Last week the blog Inside Facebook caused quite a stir in the social media world when they estimated that for the first time in its history Facebook lost users in the United States — an estimated 6 million of them.
For a long time Facebook has seemed like an Internet force of nature, defying the life cycle of Friendster and Myspace and is rumored to be planning on IPO on a a valuation in the realm of $100 billion (disclosure: link is to CNET, I work at CNET).
But it also has been dogged by privacy concerns and annoyingly persistent spam and malware, and it remains to be seen if it will be a permanent fixture on the Internet.
What do you think? Has Facebook peaked? Are you spending less or more time using it? Do you think it’s here to stay or is it another social media mirage, here one minute gone the next?
Cherie Reich says
I'm not sure if Facebook has peaked or not, but I know I'm spending more time on Twitter lately and less on Facebook.
Kai says
Lately I've been noticing friends and family (and myself) spend less time on FB. I've always felt it was "temporary" in the long run. It'll be around for a while longer, but certainly not forever.
Ashelyn Nicole says
I believe, like Myspace, it will become an Internet Has-been. I mean, we all thought that Myspace couldn't be stopped in the hayday, didn't we? And now look at it.
Stephanie McGee says
For author stuff, connecting with other writers and all that, I've almost completely dropped facebook. I've noticed that my friends and family who do use facebook aren't as frequent. But that could just be that it's summer and they all have lives where I don't. (Only joking. Maybe.)
Connecting with other writers and such happens through blogger and through twitter. Those are my two mains. But after two years of consistent blogging, I've also noticed a dip in my numbers. (Again, could just be that it's summer.) Not as many comments, but follower count is going up.
So, I don't know that anything is peaking or not but I do know that habits change over time and we use the medium that best suits those changing habits.
Hyattsville Mom says
I think the real answer to that question will come soon and will hinge on privacy concerns.
This article (https://www.allfacebook.com/alert-job-screening-agency-archiving-all-facebook-2011-06) says places are storing facebook pages so they can use them when employers are doing background checks. I think if people become too weary of that, FB will continue to have more losses.
I don't think FB will drop off overnight. It will definitely start off as a trickle.
Anonymous says
When I first got email in the 90's, I was constantly forwarding spammy messages and meaningless updates for the sheer novelty of it. Now, it's just a tool I check periodically. I feel like Facebook will go that route too.
I spend less time on it than I used to, but I still check it every day.
Mike Koch - Protect The Risen says
Peaked, probably not, but certainly not an eternal item either. People are fickle and will move to new venues when they become available. I do not know of any such replacement, so unless you know of a new social network I would imagine that Facebook will be around a while longer.
Elizabeth May says
I use Facebook often for business/promotional purposes. I'm not sure it's "peaked" so much as it's become incredibly over saturated. Everything links to Facebook, and the website is becoming increasingly less interested in protecting privacy.
Privacy is being shoved aside to keep people "connected", and you know what? I don't need to be that connected. I'm not surprised people are leaving. When you have a website that constantly encourages "connecting" and "reconnecting," and it can put careers in jeopardy, relationships and friendships too . . . I've had people I'd rather not be in contact with find me on Facebook. So is it really worth it? I think more and more people will find that it isn't.
SinMac says
I've been spending less time on FB and more on Twitter as well. However, it can be difficult to carry on a meaningful conversation in Twitter. I've often begun conversations in Twitter that I've had to carry over to FB. People are getting bored with FB and irritated with the spam. If they can find a way to correct the issues, they may have a chance to bounce back.
Richard Gibson says
For me Facebook has reached the status of "routine" – I use it two ways, as a sort of "friends newspaper" that I check like I read the newspaper and watch news; and I use it to promote several non-profits that I'm involved with (and IMO that works very well; we are in contact with dozens of people we would not otherwise communicate with) and in a small way to promote my book.
I'd say the amount of time I spend there is stable and not huge – I check things frequently but quickly, as I do email when I'm at my computer.
David says
Everything's temporary. There's always going to be a Big New Thing that will dominate for a while and then go away in its turn.
The Web is the virtual equivalent of the real-world arena of imperial struggle.
Mercy Loomis says
Facebook is a good tool for keeping people connected and up-to-date with their friends. I think people have come to expect that sort of instant and constant connectivity. Whether they use FB or Twitter will be personal preference, but until another social network comes along that does what FB does now, but better (and "better" is pretty nebulous), FB will continue to be strong.
Barbara Watson says
I can only speak for myself, but I'm spending less and less time on FB. And more and more time on Twitter because Twitter allows direct contact with writers, bloggers, and pub industry folks which is where I'm at. Twitter provides avenues for searching and finding what I'm looking for. FB doesn't.
