What are social media ETFs?
Social media companies earn most of their money from advertising shown to the people who use their apps and websites. This group has just three ETFs, and they use the word “social” in different ways. The only stock held by all 3 funds is Meta Platforms. Advanced Micro Devices, Micron Technology, Alphabet, Tesla, NVIDIA and Microsoft are each held by 2 of the 3.
All three are index funds: each follows a rulebook set by an index provider rather than a manager's stock picks. None uses leverage, inverse bets or options. Global X Social Media ETF (SOCL) sticks closest to the theme. It tracks the Solactive Social Media Total Return Index and invests worldwide. Its largest company stakes are Tencent, NAVER, Meta and Reddit. It is also the most concentrated, with 75.8% of assets in its 10 largest positions.
The other two use “social” more loosely. VanEck Social Sentiment ETF (BUZZ) tracks the BUZZ NextGen AI US Sentiment Leaders Index. It spreads money over 75 holdings, with just 33.18% in its top 10, led by Nebius Group, ImmunityBio, AMD and Micron. SoFi Social 50 ETF (SFYF), from Tidal Financial Group, tracks the SoFi Social 50 Index. Its 50 holdings are led by Tesla at 10.61%, then NVIDIA and Amazon.
Fees vary widely. The median expense ratio, the yearly fee taken from fund assets, is 0.65%. SFYF is the cheapest at 0.29% and BUZZ the most expensive at 0.76%. The category is small: the three funds hold about $237.9 million combined, with BUZZ the largest at about $104.5 million. With only three funds in the group, the five largest naturally account for 100% of the money.
Social media ETF holdings: the stocks most funds own
The stocks that show up most often among the largest positions of the 3 biggest social media ETFs with holdings reports, from their latest N-PORT filings.
| Stock | Funds holding it | Typical weight |
|---|---|---|
| Meta Platforms Inc | 3 of 3 | 2.98% |
| Advanced Micro Devices Inc | 2 of 3 | 3.51% |
| Micron Technology Inc | 2 of 3 | 3.48% |
| Alphabet Inc. | 2 of 3 | 3.39% |
| Tesla Inc | 2 of 3 | 3.16% |
| NVIDIA Corp | 2 of 3 | 2.93% |
| Microsoft Corp | 2 of 3 | 2.87% |
Typical weight is the median share of each fund’s assets in the stock, among the funds that hold it in their 25 largest positions.
The largest social media ETFs, side by side
Swipe the table to see all 3 funds.
| BUZZ | SOCL | SFYF | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Net assets | $104.5M | $90.9M | $42.5M |
| Expense ratio | 0.76% | 0.65% | 0.29% |
| Holdings | 75 | 54 | 50 |
| In the 10 largest | 33.18% | 75.8% | 54.31% |
| Biggest holding | Nebius Group NV (3.73%) | United States of America (10.97%) | Tesla Inc (10.61%) |
| Yield | 0% | 0.53% | 0.34% |
| 1-year return | -8.3% | -29.8% | +12.7% |
| 3 years, a year | +36.3% | +7.8% | +38.8% |
| 5 years, a year | +7.1% | -7.1% | +11.2% |
| Worst drop, past year | -29.5% | -30.3% | -15.2% |
| Launched | 2021 | 2011 | 2019 |
The largest ordinary funds by net assets (leveraged and inverse funds are listed further down). Holdings from each fund’s latest N-PORT report; returns include reinvested distributions, as of Oct 27, 2026.
Head to head
BUZZ vs SOCL
The two largest funds share 4 holdings and 5.7% of assets. BUZZ follows a US index across 75 holdings; its top 10 make up 33.18%, led by Nebius Group at 3.73%. SOCL holds 54 positions worldwide, with 75.8% in its top 10, topped by a 10.97% line listed as “United States of America,” not a company. BUZZ charges 0.76% a year, SOCL 0.65%. As of June 26, 2025, BUZZ returned 41.9% over one year versus 4.3%, but its biggest fall from a high was 29.5% against 23.4%. SOCL may suit those seeking global social platforms; BUZZ, a wider US spread.
BUZZ vs SFYF
These two overlap most: 28 shared holdings and 42.6% of assets. Neither is mainly a social media fund; their top holdings include chipmakers AMD, Micron and NVIDIA. SFYF is more concentrated, with 54.31% in its top 10 and Tesla at 10.61%, while BUZZ's top 10 hold 33.18%, led by Nebius Group at 3.73%. SFYF charges 0.29% a year, BUZZ 0.76%. As of June 26, 2025, one-year returns were close, 41.9% for BUZZ and 39.9% for SFYF, with biggest falls from a high of 29.5% and 26.4%. SFYF may suit cost-focused investors; BUZZ, those wanting a wider spread.
SOCL vs SFYF
SOCL and SFYF share only 3 holdings and 6.7% of assets. SOCL owns social platforms worldwide, such as Tencent (9.69%), NAVER, Meta and Reddit, with 75.8% in its top 10. SFYF's largest stake is Tesla at 10.61%, followed by NVIDIA and Amazon, with 54.31% in its top 10. SFYF costs 0.29% a year, SOCL 0.65%. As of June 26, 2025, SFYF returned 39.9% over one year and SOCL 4.3%; five-year figures were 21.9% and 5.9%. SOCL's biggest fall from a high was smaller, 23.4% versus 26.4%. SOCL may suit those wanting global social platforms; SFYF, a lower-cost, technology-heavy mix.
