Malaysia’s Social Media Obsession: Who’s Winning the Digital Throne?

Whether sharing memes, keeping up with friends, posting ads or searching for information, can’t deny malaysian nowadays becoming more more reliant on social medias. Malaysia’s passion (or addiction) for social media is clear where it’s easier to find someone scrolling through feeds mindlessly all the time, the level of digital engagement in the country is remarkable. But have any wonder what social media platform that being used the most among Malaysian? There’s so many social media platform available but there can only one reign supreme above all.

Facebook: The Undisputed King (For Now)

At top of them all, and still is, Facebook continue to dominate the social media landscape in Malaysia, with nearly 60% of the market share. It become primary platform for various activities, news consumption, sales or just staying update on the latest viral trends. With its wide range of features, from local community groups to marketplace transactions, Facebook remains a top choice. Brands depend heavily on its robust advertising network, which reaches over 64% of the population, making it an essential tool for digital marketing. However, most recent we’re seeing the shift of trends mostly to youngers users that gradually moving towards more engaging platforms like Tiktok, Instagrams or Rednotes (Anyone remember Threads?). Additionally, changes in algorithms and growing privacy concerns have prompted some businesses to seek out alternatives too.

TikTok: The Rising Challenger

Following close behind the giants recently is the TikTok. Way more popular among the young audiences with it quicker and engaging videos. Not just a place to showoff your dance moves, it set out as innovative content and immediate engagement for influencers, content creators and businesses alike. The platform’s interactive content is perfect for brand storytelling and showcasing products. Malaysian brands are taking advantage of viral challenges and influencer partnerships to boost awareness and drive conversions. As TikTok continues to rise, it’s establishing itself as a formidable player in the digital landscape.

Instagram: The Visual Powerhouse

Instagram always known as top choice particular for new generation of users and those more into visual content. It becoming an essential platform for brands who looking to connect with their audience. With their main features like Stories, Reels and Shops, it provides various ways for businesses to display their products (or services) and interact with followers. As Instagram focus on visuals, it enable big brands to partner up with influencers to craft campaigns that boost engagement and drive sales.

X (Formerly Twitter): The Conversation Hub

Even though it has a smaller market share, X continues to play a significant role in Malaysia’s social media landscape. It serves as the primary platform for real-time news, trends, and discussions. Many brands utilize X for customer service, timely updates, and participating in trending conversations. The platform’s capacity to ignite discussions makes it an essential resource for brands aiming to establish their identity and connect directly with their audience.

Rednote (小红书): The Rising Star

Rednote (小红书), is becoming increasingly popular in Malaysia’s social media scene, particularly among younger, trend-conscious users. Initially designed for lifestyle content and product suggestions, it has transformed into a significant player in influencer marketing and e-commerce. The combination of social engagement and shopping offers a distinctive environment where users can find products through genuine reviews and captivating content. While some may use Rednote to market their services to wider audience too. A personal comments from myself here, i particularly like to use the feature “nearby” to search for nice foods around my area.

The Future of Malaysia’s Social Media Scene

Yet to know if Facebook will continue to dominate the scene for another decade as recently Malaysia weight in for social media license (even for LinkedIn). Even so, most of the popular social media platforms are here to stay for a very long time. It become even more apparent for business to stay ahead of the competitions by having tools that could handling multiple accounts at once such as CtrlFire. Multiple accounts on a single platform are important for business that usually branches out into several sub brands of their own while still under the same main brand. Currently in Malaysia, it very obvious social media played a very big role not just personal daily life but for businesses as well.