Right after Instagram debuted with 300 million users, the most popular social networking site, Facebook, seems to be receiving less attention. According to a recent study, the number of teens using Mark Zuckerberg's social media platform continues to decline.
Based on a recent research, teens aged 13 to 17 years old in the United States have lost their interest in using Facebook. From 94% in 2013, Facebook's popularity for the age group is now down to 88%.
"If kids are starting to use so much of their daily time on messaging apps, surely it's going to hurt somebody," says the California- based research company, Frank N. Magid Associates Inc.
Studies show that this should not be a cause for alarm, as Facebook's age demographics are older, ranging from 37 years old and younger, which makes up 55% of its overall user base.
Messaging app Snapchat also has the same age demographics, with users' ages ranging from 37 years old or younger-only they make up 86% of the app's user base. Zuckerberg has been trying to acquire Snapchat, with its latest offer of US$3 billion in 2013.
Facebook is still in the lead though. As Twitter usage among teens aged 13-17 is only at 48%, 40% lower than that of Zuckerberg's FB. Social experts, however, say that Facebook needs to look at how the trend is going as far as social media sites are concerned. FB has been on an ongoing decline according to reports -- from 95% in 2012 to 93% last year.
The social networking site still has 864 million users on the average and around 703 million mobile users daily, most of them coming from outside Canada and the United States.
So, why are teens leaving Facebook?
Frank N. Magid Associates Inc. says 16% of those in the survey thinks Facebook is trendy; 18% thinks it's fun; and 16% says it is informative. What could have caused the decline is the mere 9% who thinks it is still trustworthy and safe.
The poll also showed that most netizens that are not on Facebook are spending their time on messaging apps such as Apple's iMessage, Google Hangouts, WhatsApp, and Snapchat.
In July, Facebook removed its messaging service from its mobile app. It required users to install a separate messenger app for mobile. Not many were impressed with Facebook's move to require users to download a separate app for its messaging service, which could have been a significant factor as to why teens are on different messaging apps.