Anonymous says
People get bored and move on to the next craze. I've seen more zealous FB addicts in the past four years come and go than I can even count. And the interesting thing is they just drop out of sight. At first it's all or nothing for months, and then they disappear forever.
I actually think all social media might crash like the dot coms back in the nineties. Anything built on a house of cards rarely ever lasts forever. But I would imagine Mr. Zuckerberg has already planned well in advance for this.
Anonymous says
The fact that so many other sites are saying "Connect with your FB acct" makes me sick. I don't want to be connected everywhere.
Also, like others have said already, I spend more time on Twitter now. Why? FB has too much info to swim through. And to be very honest, I do not care to know half the info that gets shared there.
I was only of the early adopters of Facebook when it was only for college students. Should have stayed that way. Now I believe it has become too big for its britches.
Plus, I can't believe that people are simultaneously using it for dating/flirting purposes AND for keeping in touch with family/friends. Seriously….NO.
I'd like to see Facebook disappear. Heck, I may be ridding my account very soon.
Jaime Loren says
I wouldn't be on Facebook anymore if it wasn't for the fact that here in Australia, Twitter hasn't really taken off yet. All of my family and friends from my school days are on Facebook. It's the only way I keep in touch with a lot of them, which is why I still have an account.
But I much prefer Twitter. Fast, easy, and effective. That, and I get to talk to my favourite celebrities. *squee*!
It's possible we're a biased bunch, though, because Twitter allows us to communicate with all of our writer-friends whilst not making available information on our private, family lives (that can be easily accessed on Facebook – especially if Facebook has changed your privacy settings without warning). *shakes fist*
Maria says
yeah, I think it's peaked; it depends so much on user input, and when I saw a post recently from a FB friend about Alpenfest (for the 3rd year now) I noticed that she wasn't posting witty little comments every day, like she had the past two years. And why should she? I didn't post about the last day of school this year, because the thought of it made me depressed that my life is in such as cyclical rut. Also, I've been diconcerted lately by all my FB friends who NEVER post a thing or even comment, so I forget they're even there, until I run into them in person one day, and they begin to chat about my life events. I'm starting to wonder, "why should you know about me when I know nothing about you?" I've been posting and using it way less frequently.
Sam Webb says
Funny, just the other day I posted up that it was quiet on FB. Only 3 friends replied.
6 million users quit and it's only, perhaps, a future trend notice? Amazing how large they've become.
Caroline says
My usage has dropped a little. I try to be amusing whenever I post because I hate when people but dumb stuff like, 'Going to the store.' And since I can't be funny all the time, I've just stopped posting as much. Although I did launch an author page and I think it is a good thing, as Martha would say.
In general, I'm more careful than I used to be. I don't use any of the apps because I don't want my info or my friends exposed.
Anonymous says
Yes, FB has definitely peaked! everyone I know, including myself, is spending a lot less time on it these days, reverting to the old-fasihoned telephone to keep in touch or just suing FB for messages and events, but not wall posting.
CPatLarge says
A friend and I were discussing this earlier, and he shared a link to an NY Times article from 2009 saying 'Facebook is dead' at that time.
So, as Twain once said, reports of its demise…
Ted Fox says
I think FB has lost some of that cool factor just because it's been such a runaway success and everyone, including businesses, uses it now.
Ironically enough, that scenario did give me some good material for a tweet earlier this month. I have a whole feed (@KnowWhosAwesome)dedicated to answering who's not so awesome (I'm a sad little man), and one response was:
Rando businesses with Facebook pages. “Liking” that Holiday Inn Express isn’t just for when everywhere else is booked anymore.
erinjade says
i agree with Richard, above, who called FB a "friends newspaper." that's exactly how i use it. but lately, i notice fewer friends posting. i'm certainly posting less frequently myself. if people stop ACTIVELY using FB, there won't be enough content left to keep the PASSIVE users interested.
so yes, i believe it has peaked, but i think it will have a long slow decline before it goes away for good.
Rick Daley says
I don't use it often. It was great to connect with friends from the past, but I've grown very bored with it…to much of the following:
– OMG it's hot out today!!
– Raining again.
– [Insert poorly argued political rant here]
– Here are pictures of people you don't know doing things you don't care about because we friended each other early on even though we don't really know each other and I have 3,000 friends and you mostly have people you really know and care about
And of course there's the privacy (or lack thereof). I try to refrain from putting any meaningful posts or pictures up because I don't trust the security.
