RIYADH — WhatsApp remains the most widely used social media and messaging application in Saudi Arabia, with usage reaching 94.4 percent among males and 90.4 percent among females, according to the “Saudi Internet 2025” report issued by the Communications, Space and Technology Commission.

Snapchat ranked second, with usage among females reaching 88.2 percent compared with 80.2 percent among males, making it the most popular platform among Saudi women after WhatsApp.

The report highlighted the most widely used digital platforms in the Kingdom and showed noticeable differences in usage patterns between male and female internet users.

TikTok recorded usage rates of 77.6 percent among females and 76.5 percent among males. YouTube recorded usage of 81.1 percent among males and 68.8 percent among females, while Instagram was used by 42.4 percent of females and 39.5 percent of males.

The figures demonstrate the continued popularity of messaging and short-form video platforms among Saudi internet users, while also highlighting differences in preferences between men and women.

The report also found that 61.3 percent of internet users in Saudi Arabia spend seven hours or more online each day. Another 34.1 percent spend between three and six hours online daily, while 4.6 percent spend less than three hours.

Internet activity reaches its daily peak between 9 p.m. and 11 p.m., with Friday recording the highest usage among days of the week. March was identified as the month with the highest internet usage during the year.

Using the internet while on the move was the most common pattern, accounting for 84 percent, followed by usage at home at 77.5 percent and at workplaces at 41.4 percent.

Mobile phones remain by far the primary devices used to access the internet, with 99.6 percent usage, followed by computers at 47.4 percent and tablets at 39.2 percent. Other connected devices, including smartwatches and gaming consoles, accounted for 30.7 percent.

The report further showed that Wikipedia was the most visited website in the Kingdom, followed by YouTube, Instagram, the Ministry of Education, WhatsApp, Absher and ChatGPT.

Among the most frequently searched terms were “translator,” Absher, Noor, “translation,” YouTube, Google, Madrasati and “Saudi riyal.”

Source:Saudi Gazette