The Aging Social Network: facebook

Flickr: Franco Bouly

Facebook has changed

a lot of things- how we

communicate, consume

news and share things

Flickr: SimonQ錫濛譙 Source: BuzzFeed, Allison McCann

As one of the LARGEST social networking site on the globe,

It now has a total number of 1.11 BILLION users as of May

2013Flickr: MarcbelSource: Craig Smith

In Canada alone, there are 18 million monthly Canadian users

Flickr: Jeff.smithSource: Toronto Star, Carys Mills

People use Facebook because….Flickr: Phil Roeder

T

It allows for easy event planning, online communication, and networking

With such a large platform for people to CONNECT,

Flickr: Andalib

Flickr: Chapendra

The ease of photo sharing allows users to

make statements

about

themselves.

and to seek assurance

from others Flickr: sofiabudapest

Also, Facebook’s privacy settings and user control allows people to

create an ideal image and profile of themselves

Flickr: Christine

Lastly, after overtaking MySpace as the #1 social network site several years ago, Facebook was considered “cool” within

the young crowd Flickr: wZa HKSource: ABC News

However, recent stats have showed that Facebook is currently facing a

huge problem.

Flickr: haglundc

Facebook users ages 18-29, 42% say that the time they spend on Facebook

has

decreased over the last year

Flickr: Mervi EskelinenSource: PR Daily

61% of users have reported taking a break from Facebook for several weeks or more

Flickr: Phil RoederSource: PR Daily

The usage decline is mostly due to people

experiencing FACEBOOK FATIGUE

Flickr: CollegeDegrees360

This is when people are simply bored and tired of Facebook

Flickr: Al_HikesAZ

Flickr: Phil Roeder

To understand why people are feeling this way, here are some verbatim comments

overheard in coffee shopsSource: Pew Reseach

Flickr: Phil Roeder

“I was tired of stupid comments.”

“Too much drama”

“I don’t like their privacy policy”

“It caused problems in my [romantic] relationship”

Source: CNET: Facebook fatigue– it’s real (Pew Research)

Also, one main reason that younger people are tired of

Facebook… Flickr: BottleLeaf

Is the growing presence of older people (parents)

According to PRDaily, the two fastest growing user groups are adults

ages 55-64 and 65+

Is the growing presence of older people (parents)

Flickr: Jesse Garrison

Source: PR Daily, Facebook fatigue: Do you need a break from the social network?

This makes Facebook less cool for the young crowd.

And therefore, many are spending more time connecting and socializing via other social networks

Flickr: Jason Howie

Source: Tali Arbel- The Associated Press

Despite intensity of young people’s

current facebook usage right now, a narrow majority of young adults predict Facebook’s appeal

will fade down the road (51%)

Flickr: Phil Roeder

What will become of Facebook in the future?

Flickr: Eleaf

• http://www.prdaily.com/Main/Articles/Facebook_fatigue_Do_you_need_a_break_from_the_soci_14014.aspx

• http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/teens-facebook-decline-report/story?id=18935711#.UZVIWis6VDI

• http://expandedramblings.com/index.php/by-the-numbers-17-amazing-facebook-stats/

• http://www.policymic.com/articles/23835/facebook-losing-users-is-this-the-end-of-the-social-network

• http://www.thestar.com/business/tech_news/2013/04/05/facebook_fatigue_and_the_aging_social_network.html

• http://www.thestar.com/business/tech_news/2012/05/15/facebook_fatigue_half_of_americans_say_facebook_is_a_passing_fad_ipo_shares_overpriced.html

• http://www.buzzfeed.com/atmccann/how-facebook-ruined-dating-and-breaking-up-too

Research Credit

Flickr: Phil Roeder

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Image Credits

Flickr: Phil Roeder