The number of Facebooks users has significantly dropped in the last four years. Teens and young adults have been going on Facebook less and less due to the birth of newer (and some might say better) social media platforms.
It has been proven that 51 percent of individuals between the ages 13 and 17 still use Facebook. This is a dramatic change when in comparison to the 71 percent of people in this same age group that used the platform back in 2015.
A huge reason why this certain age group has kept their distance from this specific social media app is because of the increase in older individuals beginning to use it. No one wants to broadcast their every breathing second on the same platform as their parents. Because of this, in came two of the most popular apps in today’s generation: Instagram and Snapchat.
Bucks student Ciara Flor, from Southampton, says that she only uses Facebook to keep in touch with older relatives she does not see so often. “I made a Facebook when I was nine years old” Flor said. “I like it because I can see what my family is up to. I also find it interesting that it is the only social media platforms that you will find a little bit of every age group on.”
She also went in depth about how Facebook has changed over the years. Flor said, “Facebook used to be a site to just post weird videos and funny statuses with your friends, now it has evolved to people posting what exactly they are doing in that very second.”
She also did not hesitate to mention that just like everyone else in her age group, she feels uncomfortable putting her life out there for Facebook to see considering the older audience that has introduced themselves to the app. Flor finished by saying that she usually only uses Facebook if she gets bored of using Instagram, Snapchat, and Twitter.
With how invested everyone in today’s world is with social media, Facebook is not going anywhere any time soon. Instead, people just place it on the bottom of their list of apps to scroll through when they should be doing more productive things.
Going hand in hand with what Flor had to say, Zac Cary, from Richboro, also does still currently have a Facebook account. Now, just because he has one, does not mean he is an active Facebook user.
He stated that “no one in my age group uses Facebook and most of my friends don’t even have one, so I feel no need to go on it.” Cary says he has nothing to worry about when it comes to the older audience being in his business because, has mentioned before, he stays off Facebook. Just like everyone else, he sticks to Instagram and Snapchat.
Following the trend of being a part of the “Facebook is dead” generation, Bucks student Jenna Mozer follows right behind the rest. She also has a Facebook account, but is not as active as some. Like most of us, her parents are active on Facebook which definitely holds her back, but not to the point where she is uncomfortable. “I like Facebook sometimes because I can connect with family and post photos easily” Mozer said.
Seems like everyone in their teen years has the same idea when it comes to social media. Facebook is very rarely used by anyone below the age of thirty. This leaves people wondering if maybe our generation will pick back up on Facebook when we get older.
The old folks have not quite yet figured out how to use Instagram and Snapchat, and the young generation is going to try for as long as they can to keep it that way.