers.
5. Twitter
Twitter has about 57.4% users in Nigeria. The bird app is a microblogging tool because of the brief, unconnected messages it disseminates. Apart from having the same common features as other social media platforms, Twitter is a very fun and intriguing place to be. Messages are restricted to 280 characters or less, but that’s plenty enough space to share a link, picture, breaking news, or even swap ideas with your favorite celebrity or influencer. With Twitter, you can share information that can instantly reach millions, especially if you’re using popular hashtags.
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6. YouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing social media platform that has 54% of users in Nigeria. Unlike other video-sharing apps, there is no time limit for video streaming on YouTube. You can do first-hand product evaluations of promotional films and “how-to” instructions for almost any subject or discipline. Users can subscribe, share, rate, and comment on what they see on the site.
7. Telegram
Telegram has 50.3% users in Nigeria, making it the sixth most used social media in Nigeria. It is a cloud-based, freeware instant messaging platform where you can create group chats with up to 5000 users or even more and stay in touch with everyone, unlike WhatsApp, which has a limited number of 250 members in a group. With Telegram, you can create bots or chatbots to handle a specific task, such as order processing or customer service. Other interesting features on this platform include end-to-end encrypted video calling, file sharing, VoIP, and you can even send up to 1 GB worth of photos and videos.
8. Snapchat
There are 49.7% users of Snapchat in Nigeria. It is a revolutionary social media platform for people to engage with one another. Apart from allowing you to post short video clips with your followers, Snapchat has other fantastic features, such as the ability to attach various photos to your person while recording a short video clip, and so on. The design of the app is a blend of youthful and serious about portraying the entire makeup of the app. If you’re targeting a young audience for your bite-sized, compelling video content, use Snapchat.
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9. TikTok
TikTok is a revolutionary video-sharing platform that has 47.7% users in Nigeria. The Chinese-owned social media platform became popular during the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s very addicting, which is why it’s a favorite among teenagers and young adults. TikTok caters more to entertainment than lifestyle, distinguishing it from other platforms. Anybody can become a content creator, which is why it attracts a large number of content creators all over the world, and why they effectively enhance their performance on the platform.
10. LinkedIn
LinkedIn is one of the most well-known professional social networking sites is LinkedIn. The social media platform has 37.6% of users in Nigeria. LinkedIn provides a platform to share information about your company, news, upcoming events, and more. It’s also a platform that will give you first-hand information about how to upgrade your CV as a job seeker. A lot of Nigerians have left the unemployment market, thanks to LinkedIn. It largely has to do with networking with people in your professional circles. LinkedIn helps you meet and connect with customers, and vendors, hire new staff, and keep up with the newest business news. If you’re hoping to get your company to grow, use LinkedIn.
Conclusion
The world has changed from sending letters and fax to using social media to send messages and information. Many Nigerians are keying into the advantages of social media for their good. As more platforms continue to be created, Nigerians are ready to embrace them wholeheartedly.
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