The systematic study of future developments known as futurology has gained importance because technology advances at unprecedented rates. The field extends beyond predicting future gadgets because it examines how technological advancements will reshape society and business operations and ethical frameworks. This blog explores two essential activities which help us understand the approaching future better.
Activity 1: Technology Usage Checkpoint
Global Smartphone Users (Worldwide, 2024)
Estimated number of smartphone users worldwide from 2014–2029 (in billions, Source: Oberlo & Statista).
The worldwide adoption of smartphones shows no signs of decline in 2024. The worldwide smartphone user population reached approximately 5.5 billion people in 2023 when nearly 70% of the global population owned smartphones (statista.com). The 2024 global smartphone user count reaches approximately 4.48 billion users according to stricter estimates that identify distinct individuals who do not have multiple devices (oberlo.com). Statista’s market forecast indicates that unique smartphone owners make up approximately 56% of the population which amounts to about 4.48 billion users. The wide variation in smartphone user numbers shows that numerous individuals operate more than one smartphone or SIM card thus resulting in approximately 6.9 billion active smartphone connections worldwide (twicsy.com) (above the number of unique users). The worldwide smartphone user base exceeds 4 billion individuals who continue to grow by 2–5% each year according to datareportal.com.
TikTok User Statistics (2024)
Image Source: (Meltwater)
The global advertising audience reach of TikTok users aged 18 and above during January 2024 amounts to 1.56 billion with males making up a small majority of users.
Since its launch in 2016 TikTok experienced explosive user growth which led to its position as a global leader among social platforms during its first few years. ByteDance (TikTok’s parent) reported the app reached 1 billion monthly active users (MAUs) back in September 2021 (backlinko.com). The current active user numbers of TikTok exceed 1 billion monthly active users according to 2024 estimates.
- Monthly Active Users (MAU): reached approximately 1.56 billion people worldwide during the first months of 2024 according to TikTok’s advertising reach data (datareportal.com). The eMarketer projection for mid-2024 MAUs in China excluded users who reached 1.04 billion while Sensor Tower reported 1.12 billion MAUs during Q4 2023 (backlinko.com). The 1.56 billion user count extends beyond a general global audience to include late-2024 user additions and expanded coverage under TikTok. TikTok approaches the same user scale as Instagram since it has only 5% fewer users than Instagram does. The user distribution on TikTok shows a majority of male users at 52% while female users make up 48%. The platform achieved a +26% increase in reach throughout the year according to datareportal.com.
- The total number of TikTok user accounts reached: 2.05 billion in 2024 according to demandsage.com. The Statista forecast shows that this figure includes every registered user worldwide who may not be active monthly. TikTok registered user numbers increased dramatically since 2022 when the platform had 1.7 billion users and the forecast shows it will surpass 2.14 billion users by 2025 (demandsage.com). The total reach of TikTok can be measured by its app download statistics because the platform reached more than 3 billion worldwide installations since its launch (charleagency.com). The platform reached this milestone during the first half of 2021 showing its extensive reach. The app maintains its position as one of the most frequently downloaded applications every year since 2024.
Instagram User Statistics (2024)
Image Source: (Meltwater)
The global advertising audience of Instagram in January 2024 reached approximately 1.65 billion adults with equal distribution between genders while showing steady annual growth. Since its launch in 2010 Instagram has kept its position as one of the biggest social networks while supporting an enormous user base. The owner company Meta does not release official user statistics but multiple reliable sources confirm Instagram achieved more than 2 billion monthly active users during the recent period.
- The platform has 2.0 billion monthly active users throughout the world according to early 2024 data from autolikesig.com. The user base of Instagram reached 2 billion during the late 2021 or early 2022 period and has sustained this number ever since (backlinko.com). The platform ranks as the third most popular social network based on user engagement behind Facebook and YouTube (backlinko.com).
- The available adult users on Instagram’s platform reached 1.65 billion in January 2024 according to datareportal.com. The platform has a balanced gender distribution between males and females who make up 50.6% and 49.4% of its user base respectively. The number of users reachable by Instagram ads expanded by 25% throughout 2023 which added 334 million new users to the platform. Major markets include India (approx. 360+ million users), which is Instagram’s largest user base, followed by the United States (~170 million) and Brazil (~134 million) (autolikesig.com).
- The platform has more than 2 billion total user accounts throughout its existence. The total number of Instagram accounts exceeds 2 billion active users because it includes all users including those who are inactive. Meta has not provided the cumulative account total but external analysts projected Instagram had 2.3–2.4 billion total accounts in 2023 (demandsage.com). The platform deactivated some user accounts which reduced its effective MAU to approximately 2 billion in 2024 according to demandsage.com. The total number of registered users on Instagram exceeds 2 billion but active users during a month amount to approximately 2 billion. The company revealed in 2018 that Stories attracts more than 500 million daily active users who represent a significant portion of its total user base.
Activity 2: Decision Dilemma – AI in Healthcare
The focus of my work for this exercise has already been on artificial intelligence applications within medical practice. AI tools from the modern era actively contribute to early disease detection and patient vital sign monitoring and health prediction.
Advantages:
- Enables faster, more precise diagnoses
- Elevates quality of patient care
- Cuts down on clinical mistakes
- Streamlines hospital and clinic workflows
Drawbacks:
- The use of AI in healthcare creates major privacy risks for medical information.
- The excessive use of machines in medical practice leads to diminished human interaction between patients and healthcare providers.
- The relationship between doctors and their patients might undergo changes because of this technology.
Industry Spotlight:
The medical application of AI has evolved from basic diagnostics into predictive wellness through deep neural networks that detect health issues before symptoms appear (The Guardian, 2024).
References
DataReportal. (2024). Digital 2024 Global Overview Report. Retrieved from https://datareportal.com/reports/digital-2024-global-overview-report
Statista. (2024). Number of smartphone users worldwide from 2016 to 2028 (in billions). Retrieved from https://www.statista.com/statistics/330695/number-of-smartphone-users-worldwide/
Backlinko. (2025, March). TikTok users. https://backlinko.com/tiktok-users
Charle Agency. (2025, January). TikTok statistics. https://www.charleagency.com/articles/tiktok-statistics/
Oberlo. (2024). How many people have smartphones?. https://www.oberlo.com/statistics/how-many-people-have-smartphones
- Lan, S. (2024, June). AI-enhanced blood test may detect Parkinson’s years before onset. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/society/article/2024/jun/18/ai-enhanced-blood-test-may-detect-parkinsons-years-before-onset
