Table 1.
Most frequently used social media platforms
| Social media platform | Short description | Number of monthly users worldwide | Examples of typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| World’s most popular social media platform. Users create a personal profile, add other users as friends and exchange messages | 2375 million |
• Finding and communicating with friends and peers • Sharing and following informal content from scientific congresses (such as pictures, videos) • Obtaining formal and informal information from institutions and individuals |
|
|
Micro-blogging platform that allows users to communicate by short messages (280 character limit) Considered more professional and formal than other social media platforms |
330 million |
• Receiving information from medical and scientific journals (e.g. recently published articles, table of content) • Following formal content coming from scientific congresses (such as presentation slides, take-home messages), but also expert interpretation of presented and recently published data • Sharing and discussion of interesting clinical cases supported by media content (pictures, videos) |
|
| Messaging platform that allows users to communicate by text, audio, or video. Users can create groups | 1600 million | • Creating private groups for discussion of and exchange of information on specific topics | |
| YouTube | Video hosting website. Allows to upload and watch videos | 1900 million | • Finding and watching educational videos |
| Platform focused on personal/group branding, professional communication, and job searching | 303 million |
• Sharing curriculum vitae and information about professional experience • Job postings |
|
| Photo and video sharing platform | 1000 million | • Posting and watching media content (pictures and videos), both professional and personal |
Source: https://www.statista.com/statistics/272014/global-social-networks-ranked-by-number-of-users/ (21 October 2019).