Chuck H. says
It's probably my fault. Every time I get involved in something, it dies. I'm on facebook now.
Jenny Phresh says
I have indeed been spending less time on FB and more on Twitter lately. I think I was driven away from FB by all the Farmville and Frontierville activity: "Jeanie needs some money to buy a shotgun to kill a durned ol' possum what busted into her henhouse!" Maddening!
kathrynleighaz says
I tend to think Facebook has peaked. I deleted my profile about a year ago, and I haven't missed it at all. It's always interesting that when I meet a new person, he always plans to contact me via Facebook first, but is disappointed when he has to get an email address or a phone number. So I think it's still the most convenient avenue for networking, but convenient isn't always the most desirable thing.
JP Kurzitza says
Once it's been used to spy on and stalk all old flames, or relationships that never were, or "the one that got away", what else is it good for?
Maybe wasting time…
Cathy Yardley says
I still like Facebook. It's handy, and it's more like a bulletin board than the crowded bar that Twitter feels like. If I post something on Facebook and come back hours later, nobody seems to care. I can only pop by every few hours, so Twitter doesn't work for me. But that's me.
Funny no one's mentioning Tumblr.
Bryce Daniels says
I'm not sure if Facebook has "peaked" or not.
I AM sure that Facebook has "peeked" beyond what, for me, is an acceptable scope of vision.
So for this writer, Facebook is doomed.
IsaiahC says
Just as a point of clarification, when the article says that Facebook has had a drop in users, it isn't meaning people have deleted their accounts, but rather that they didn't log on for the month. Given the number of summer vacations, graduations, job changes, etc. I would say facebook is simply seeing a predictable lag now that their potential growth has shrunk in the US.
Facebook has made a transition that Myspace never did, from entertaining distraction to professional necessity. Myspace was popular among high-school and college students primarily, Facebook has infiltrated every age group and social circle in our community. The comparison to email is the most accurate comparison possible, or one could be made with texting. Even if, during the holiday months, email and texting dropped, there would be no rumors that those technological innovations were on their way out. They are as much a part of our lives as bank cards, printers, and mobile phones. Facebook is a part of our lives now, and it isn't going anywhere anytime soon.
Matthew MacNish says
Now that I have a writer profile in addition to my personal one, I'm using it more effectively, but not technically more, no.
You just can't compare to all the time I used to waste on Mafia Wars.
D.G. Hudson says
Facebook has too many issues for my liking,and the lack of adequate privacy is the one that keeps me away.
For the social aspect, some find it easier to keep in touch with family and friends via Facebook. It will probably survive because of that.
If it's already starting to lose members, then isn't that a wake-up call for Facebook? They need to survey users and non-users to find out what is needed. If they can increase security protection, and allow pen names, etc., then I might consider using it.
We all seem to have flash-fiction attention spans, so if Facebook doesn't improve quickly, it may become less of a social tool for professionals and more of a learning tool for the younger generations (under 13 yrs).
Kristi says
The more commercial Facebook gets, the less I use it.
I realize that many authors talk about facebook as a way to promote themselves and many companies (publishing and otherwise) set up pages and push contests through it. I really wish they wouldn't. I don't mind if an author is on facebook as a person, but not as a commercial.
The more of that kind of junk I see, the less I care to go there. It's like a salesman showing up at a backyard bbq and peddling his wares. Sure, one person may be interested in buying, but that is neither the time nor the place for it.
And if I'm the one who is wrong–if Facebook IS the time and place for people to flash commercials in my face–then I'm outta there. I already get enough paper junk mail, spam mail, TV commercials, radio commercials, and internet advertising.
JES says
I read something last week that really jumped out at me. Some influential tech commentator said (with apologies for a certain cultural focus), "Facebook is John the Baptist. Twitter is the real deal."
Cathy Yardley mentioned Tumblr. I'm still getting the hang of it, but it strikes me as something like Twitter with embedded media.
Sean Thomas Fisher says
I hardly ever remember to check my FB page anymore. When I do, I have noticed a drop in postings. I guess real life updates just aren't exciting enough to capture attention-spans much past the novelty stage of the whole thing. People can only stand hearing about what someone had for dinner – or when they mowed their lawn – or when they shot a zombie right between the eyes – so many times. In reality, it's not that big a deal.
But when Tide has a Facebook page…the shark has truly been jumped.
Anonymous says
I think it's peaked for the average Joe who never fully understood social media in the first place. They get bored with it.
But for published authors it's still a way to connect with readers and it's still going strong.
Melanie says
I've definitely been spending less time on Facebook, especially since the people I'm following aren't posting as much.
