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?
Sierra McConnell says
I didn't use MySpace and I don't use FB. I just don't see the novelty of it.
I'm an LJ girl through and through. :3
But I tweet because it's fun to come up with little 100 word drabs.
Theresa Milstein says
I use it as much as ever, but I've seen people come and go, use it more or less. It's too bad if it declines because it's a place to store photos and get quick updates on people.
I've been avoiding Twitter to keep a handle on how much time I spend doing social media. If FB goes, I may take the plunge into Twitter. And since there have been so many issues about privacy and they change the format so often, FB is often a pain.
Deri Ross says
I hope FB stays around for a long while. I use it on a personal level to connect with my friends and family who are spread around the world. Having them all in one place means I can keep up with them easily, on my terms. My sister isn't going to call me every time her son has a breakthrough (he has medical issues), but I can keep up with his progress through FB. I simply block that which I don't want to see. I don't get as aggravated with the chatter on it the way a lot of people do. I'm not sure about how well it works on a professional level, as I just recently started my writer's page. As far as privacy, I've done searches on various sites that people have posted that supposedly catalogs personal information, and honestly yes, my personal information was on there, but none of it was anything that could have been garnered from FB, such as phone numbers I turned off several years before I ever heard of FB.
I'm trying to get the hang of Twitter, but honestly, on there it just feels like everyone is talking all over each other, but no one is listening to anyone else. If I had any plans of using it to connect with anyone personally, I'd be sorely disappointed. It really feels like it is strictly for promoting oneself, so I guess as a fledgling writer, it's going to work great for that (once I figure it out, lol).
Myspace is extremely juvenile; I got bored with it after two years of random men trying to hook up with me despite my taken status. It was never really built for anything other than low-brow socializing.
I don't have the time or inclination to embrace the next fad in virtual socializing, so I'll stick with FB, which I don't consider a fad. No more than email was a fad, or instant messaging. Those things have evolved to be more streamlined, but they aren't going anywhere.
L.G.Smith says
I like Blogger. 🙂
Anna says
I quit a year ago over privacy concerns. I felt the company was not transparent enough with what they were doing. I'm not sure if blogger, gmail, or any other social networking is much better, but these companies at least aren't forthright about using their users' information for nefarious purposes.
Just Another Day in Paradise says
Facebook = Boring
Blogger = pseudo exciting,like phone sex
twitter = more like the real thing. Lots of stimulus, hot, sweaty and fast
Munk says
Who cares? Really.
CPatLarge says
I'm with you, Deri. For the most part, Twitter just isn't doing for me. There are lots of easy ways to block MOST of the annoyances on FB, and a number of useful tools. I'm able to stay in touch with family, too, and even found a half-brother we didn't know existed.
So yeah, I'll stick with FB for a while. Do I use as much as I used to? Probably not, but I'll go for the quality connections, not the quantity.
Kristin Laughtin says
I've had three friends quit Facebook this week, and only one of them planned to do so temporarily. Still, though, I feel like it will be around for a while unless another website comes along that offers many of the same features but respects privacy better. Then, once there is competition, it may go the Myspace route, as Ashelyn Nicole pointed out. Unless something better comes along, though, most people will stay, even if they scale back their usage. Facebook offers a good middle ground between short Twitter posts and long blog posts, as well as an easy way to share pictures, plan and manage events, and so on. Privacy is going to be the determining factor as to whether it lasts a long time, though, and I hope the administrators start listening to their users.
J. Burroughs says
I have tried MySpace and didn't last even short at it. I haven't gotten into Twitter yet, though I would say it is certainly a strong force right now. I have used Facebook for a while, even through changes and experiences that made me grumpy, but I always stuck with it. Certain features, games, etc. come and go, but the venue itself remains.
Scott says
Clearly, within five years we will all have mastered persistent-state global mind linking and the ancient electronic internet will join the dinosaur bones and the cellphone hip holsters.
CageFightingBlogger says
I think people are getting sick of mundane updates from Facebook users. Twitter, on the other hand, is largely used to promote topics of interest. I can see some straying over from Facebook to Twitter, but a lot will simply leave Facebook and not go back to social media at all. Webcam sites like Camfrog will grow next, then level out as Faceboook is doing now.
Diana says
I stopped using facebook and twitter and visiting messageboards back in December. The only place I go now is blogger.
The problem with FB and Twitter is that you have to be online all the time in order to keep up with what's going on. With blogger and messageboards, I can check in once a day and then go and do something else.
I think people are beginning to realize that it's not the best environment for having a conversation.
Reena Jacobs says
I've never been a big Facebook user. I'm more of a tweeter. However, I do visit Facebook to find long last friends and family. It's definitely great for that.
As for it peaking, I'm not sure. Most of my friends and family seem to use Facebook exclusively. If I'm curious if they're alive without having to call, that's where I head.
Vinyl and Mono says
Today I published an article in an online fanzine. Within an hour I had almost doubled my Twitter following, received several messages, and been retweeted multiple times. No response on Facebook, except for two of my friends.
