There’s a perception that Millennials are abandoning Facebook in search of greener, less parent-friendly social pastures. FALSE!
While this generation might not be jumping to accept their parents’ friend requests, the reality is even your mom and her posse of Facebook account wielding friends aren’t enough to fuel the supposed mass exodus of young people from the social site.
According to a Pew Research poll, 87% of online adults between the ages of 18-29 are active Facebook users, and it continues to reign supreme as the most popular networking channel. So what gives? While Millennials are as present as ever in Facebook Land, they are using the site in different ways than their older counterparts.
Sharing Is Caring
Forget posting on friends’ walls. Most Millennials are using Facebook less as a social networking site and more as a news-curation feed. These under 30-somethings still log into Facebook almost daily, but rather than sharing personal stories and updates; they’re sharing third-party content and links. They’re using the platform to create a curated feed of their interests and things they want to stay up-to-date with.
Privacy Please
Millennials might post less publicly, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t active users – they just prefer more private means. This generation tends to flock towards Facebook Messenger and Groups to connect and interact with their peers. They also tend to “creep” or “lurk” more than they post, which could give the impression young users are headed for the exit. But don’t be fooled…just because these users aren’t posting on your wall doesn’t mean they aren’t sneaking a peek at your profile.
The Bottom Line
Has Facebook lost some of its cool factor in the eyes of Millennials? Perhaps. But that doesn’t mean they’re abandoning the platform. Facebook has become a utility of the Internet, like email. Sure, you can live life without it, but it’s inconvenient. And while most Millennials probably wouldn’t say Facebook is their favorite social network anymore, it still grabs their attention on a daily basis.
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