A recent study by the Pew Research Center stated that only 73% of teenagers still use Facebook, according to an article on mashable.com. The article, published today by Samantha Murphy Kelly, noted that the social media website will celebrate it's ten year anniversary in the near future, and some media experts have noticed the decline in users as other platforms like Twitter and LinkedIn become ever popular. 64% of Facebook users access the site daily, according to the article, and of that percentage only 44% like and comment on other's posts and a mere 10% update their own statuses. This is a staggering change from how we, as the 'social media generation' have used Facebook in the past - every Facebook user I knew updated their status as often as changing their socks. Unsurprisingly, teenagers still update their statuses - they just don't use Facebook.
Ironically, I learned about this article from the new 'king' of social media status updates: Twitter. The website is known and branded as being quick to access, easy to browse, and simple for older and younger users alike. With a (some would argue) superior, streamlined platform, why wouldn't the younger generation be switching over to the latest and greatest? Already Generation Y and it's younger counterparts are branded as having short attention spans and for being fickle - it fits then that teenagers, (classified as ages 12-17 in the article) would move from a platform now 'uncool' and positively clumsy in comparison to the ultra-simple Twitter. I think we're beginning to see an emerging trend in the world of social media; it happened with MySpace, it will happen with Facebook, and it will happen with Twitter. Social media platforms must constantly evolve to stay current - and at the rate Facebook is losing users to Twitter, it's not going to make the cut.
If you'd like to read the article on mashable.com, you can find it here.
Ironically, I learned about this article from the new 'king' of social media status updates: Twitter. The website is known and branded as being quick to access, easy to browse, and simple for older and younger users alike. With a (some would argue) superior, streamlined platform, why wouldn't the younger generation be switching over to the latest and greatest? Already Generation Y and it's younger counterparts are branded as having short attention spans and for being fickle - it fits then that teenagers, (classified as ages 12-17 in the article) would move from a platform now 'uncool' and positively clumsy in comparison to the ultra-simple Twitter. I think we're beginning to see an emerging trend in the world of social media; it happened with MySpace, it will happen with Facebook, and it will happen with Twitter. Social media platforms must constantly evolve to stay current - and at the rate Facebook is losing users to Twitter, it's not going to make the cut.
If you'd like to read the article on mashable.com, you can find it here.
This is so true, our preferences for social media prove to make the sites into fads. We have loved so many different platforms in the past and have moved through them just as we have moved through our ever changing apparel styles. Social media is ever changing and it needs to meet our interests in order to stay relevant. I find it interesting that there are ways to predict the next fad and I am curious to see what will take over Twitter.
ReplyDeleteWhen Facebook was first introduced, MySpace was still huge. I think Facebook is used more by younger people now and Twitter is becoming more popular especially for college students. Facebook has done a lot of updating I think to make it more like Twitter. Instagram is also becoming very popular. It's very hard to figure out what the new big social media site will be, but I think it depends on the age group.
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