7 Social Media Trends for Consumers New Research | Social Media Examiner Here are seven key findings from that report. #1: More Time Invested in Mobile The survey found that consumers are increasingly looking to their smartphones and tablets to access social media. While the PC is still the most widely used device when it comes to social media consumption, the study found that time spent on mobile apps and mobile websites accounted for a 63% increase (compared to 2011) in total time spent. Additionally, 43% of users said they use smartphones to access social media, while 16% connect using a tablet.