The generation using Facebook is growing tired of the platform.
This observation comes from a report published by the Pew Research Center, which conducted a survey with 802 teens aged between 12 and 17 last September, leading to a comprehensive 107-page document on their online behaviors.
The insights from Pew indicate a decline in the enthusiasm of teens for Facebook, supporting worries expressed by the company’s investors and others regarding the potential loss of a vital demographic that has historically driven its growth.
The Pew report authors claim that Facebook has turned into a “social burden” for teenagers. They explain, “Despite being deeply woven into the daily lives of teens, it is sometimes perceived as a utility and a responsibility rather than an exciting new venue that they can claim as their own.”
According to teens, the platform has been overtaken by parents, provokes unnecessary social “drama,” and amplifies the voices of bothersome oversharers who incessantly talk about trivial events in their lives.
“Honestly, at this point, I hate Facebook so much, even though I’m on it constantly,” shared one 15-year-old girl with Pew during a focus group session.
In general, it appears that the use of social media among teens has stabilized, with the proportion of those checking social networks “several times a day” remaining consistent at about 40 percent since 2011.
