Why people leave Facebook – and what it tells us about the future of social media
Although Facebook may still continue to grow, those who leave the platform reveal interesting trends which hint at how future relationships with smart technology and social media will play out, explains Mark Whitehead in this crossposting from The Conversation.
The number of active users of Facebook (those people who have logged onto the site in the previous month) has reached a historic high of 2.45 billion. To put this in some context, approximately 32% of the global population now use the social media platform, and the trend line of participation is still going up.
Image credit: NeONBRAND/Unsplash, FAL
With the exception of Google, there has never been a company that has had this many people using its services. In this context, it may seem strange to talk about those who are choosing to leave Facebook. But those who are leaving the platform represent a small, but by no means insignificant, counter current. And many people, perhaps looking to eke back some time from busy lives, are choosing to quit social media as a new year’s resolution.
In 2018, a US survey revealed that 9% of those surveyed had recently deleted their Facebook account, while a further 35% reported that they were using the social media platform less. Despite its economic success and popularity, there seems to be something going on in the original heartlands of Facebook.
shaking hands briefly and exchanging generous words, in person, makes me feel good. Thumbs on my phone give me no feel good.
Easy decision.
END
Best thing ever did was to download my pictures and delete the app from my life. I feel happier than ever not being on Facebook.