Top Apps People Procrastinate On Instead Of Working

• TikTok leads the ranking of social apps most used for procrastination at work, with the highest average engagement rate of 9.49% and nearly 100 minutes of daily usage among its 1.6 billion users.
• Instagram follows closely, engaging its 3 billion users most heavily during the lunch hour, while Facebook ranks fifth overall despite having the largest user base of 3.07 billion worldwide.
• X (formerly Twitter) and LinkedIn fall in the middle, with engagement at its highest in the early afternoon and a primary user base in the 25–34 age group.

Social apps are the top places employees turn when putting off work, with TikTok and Instagram leading the way, according to a study conducted by CasinooftheKings. Engagement rates on these platforms remain surprisingly high during work hours, raising questions about how much they pull away from productivity.

To look into this further, the study examined app usage on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X, and LinkedIn between the hours of 9 AM and 6 PM. Through analyzing daily usage and top activity hours, it provided a clear picture of the times and apps of workplace procrastination.

TikTok is the most popular app during working hours, especially in the afternoon, according to the data. The 3 PM slump may explain why many turn to TikTok to recharge. With 1.6 billion users, TikTok has the highest interaction rate of any platform at 9.49%. Given its popularity among Gen Z, the majority of its users are between the ages of 18 and 24. TikTok also has the greatest daily usage among other social media apps, with 98 minutes spent on the app per day.

Ranking second, Instagram shows that it still has strong interest from its users. The lunch hours go to Instagram scrolling for 3B users, marking an average engagement rate of 9.33%. Again, the 18-24 age group takes over. On average, Instagram users spent 33 minutes a day scrolling reels and messaging. 

The third spot goes to X (formerly Twitter), which has an average engagement rate of 9.30%. The users spend an average of 46 minutes per day browsing posts, even more than on Instagram. X’s main audience is the 25–34 age group, as young millennials engage deeply with posts, unlike Gen Z, who opt for scrolling. The top activity hours on X occur between 1 PM and 2 PM, when its 1 billion users are most active.

LinkedIn ranks fourth with an engagement rate of 9.03% among its 1.2 billion users. Unlike other platforms, LinkedIn has more engagement as users connect professionally and seek industry insights. With its main audience of 25–34-year-olds, activity reaches its highest points between 12:00 PM and 1:00 PM, during lunch breaks. On average, users spend 34 minutes a day scrolling, networking, and learning.

The final spot goes to Facebook, which, despite having the largest user base of 3.07 billion, has the lowest engagement rate at 8.72%. The platform’s primary users are in the 25–34 age group, with a notable 18.68% of 35–44-year-olds also actively engaging. On average, users spend 26 minutes a day on Facebook, with the highest activity occurring between 11:00 AM and 12:00 PM.

A representative from CasinooftheKings says, ‘Nowadays, it’s easy to feel mentally drained after hours of constant focus. A quick 20-minute break, even if it’s just scrolling through social media, can actually help people recharge. These short pauses are a chance to step away, reset, and come back with a fresh perspective. However, too much scrolling can drain attention, delay real work, and leave people more stressed. Therefore, it is important to use it mindfully so that it can help improve focus and creativity.’