Recent disclosures by Meta, under the obligations of the Digital Services Act (DSA), highlight a significant shift in the European social media landscape.
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While Facebook continues to be one of the most popular platforms across Europe, Instagram is now experiencing growth that overshadows its predecessor. The days when Facebook reigned supreme are fading, replaced by an Instagram that captivates European users with its format and functionality.
Instagram’s Continued Expansion in the European Market
According to Meta’s recent report covering the period from January to June 2025, Instagram has an impressive 281.8 million monthly active users in the European Union, overtaking Facebook’s 263.6 million during the same timeframe.
Experts, such as those from SocialMediaToday, suggest that this shift is part of a broader trend where users seek more genuine interactions, ephemeral and video formats, and content creators are increasingly shaping the digital experiences of European users.
Furthermore, the growth rates are particularly striking, with Facebook’s audience only increasing by 0.65% since March 2024, while Instagram has surged by 6.17%.
Is Facebook Struggling to Innovate?
Instagram’s vigorous growth is not just a matter of numbers; it also indicates Facebook’s waning momentum in several countries, including the Netherlands, Greece, and Germany, where the platform has seen a decline in users. This slowdown for Facebook, coupled with Instagram’s rise, raises questions about changing social media habits in Europe.
Meta appears to be aware of this shift, as the company has stopped publishing specific user figures for Facebook in its global quarterly reports, opting instead to aggregate the data for Instagram, Facebook, Threads, WhatsApp, and Messenger under the “Family of Apps” banner.
However, with Mark Zuckerberg’s early-year announcement of a “Facebook OG” revival, including the reintroduction of the “Friends” tab, Meta is not ready to give up on its flagship network. While it’s still too early to determine the impact of this strategy, the initial outcomes should become evident in the upcoming months.
In the meantime, it’s clear that the future of social networks in Europe for Meta is increasingly leaning towards Instagram rather than Facebook. This shift reflects a change in era, if not generation, unless upcoming developments challenge this trajectory.
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Samantha Klein is a seasoned tech journalist with a sharp focus on Apple and mobile ecosystems. With over a decade of experience, she brings insightful commentary and deep technical understanding to the fast-evolving world of consumer technology.