Ever wondered about Manchester's social media presence? A new study suggests the city has a strong online presence, especially on major platforms.
The study, conducted by content collaboration platform Planable, analysed social media sign-in searches across 20 major UK cities, and Manchester’s results show a city that’s chronically online while also giving a peek into the UK’s social media landscape.
Manchester’s social media presence at a glance:
- TikTok Champion: 20.10 searches per 1,000 residents (1st place)
- X/Twitter Leader: 19.09 searches per 1,000 residents (1st place)
- Instagram Strong: 131.09 searches per 1,000 residents (3rd place)
- Facebook Solid: 3,068.15 searches per 1,000 residents (4th place)
- Overall Ranking: 4th most chronically online UK city
No other British city comes close to Manchester's cross-platform leadership. The city's TikTok dominance is particularly striking, generating twice as many searches as second-place Birmingham (9.75 per 1,000) and nearly 18 times more than bottom-ranked Nottingham.
Miruna Dragomir, Chief Marketing Officer at Planable, comments: “Manchester's results are remarkable because they show a city that's genuinely ahead of the digital curve. This isn't just about being online—it's about being strategically online across the platforms that matter most for different types of connection and content.”
The findings suggest Manchester has developed Britain's most balanced and forward-thinking social media ecosystem. Whilst other cities show heavy bias towards single platforms—Hull dominates Facebook, Birmingham leads Instagram—Manchester demonstrates engagement leadership across both established and emerging platforms.
"Manchester has always been a city that punches above its weight culturally—from music to football to media. What we're seeing in these numbers is that digital leadership is following the same pattern. The city's residents aren't just consuming social media; they're likely creating content, building communities, and using these platforms in sophisticated ways that require access across multiple channels."
5. Contributed
Birmingham takes the top spot when it comes to Instagram use, but Manchester is still on the top 5. Photo: Submitted
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Machester's TikTok dominance is particularly striking, generating twice as many searches as second-place Birmingham (9.75 per 1,000). Photo: Submitted