Streaming and Social Media Habits on the Rise: Infinite Dial Study

media brand usage, from the Infinite Dial.
In terms of political affiliation, X’s usage among Democrats dropped by 12% compared to 2023.
The Infinite Dial also tracked social media usage by age. Facebook’s overall lead is largely due to its popularity with 68% of those aged 55 and older. Just 23% of those aged 12—34 report using Facebook. Instagram and TikTok are tied for most used in that group, at 26%.
The report also asked respondents whether social media should be banned in the U.S. for those under 16. Responses were fairly split, with 48% saying it should. Fifty-one percent of women supported a ban along with 58% of Republicans, compared to 45% of Democrats.
Smart speakers stay grounded
Smart speaker ownership has remained fairly flat over the last five years. Thirty-five percent of respondents said they own one. Of those who said they owned such a speaker, 18% said they had listened through the device in the last week.
Fifty-nine percent of those surveyed said they own Bluetooth-enabled wireless headphones. It has tracked fairly flat over the last three years. 
Twenty-seven percent of those surveyed, which represents 78 million of the U.S. population, said they own a smart watch.
About the report
Edison Research has released the Infinite Dial annually since 1998. It surveys digital media consumption, which includes streaming audio, podcasts, radio, smart speakers and social media.
Infinite Dial is supported by Audacy, Cumulus and SiriusXM.
The survey was conducted in January, with a panel of approximately 5,020 individuals aged 12 and older. The data was weighted to national 12-and-older U.S. population figures.
This is the third  in three stories Radio World will feature with trends revealed by this year’s Infinite Dial survey. We also analyzed in-car media trends and podcasts.