Facebook, the social media website that once consumed the lives of teens and young adults, could be slowly slipping into extinction.
Originated in 2004 by college sophomore Mark Zuckerberg and friends, Facebook was created as a way for college students to connect with each other. Originally, Facebook was open to high school students in 2005, then for everyone else the following year.
With almost a decade gone by since the creation of Facebook, usage has begun to decline. According to Ken Sena of Evercore, a Wall Street Analyst, the primary ages of usage decrease are 12 to 17 and 18 to 24 from August 2012.
Matthew Silver, a 17-year-old high school senior, has recently deactivated his Facebook account. Silver said, “It’s just not as popular as it used to be. I noticed that a lot of my friends weren’t using it as much anymore so I figured I would just get off it for now.”
Silver explained that he and his friends are using Twitter instead. “Although it does not have all the photo sharing features and other stuff that Facebook has, I think it has become more popular. And most recently, all my friends have been using Instagram.” Silver said he is content with staying off of Facebook for now, but may return as he transitions into college.
Alanna McGlynn, junior, is still active on Facebook but not as much as she used to be. McGlynn said, “I still use Facebook, but not nearly as much as I used to. I also noticed my friends are not using it as much and some of them are getting rid of their profiles.”
McGlynn continued, “I think whenever something new comes out everyone has to try it. Twitter has been around longer than most of us think, but when it became the new, cool thing, everyone ran to it. I even find myself Tweeting things that at one point, I would have made my Facebook status.” McGlynn said she does not plan to get rid of her Facebook because there are some irreplaceable features, but she does see it becoming unpopular to people her own age.
Mary Harris, communication professor, agrees that there is a decrease in the interest of Facebook amongst college students. Harris said, “While Facebook is giving businesses more opportunities, I notice that students are not using it as much anymore. I think Instagram is the new thing that everyone is hooked on.”
Susan Sarafian, owner of Aerials Gymnastics, uses Facebook in a professional manner. Sarafian runs and operates her Aerials Gymnastics Facebook page that has over 500 likes. Sarafin said, “Facebook is such a great way to communicate with members of my gym. If we are closed for snow or have an upcoming event, it is so easy to just make a status for everyone to see.”
“There are many students who like the page, but the majority are parents,” continues Sarafin. “I find it hard to believe when a parent tells me that they are not on Facebook, because who isn’t on it these days?”
As of December 2012, Facebook has an average of one billion monthly users noted on their Key Facts on Facebook Newsroom page. It is clear the success Facebook has had, however, the future of Facebook is not definite based on users from the ages 12 to 17 and 18 to 24 beginning to stray away from Facebook and using other social media applications instead.
IMAGE TAKEN from businessintheblack.com
