16 Sep Infographic (2024 Update): Fortune 500 CEOs On Social Media
This year, we saw a new high for the number of Fortune 500 CEOs on social media. In case you missed it, check out our 2024 update in our article, How Many Fortune 500 CEOs Are On Social Media In 2024?
The infographic below recaps some of the top findings from our recent research.
Infographic: Fortune 500 CEOs 2024 Social Media Statistic
Key Takeaways For Executive Social Media
Executive Social Media Takeaway #1: More Fortune 500 CEOs are on social media than ever before.
While the percentage hasn’t drastically changed since 2023 (74% in 2024 versus 73% in 2023), we did see a new high for the number of CEOs on at least one social media channel. Although the increase might seem modest, it’s reflective of the continuous adoption of social media among senior leaders. There’s a growing recognition of social media’s role in positioning executives as thought leaders and improving their visibility and communication efforts.
In our article where we shared our findings, we mentioned that we believe this mid-70s range could represent a peak for years to come, with minimal fluctuations up and down. That being said, what about a decade from now? As the younger generations ascend to C-suite roles, it’s possible that we could see a surge as digitally native leaders readily adopt social media.
Executive Social Media Takeaway #2: Unsurprisingly, LinkedIn dominance continues.
Looking at the number of CEOs using the top social media sites, it’s not a surprise that LinkedIn continues to be the platform of choice. Of the five social media platforms we analyzed, this business-oriented platform was the only channel that saw a rise in usage, increasing by 1% compared to 2023.
In contrast, Facebook continued to be the biggest “loser,” with a 12% decrease in usage compared to last year. Facebook’s decline is understandable given its personal and social-oriented audience. CEOs are more likely to prioritize platforms with professional contexts, such as LinkedIn, and leave Facebook behind as they focus on reaching business-minded audiences.
Executive Social Media Takeaway #3: More focus on fewer channels.
In our 2024 Fortune 500 CEO report, we saw a lower number of CEOs using 4 social media platforms, while the number of CEOs who used 2 or 3 channels stayed the same.
The most notable shift is the increase in the CEOs who are active on just one platform, suggesting that while executives are increasingly participating in social media, many are focusing on just one single platform.
For CEOs managing their own social media presence, this is to be expected — building a strategic, thoughtful, and engaging online presence takes time and effort. While more executives understand the value of social media for business-related objectives, managing multiple channels can become overwhelming. This is where leveraging their in-house marketing alongside specialized executive social media agencies becomes crucial.
A strategic omnichannel approach allows CEOs to reach a broader audience that might be on other platforms outside of LinkedIn.
Speak with an executive social media expert!