YouTube is the most popular free video service across all generations

For more insights and key statistics on the biggest trends in today’s most disruptive industries, subscribe to our Chart of the Day newsletter.

Key stat: YouTube is the most widely used free video service among US internet users of all generations, according to Kagan. Its highest saturation is among Gen Zers (82%) and millennials (78%).

Beyond the chart:

  • Last year, for the first time, US adults spent more time watching digital video than traditional TV. The time spent gap between digital video and traditional TV will widen in the next few years, from 28 minutes in 2023 to more than an hour in 2025, according to our forecast.
  • US adults will spend 3:23 per day watching digital video in 2023. YouTube will claim 34 of those daily minutes.
  • Nearly 55% of time spent watching digital video is through connected TV (CTV). US users will also spend more time watching YouTube from CTVs than on mobile devices this year.

Use this chart:

  • Craft your free video strategies to reach your target audience where they spend their time.

More like this:

More Chart of the Day:

Methodology: Data is from the August 2023 Kagan survey titled "U.S. Q1 2023 Consumer Insights." Approximately 2,500 adult internet users ages 18+ were surveyed online during March 2023. Kagan is a media research group within S&P Global Market Intelligence.

"Behind the Numbers" Podcast