Lots of young people decide Facebook isn't cool

[tedster]

Lots of young people have decided Facebook isn't cool anymore, and they're abandoning it in droves.

And because young people are often a leading indicator of what mass market consumers will eventually do (they fueled the early growth of Facebook, for example), Facebook investors should take note...

One of the services kids are flocking to at Facebook's expense is the new mobile photo network Instagram... And Facebook owns Instagram.

[businessinsider.com...]

[feiling152]

I also agree with them. really at the present facebook isn't ore.cool anymp

[lucy24]

Young people looked around and said What the ### are all these grownups doing here? This was supposed to be OUR place!

D'you suppose Facebook saw it coming, or was it just blind luck? "Instagram? Never heard of it, but might be good for something some day." Not quite on a level with trading a pointless GUI for some worthless stock shares, but you never know ;)

[creeking]

when grandma and grandpa are on facebook with those youngsters, how can it still be cool?

[Digmen1]

So what will you say when Facebook hits 1 billion users ?

[lucy24]

... that there are plenty of grownups on the planet, and some of them have almost as much disposable income as the teenagers?

[Leosghost]

So what will you say when Facebook hits 1 billion users ?

I'd say..
That if you discount the bots and the under 13s, that would mean they might just scrape into having a little over 500 million real users..and I really mean might, as in, a better "weed" routine more scrupulously applied by and outside independent source might very well find it were nearer 400 million actual of age to use it according to it's own TOS..

Harper seven, and all the other, "f 'arper 'as an 'count i wanna 'count 2" ..chav's sprogs of all countries..still have their accounts..

Mark didn't want to upset the Beckhams and their "likers" yet did he..

[jimbeetle]

In context:

One thing he didn't address, however, is the rate at which Facebook's desktop usage is declining in its most mature market--the U.S.

Zuckerberg also didn't comment on another ominous Facebook trend: The usage declines are most pronounced among those who were once Facebook's most devoted users: Young people.

Makes sense, doesn't it?

[lucy24]

Uhm, wait. Does he mean the same (formerly) young people, or this year's equivalent age bracket?

Take a set of behaviors and activities popular with 16-year-olds. Go forward 20 years. Some of those things will have vanished without a trace. Some will be popular with current 16-year-olds. Some will be popular with current 36-year-olds.

I really hope this does not come as a surprise to anyone in a decision-making position. Of any kind, at any level.

[martinibuster]

I don't know if this is a trend or not. But in my personal experience FB is popular with middle-aged people for keeping in touch with friends across the United States and worldwide, as well as for coordinating quotidian events common to middle aged people with children.

The use of FB for organizing one's life and and keeping in touch may be what FB has evolved to. Is it a bad thing for people to use your site for organizing their daily lives?

[Danish01]

So what is the next option for hangout....?

[Digmen1]

I watch young people from all over the world and thy use Facebook.
It is only luddites that do not like it.

[Ethansocial56]

For Facebook haters, accept the reality that Facebook is now the booming network in in social media as well as effective too in online marketing world.

[tedster]

I have a lot of contact with high school and college age young people. Among those folks, I have seen a lot of migration to Instagram this year. That's one of the reasons I started this thread to draw attention to the article.

Yes, Facebook itself is very strong, but something about the attempts to monetize it as well as the growth in corporate use and the wobbly IPO seems to be triggering a reaction, at least among the younger demographic. What will it mean on the long arc? Hard to say - but I certainly do remember when MySpace was the flavor of the moment.

[SevenCubed]

I'm guessing that most older folk are probably their to keep in touch with kids and grandkids so if they leave...who ever checks out last please turn off the lights. Oh yeah, facebook, you can check out anytime you like but you can never leave.

[Digmen1]

Facebook users (esp young ones) do not care what Facebook's share price is.
Only those who bought shares at ridiculous prices are caring.
Lets see what the user numbers are at the end of the year as a landmark.
OK we all know that many of them are under 13 or bogus.

[iwin]

Yes and not even youngsters but also people using it now not finding it beneficial.

[morganstanly]

At this time youngsters want every time something new after use. But not possible instant something new for anything. But as my experience 70% youngsters used facebook and hot favorite trend in youngsters of facebook.

[Digmen1]

I can't see Facebook going away anytime soon.
Here in NZ many big companies are suing it.
And some of our media are using it also
Eg radio shows - visit us on Facebook
TV current affairs - visit our Facebook page.

[Leosghost]

Now it will begin costing them to do so..
[webmasterworld.com...]
Many companies and other media outlets, will realise that is not a good idea at all..especially when it costs them..
Wait 1 year and see how many still refer everyone to their facebook page..instead of their own websites..like any intelligent company/ website owner would do..

In Europe most companies have already stopped sending their clients and users to their facebook pages..and have remembered that they have their own websites..

[Digmen1]

Yes I must admit that it is a bit silly for a big company to have their own website and a Facebook site.
That is two sites to maintain and keep fresh.
Its a question of do they get any value from their Facebook viewers.

[londrum]

even if the young people leave would it really be a disaster? as long as the adults and old adults stay, the advertisers might even end up liking it even more, because they tend to have more disposable money to spend.

younger people are more likely to access it on the phone as well, i would imagine, which isnt much good for the ads

[bill]

Give it one year or so. I doubt Facebook will still be such a dominant player in the space.

[Digmen1]

Give it less than a year and I think Facebook will be number one in Alexa Traffic ratings in the USA and Worldwide.

[Eloise Alexis]

I don’t 100% agree with it. Facebook for me have opened up the possibility of having my old good friends back. I’m really grateful for FB.

[kemcar]

One year from now Facebook will not have that much of an importance it enjoys now or the craze it became a year ago. Initially Facebook was only accessed by the younger generations but with time the oldies have also joined the platform and that is why generation today is quitting Facebook in masses.

[Digmen1]

So kemcar
Could you tell us what do the younger generation spend all of their time on their mobiles doing now ?

[Leosghost]

Many of "us" already know..what the "younger generation" are doing instead of using facebook..on their mobile phones..

So..I can tell you the answer to that :) "texting" ( SMS ) each other directly, and using twitter..

[kemcar]

Yes Digmen 1, I never said that each user is dropping Facebook, what I meant was that people are not finding anymore interesting and that is why we can see the decrease in number of users. I think if you could speak to some group of teenagers, you will get my point.

[Digmen1]

@Kemcar
I see lots of early twenties people and they all use Facebook A LOT.

And I know a few early teenagers who are not allowed to get on to it yet. But will do in a few years.

As I said above give it a year and Facebook will be well over a billion.