Reddit, the social media platform known for its appeal to tech and gaming enthusiasts, has surpassed X to become the fifth most popular social platform in the UK, according to a recent study by Ofcom. Despite primarily operating as a forum, Reddit is classified as a social media platform due to its user-generated content and interactive features.
Ofcom’s latest report on the digital habits of UK citizens revealed that Reddit experienced significant growth, with 47% more UK adults utilizing the platform in a single month. In May 2024, a total of 22.9 million UK adults engaged with Reddit, marking a substantial increase from the previous year. Meanwhile, X saw an 8% decrease in UK adult users during the same period.
Elon Musk’s platform, X, attracted 22.1 million adults in May 2024, down from 24 million users in May 2023. However, Reddit’s surge in popularity positioned it as the fifth most visited social platform in the UK, following YouTube, Facebook, Messenger, Instagram, and TikTok.
The rise of Reddit comes at a time when X is experiencing a decline in users, partly attributed to Elon Musk’s involvement in US politics. Following Donald Trump’s election victory and Musk’s subsequent appointment to a government position, users began migrating to alternative social media platforms.
One such platform, Bluesky, which resembles earlier versions of Twitter, has amassed 23 million users, with a notable one-million increase in users within a day of the US election. Additionally, Meta’s Threads app witnessed a surge in popularity, with over 15 million new users joining the platform since the start of November.
The Ofcom report also highlighted a gender disparity in online activity, indicating that women in the UK spend more time online than men. On average, women spent an extra 33 minutes per day online compared to men, with women clocking in at four hours and 36 minutes online daily, while men spent four hours and three minutes online.
Overall, Reddit’s ascendancy in the UK social media landscape reflects shifting trends in user preferences and platform engagement. As digital habits continue to evolve, social media platforms must adapt to meet the changing needs and interests of their audiences.
