Riyadh - Mubasher: The Saudi Internet 2024 report revealed that WhatsApp topped the list of most used applications among internet users in the Kingdom, with a share of 92.2%, followed by YouTube with 79.9%, and Snapchat with 79 %.

The report issued by the Communications and Space Technology Commission indicated the widespread use of these applications among various age groups, given users' reliance on them for daily communication, content sharing, education, work, and entertainment .

TikTok ranked fourth with a usage rate of 74.6%, followed by Instagram with 44.1%, and then the X app with 37.3%, reflecting the diversity of users' preferences and their inclination towards interactive and visual content .

According to the report, the 10-19 age group topped Snapchat usage rates at 85.9%, followed by YouTube at 84.5%, TikTok at 79.9%, WhatsApp at 79%, and Instagram at 42.2 %.

Among the 20-29 age group, WhatsApp recorded the highest usage rate at 94.5%, followed by Snapchat at 90.3%, TikTok at 84.4%, YouTube at 81.5%, and Instagram at 57.7 %.

WhatsApp also maintained its lead among the 30- to 39-year-old age group, with 96% usage, followed by Snapchat with 81.3%, YouTube with 80.3%, TikTok with 75.9%, and Instagram with 48.5 %.

Among those aged 40 to 49, usage rates reached 96.3% for WhatsApp, 80% for YouTube, 73% for Snapchat, 69.6% for TikTok, and 38.5% for Instagram .

Usage rates gradually declined among older age groups, with WhatsApp usage reaching 95.1% for those aged 50-59, YouTube 75.8%, Snapchat 60%, TikTok 59.7%, and Instagram 25.2%. Meanwhile, WhatsApp usage among those aged 60-74 reached 85.1%, YouTube 58.4%, Snapchat 40.8%, TikTok 45.5%, and Instagram 14.4% .

The report indicated that men outperform in using most applications, as the percentage of WhatsApp use among them reached 94.4% compared to 89.1% among women, and YouTube at 84.9% for men compared to 73.1% for women, while women outperformed in Snapchat use at 86.3% compared to 73.6% for men, and Instagram at 48.8% for women compared to 40.6% for men, while the percentages of TikTok use were close between the sexes .

He emphasized the pivotal role of social media applications in enhancing digital interaction in Saudi Arabia and shaping an active media and social environment that supports the national digital transformation goals under Saudi Vision 2030 .

The "Saudi Internet 2024" report is the official reference for indicators of internet usage and digital applications in the Kingdom. The authority issues it annually to monitor usage patterns and transformations in the local digital landscape .