Google continues to hold the top spot as the world’s most popular internet service, maintaining its dominance since 2022, according to a new report from Cloudflare that ranks the most widely used websites in 2025. However, the report highlights a transformative shift in online behavior, driven by the rapid rise of generative artificial intelligence. ChatGPT, launched by OpenAI in November 2022, has surged into the top 40 most visited websites globally, reflecting the explosive adoption of AI tools among internet users. As of September, OpenAI reported that ChatGPT had reached 700 million active users. This milestone underscores how quickly generative AI has transitioned from a niche technology to a mainstream digital staple. Cloudflare’s analysis, based on aggregated data from its Domain Name System (DNS) infrastructure—which routes traffic by translating domain names into IP addresses—revealed a 19% increase in global internet traffic this year. This growth is attributed to heightened reliance on digital platforms for communication, entertainment, work, and AI-powered interactions. In the overall rankings, Google remains at No. 1, followed by Facebook at No. 2 and Instagram at No. 3. TikTok, despite its massive global popularity, dropped from No. 4 in 2024 to No. 8 in 2025, with Cloudflare citing the temporary U.S. legal ban as a key factor in its decline. Among social media platforms, Meta’s Facebook continues to lead globally, ranking No. 2 in the U.S. behind YouTube. According to Pew Research, over 70% of U.S. adults report using Facebook. Other top platforms include Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, LinkedIn, X (formerly Twitter), Kwai, Discord, Pinterest, and Reddit. The generative AI category saw significant momentum, with OpenAI’s ChatGPT retaining its lead. However, competition is intensifying, with Anthropic’s Claude, Perplexity, Google Gemini, Character.AI, GitHub Copilot, Windsurf AI, QuillBot, Grok (by xAI), and DeepSeek gaining traction. In e-commerce, two Asia-based platforms made notable advances. Shopee, founded in Singapore in 2015, rose to No. 2, while China’s Temu secured the No. 3 position. Amazon remains the top e-commerce site, followed by Shopify, Taobao, eBay, Alibaba, Shein, Mercado Libre, and AliExpress. In news services, Brazilian media giant Globo—spanning television, radio, and print—topped the list, marking a significant achievement for a non-U.S. news provider. Other leading news platforms include ESPN, BBC, The New York Times, CNN, Fox News, Yahoo Finance, Google News, NewsBreak, and the Times of India.