How much do the largest social media ETFs overlap?
Owning two funds that hold the same stocks adds little diversification. Overlap here is the share of assets two funds have in common: for each stock both own, the smaller of its two weights, added up.
From each fund’s full holdings in its latest N-PORT report.
How have social media ETFs performed?
The five largest ordinary funds: growth from the start of the range, distributions reinvested. The dashed gray line is the S&P 500 (SPY).
Best-performing social media ETFs over the past year
| # | Fund | Net assets | Cost | 1 mo | YTD | 1 yr | 3 yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | SFYF SoFi Social 50 ETF | $42.5M | 0.29% | -2.2% | +15.5% | +12.7% | +38.8% |
| 2 | BUZZ VanEck Social Sentiment ETF | $104.5M | 0.76% | -10.0% | +8.9% | -8.3% | +36.3% |
| 3 | SOCL Global X Social Media ETF | $90.9M | 0.65% | -5.1% | -24.3% | -29.8% | +7.8% |
Funds with at least $25 million in net assets; leveraged and inverse funds left out. Past returns don’t predict future returns.
How social media ETFs did in past market crashes
| Fund | 2008 crash | 2020 crash | 2022 drop |
|---|---|---|---|
| BUZZ | not yet launched | not yet launched | -46.8% |
| SOCL | not yet launched | -28.2% | -50.2% |
| SFYF | not yet launched | -38.9% | -44.2% |
| S&P 500 (SPY) | -55.2% | -33.7% | -24.5% |
Total return from the stock market’s peak to its low in each fall, distributions reinvested.
What drives social media ETFs?
Most social media platforms make their money from advertising. Their profits rise and fall with how much businesses spend to reach customers, which tends to follow consumer spending and the wider economy. Growth in users and time spent on the apps matters too, as do rules on privacy, data and content, which can raise costs or limit ad targeting. BUZZ and SFYF also hold chipmakers such as AMD, Micron and NVIDIA, and SFYF's largest stake is Tesla, which brings in the demand cycles for chips and cars. Interest rates affect all three: shares valued on profits expected far in the future tend to fall harder when rates rise.
In past downturns, the funds have mostly fallen further than the broad market. In the 2022 bear market, a long and steep slide in stock prices, the S&P 500 fell 24.5%, while SOCL dropped 50.2%, BUZZ 46.8% and SFYF 44.2%. The 2020 COVID crash was mixed: the S&P 500 fell 33.7%, SOCL fell less at 28.2%, and SFYF fell 38.9%. BUZZ launched in 2021, after that crash. None of the funds existed in the 2008 financial crisis, when the S&P 500 lost 55.2%.
Social media ETFs with the lowest expense ratios
| # | Fund | Expense ratio | On $10,000 | Net assets |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | SFYF SoFi Social 50 ETF | 0.29% | $29 a year | $42.5M |
| 2 | SOCL Global X Social Media ETF | 0.65% | $65 a year | $90.9M |
| 3 | BUZZ VanEck Social Sentiment ETF | 0.76% | $76 a year | $104.5M |
Ordinary funds with at least $10 million in net assets. The median ordinary social media ETF charges 0.65% a year; leveraged and inverse funds usually charge more.
Do social media ETFs pay dividends?
2 of the 3 ordinary social media ETFs with a page here paid distributions over the last 12 months, with a median yield of 0.34%.
| Highest yields | Yield | Net assets |
|---|---|---|
| SOCL Global X Social Media ETF | 0.53% | $90.9M |
| SFYF SoFi Social 50 ETF | 0.34% | $42.5M |
Distributions over the last 12 months divided by the price; funds with at least $25 million in net assets.
How to choose a social media ETF
- Yearly fees differ by a wide margin. SFYF charges 0.29% a year, while SOCL charges 0.65% and BUZZ 0.76%. This expense ratio comes out of fund assets every year, so a higher fee trims returns for as long as the fund is held.
- How closely each fund fits social media. SOCL owns platform companies such as Tencent, NAVER, Meta and Reddit. BUZZ's top holdings include Nebius Group, AMD and Micron; SFYF's include Tesla, NVIDIA and Amazon. Meta is the only stock all three share.
- Concentrated or spread out. SOCL keeps 75.8% of assets in its 10 largest positions and SFYF 54.31%. BUZZ spreads money across 75 holdings with 33.18% in its top 10, so no single stock drives as much of its return.
- Index rules differ; none uses leverage. All three track indexes, but on different rules: BUZZ a US sentiment-based index, SOCL the Solactive Social Media Total Return Index, SFYF the SoFi Social 50 Index. None uses leverage, inverse bets or option income.
- US-focused or global. BUZZ tracks a US index. SOCL invests worldwide, with Tencent at 9.69% and NAVER at 9.32% among its largest stakes. Holdings abroad add currency swings and foreign market rules, which can help or hurt returns.