Mira says
Well, I just googled some dates. Myspace was around for six years. Facebook came on the scene in 2004, so it's about seven years now.
I've seen stuff like this come and go. People enjoy the brand new thing, it's fun, but once it's too familiar, they move away. So, stuff like this seems to fade or morph over time.
Twitter will also probably fade in time, to be replaced by something new. This partly because people are creative and they build on what's come before and come up with something better.
I wouldn't be surprised if in a year or two, someone introduces a social networking site that is even better than Facebook, and everyone switches over.
Suze says
Don't have a Facebook account. Never felt good about the site.
Stephsco says
I agree w/ Anonymous a few posts up; definitely peaked for the Average Joe, and I think you could possibly say that means it has peaked overall, but I think people will continue to use it for the next 5 years. I also utilize twitter more often, along with a google-feed of blogs (like this). It's hard for me to gauge since I've been into social media for awhile and never used facebook exclusively for connecting with people.
David Quiles says
I think that Zukerberg is to human behavior what Temple Grandin was to cows. I'm growing weary of the information I put in facebook and will probably continue to log on until my teenage girls move to the next thing.
Loree Huebner says
I'm not sure fb has peaked. I think there are just other options out there. Sometimes you end up spending more time on one than any other.
Kat says
Comparing Facebook to MySpace is like comparing a Formula 1 Race Car to a Yugo. They both have 4 wheels and an engine… however, like the race car, FB is inherently dangerous. The management seems to purposely push the envelope when it comes to violating its user's privacy, and as already mentioned, is becoming a mecca for spammers and hackers. Ultimately FB's fate will be determined by how they respond (or don't) to the privacy and security issues that are repeatedly discussed (and currently ignored).
Kaitlyne says
I've never used it myself, but most of my friends have. What I have noticed is that a couple of my good friends who used it often (boyfriend included) hardly ever do anymore. I hear different reasons for it. Some don't like it because it uses too much of their time, and others have just gotten bored with it.
I'm not really surprised. As others have said, I never saw it as something permanent. I think that's just the nature of these things. Someone else will come up with something new and cooler and it will fade. I imagine it could last for some time with fewer users, but I can't imagine it remaining at such a huge peak for years on end.
Rob Smith says
I'm not sure I'd say it will go away. Facebook is at its heart a tech company, whereas sites like myspace and friendster were media driven, so those sites held no real value. By value I mean things like patents on new and upcoming technology. Also unlike other social networks, Facebook's focus on tech development puts it more in league of Google than the other social networks. Facebook has a lot of information that no search engine, including Google, can access.
I'd also point out that while Facebook is getting used less by me and by my friends, in my stream it seems like people have determined the two or three things they really like about Facebook and just focus on that. People used to do everything, now they post pics, check-ins, and status updates (most of which are on the go).
Losing 6m users in the US is certainly not a good thing, but one dip since its inception is a far cry from "the end of Facebook!".
Geoff says
I honestly never thought I'd say it – because I was against the whole idea of Twitter for so long – but I find myself on Twitter now a lot more than FB. Why that is I cannot tell you. Easy of use? Everything on Twitter is truncated links and text and there's no Farmville or that sort of nonsense to contend with. Twitter is just the place to go for writers and industry contacts. FB seems more for friends and family. And not that I don't care about my friends and family, but I'm trying to release a book in December! I have to be where the people are…
And suddenly a Little Mermaid song is stuck in my head. Awesome.
Anonymous says
Well it's definitely peaked for me. It's become the most annoying social media thing where I'm constantly reminded of people I'd rather not be reminded of. In a weird way I feel I have less control with Facebook – it just pops up everywhere, signing in to other websites using your FB account and then having that automatically updated on your FB page…No!
My beef with FB is that it started out as a truly friends posting with friends (when the word "friend" meant someone you have an actual relationship with in the physical world), sharing pictures, keeping each other updated. Now it's become a whole different monster I don't like. I never feel right posting anything on FB because I never know where it will end up. And that's a problem because the stuff I used to post on FB in the beginning was intended for close friends, not for the whole world.
With Twitter and blogging, for instance, I know it's for the world to see. But that wasn't how Facebook started and I think that's thrown a lot of us for a loop.
I'm definitely over it.
The English Teacher says
If facebook is now a has-been, someone needs to tell that to the thousands of teenagers who obsess over it daily.
Kay Theodoratus says
I'm one of those people who only use Facebook for family and people who are part of my life.
It may just be the demographic, but I know I'm responding to fewer comments than a year ago.