- Fund size and track record. All three are small. BUZZ holds about $104.5 million, SOCL $90.9 million and SFYF $42.5 million. SOCL dates to 2011, SFYF to 2019 and BUZZ to 2021. Smaller funds face a higher risk of closing.
What are the risks of social media ETFs?
- A few stocks carry much weight. SOCL holds 75.8% of its assets in its top 10 positions, and SFYF puts 10.61% in Tesla alone. Trouble at one or two large holdings can pull these funds down sharply.
- Large price swings within a year. As of June 26, 2025, one-year volatility, a measure of how much prices bounce around, was 34.8% for BUZZ, 30.8% for SFYF and 27% for SOCL. Each fell at least 23.4% from a high during that year.
- Steeper losses than the market in 2022. In the 2022 bear market, SOCL fell 50.2%, BUZZ 46.8% and SFYF 44.2%, while the S&P 500 fell 24.5%. Withdrawals during a slide like that lock in losses, a particular concern for retirees.
- Foreign stocks and rules in SOCL. SOCL's largest company stakes include Tencent (9.69%) and NAVER (9.32%), both based outside the US. Their prices can move with exchange rates and with decisions by foreign governments and regulators.
- Small funds can be closed. The three funds hold about $237.9 million combined, and SFYF has about $42.5 million. Issuers sometimes shut down small ETFs, returning cash that may trigger taxes at an awkward time.
List of all social media ETFs, by size
Questions investors ask about social media ETFs
What is the largest social media ETF?
VanEck Social Sentiment ETF (BUZZ) is the largest, with about $104.5 million in net assets. Global X Social Media ETF (SOCL) follows with about $90.9 million, and SoFi Social 50 ETF (SFYF) has about $42.5 million. BUZZ tracks a US sentiment index, and its top holdings include Nebius Group, AMD and Micron. SOCL, with stakes in Tencent, NAVER, Meta and Reddit, is the fund most focused on platform companies.
What is the cheapest social media ETF?
SoFi Social 50 ETF (SFYF) costs the least, with an expense ratio of 0.29%, the yearly fee taken from fund assets. Global X Social Media ETF (SOCL) charges 0.65%, and VanEck Social Sentiment ETF (BUZZ) charges 0.76%. SFYF is also the smallest of the three, at about $42.5 million, and its largest holding is Tesla at 10.61% rather than a social media company.
BUZZ vs SOCL: what's the difference?
They own very different stocks: only 4 holdings and 5.7% of assets overlap. BUZZ tracks the BUZZ NextGen AI US Sentiment Leaders Index across 75 holdings, with 33.18% in its top 10. SOCL tracks the Solactive Social Media Total Return Index, owns platforms worldwide such as Tencent, NAVER, Meta and Reddit, and keeps 75.8% in its top 10. BUZZ costs 0.76% a year, SOCL 0.65%. As of June 26, 2025, their one-year returns were 41.9% and 4.3%.
Do social media ETFs pay dividends?
Two of the three pay small dividends. SFYF yields 0.3% and SOCL 0.22%, while BUZZ shows no yield in the data. Many of the companies these funds own pay little or nothing to shareholders and put their cash back into growth, so the payouts are tiny. Retirees looking for regular income would get very little from any of them.
Do social media ETFs own Meta?
Yes, all three do. Meta Platforms is the only stock held by all 3 funds, at a median weight of 2.98%. It matters most in SOCL, at 8.69%, where it sits alongside Tencent, NAVER and Reddit among the top holdings. In BUZZ and SFYF, Meta is a smaller position, and their largest stakes are in companies such as Nebius Group, Tesla and NVIDIA.
How many social media ETFs are there?
There are three in this group: VanEck Social Sentiment ETF (BUZZ), Global X Social Media ETF (SOCL) and SoFi Social 50 ETF (SFYF). Together they hold about $237.9 million. SOCL is the oldest, launched in 2011; SFYF followed in 2019 and BUZZ in 2021. All three are index funds, and none uses leverage, inverse bets or options.
Which social media ETF has the highest return?
BUZZ had the highest one-year return as of June 26, 2025, at 41.9%, just ahead of SFYF at 39.9%. SOCL trailed at 4.3%. Three-year return figures were 29.6% for BUZZ, 24.6% for SFYF and 9.8% for SOCL. The higher returns came with bigger swings: BUZZ's one-year volatility was 34.8%, the highest of the group. Past returns do not predict future results.
How much did social media ETFs fall in 2022?
Far more than the broad market. In the 2022 bear market, SOCL fell 50.2%, BUZZ 46.8% and SFYF 44.2%, while the S&P 500 fell 24.5%. In the 2020 COVID crash, SOCL fell 28.2% and SFYF 38.9%, against 33.7% for the S&P 500. Funds built around fast-growing technology companies tend to fall harder when investors turn cautious.
Is there a Vanguard, Fidelity or Schwab social media ETF?
No. None of the three offers a social media ETF. The largest social media ETFs come from VanEck (BUZZ), Global X (SOCL) and Tidal Financial Group (SFYF), and customers of all three firms can buy other companies’ ETFs in their brokerage accounts.