Anne R. Allen says
I've just had some emails accusing you of stealing my thunder, Nathan :-). I did gloat a little when I saw that article about FB losing members. A lot of my "friends" are closing their accounts too. It's the invasion of privacy and widespread spamminess. It's still good for exchanging photos, but there are safer sites for that.
My crystal ball did predict this on February 20th in my blogpost of the same title: Has Facebook Peaked? https://bit.ly/mrwt8c
Anonymous says
I hope FB has peaked. I've never been on there, and I'm tired of people assuming that everyone is on FB. I looked into it a couple of times, but it didn't seem user-friendly. I haven't heard anything that makes me want to jump on there either: Farmville? People spamming your wall? Constantly having your privacy settings changed without your knowledge?
FB's privacy policies are horrible examples of what not to do when it comes to customer service. I think the only reason they didn't have more backlash sooner was that so many people had already invested their time and information in it.
Every kind of social media seems to have a wave of enthusiasm where everybody tries it, and then the novelty wears off and the numbers drop. When the drop comes, the medium either settles at a level where it's not as huge as it used to be, but it still has a dedicated community who keep it going (I think blogging fits this), or else it goes into freefall (Myspace. Although I hear that musicians still use it, so maybe they are Myspace's dedicated community).
This peak and decline will happen to Twitter, too, but it remains to be seen whether Twitter will hang around or disappear after its peak.
Things I like about Twitter: You don't have to give up loads of personal information. Accounts are very easy to set up. You can spend a lot of time there, or very little. You're not expected to read every single tweet. You can follow as many or as few people as you want. You can send out messages to everyone or restrict your followers to a select few. If Twitter disappears, I won't miss it, but it's easy and fun for now.
Twitter isn't the place for long or in-depth conversations, and that's why I don't think it will replace web pages, blogs, and forums.
Anonymous says
Oh, I hope so. In fact, I hope social networking in general has peaked. There's an awful lot to be said for a modicum of privacy in one's life.
Judith Mercado says
I am spending much less time on FB. It's down to infrequent forays to check on my extended family, but beyond that private use, I hardly use FB any more.
Jillian says
Facebook was a great way to reconnect with old friends who I lost contact. I also used the site to connect with writers who often post links to articles on writing and such. In the past month, I haven't logged onto FB. I could care less what someone is cooking for dinner or that their A/C is broken. I think FB will be another Myspace. Although I have friends who live for FB. I guess they have more time to waste.
Laurie says
I only go on Facebook about once a month. As a freelance journalist, I find it useful to reach out to authors and other people I need to set up an interview with for my job, but I've never been comfortable with the "look at me" aspect of it, and I'm very private. The social network site I now use and love is called 365 Project. I post my best photograph of the day, every single day. I follow people whose photos I like and vice versa. That way I get to look at beautiful photos from around the world and my own photography skills have improved immensely. So I won't miss FB if it disappears. I'd rather look at a waterfall in New Zealand than someone's Farmville request. Really interesting question, Nathan.
Kermit Rose says
Facebook is to social media as IBM is to computer manufacturing and programming.
Facebook is the first social media that included all the necessary ingredients to be permanently successful. Their future success depends on their realizing their customer needs.
Facebook may have peaked, but I expect it to settle at some reasonable equilibrium.
Kermit
Polenth says
I've never used Facebook much. I used to be a big MySpace user, then switched to Twitter. Facebook is something I keep up because it's occasionally useful, but Twitter is better for chatting and connecting with people.
Tom Bradley Jr. says
I live by a simple credo: Neither a Facebooker nor a Tweeter be.
Kathy Bennett says
FB is screwing around with some member's pages and 'experimenting' with different formats and page designs.
As one of the guinea pigs, I've gotta tell you, I'm tempted to drop FB like a bad disease. I hate what they've done and I have no control. My total FB experience is ruined. I've complained to their feedback page and they don't care. I'm still using it…but probably not for long.
What's the next 'big' thing? I'd love to be at the start of a trend, rather than a latecomer.
Anonymous says
After reading this thread, I have to say it's an interesting crowd that gathers here.
G says
I'm a rarity of a Facebook user in that I don't play any games or use any apps beyond the NetworkedBlog app (which I can't use unless I switch to the non-secure http for viewing pleasure). I actually use it for keeping up to date with my friends.
Imagine that, using it like it was supposed to be used.
Yes, I have major concerns about privacy and malware, which is why I can't be found on Facebook by anyone and use the very nice https for surfing.
Dorothy L. Abrams says
I'm on Twitter and find it limited. I'm on LinkedIn and find it UNprofessional despite its aspirations. I find e-mail less immediate. What I like best are blogs. Feed back is more thoughtful in blogs so if we can find better ways to search and connect through the blogs, they may answer the void Face Book leaves with it's unresponsiveness to user opinion.
Sheila Cull says
What do I think? You tell us because now Facebook sounds like it will be more than peaked?
Hey Bransford, 'cause of you, I'm down with Twitter. And I think per you I'm blogging daily and per me, oy, posting it on Facebook everyday. But,an idea! I'll manipulate Facebook twice weekly, save time and avoid any type of peaks.
Bransford, people embracing change, out with the old, in with the Twittering, is what you wanted all along.
Congratulations!
Yeah! Thank you.
Professor Oddcabinet says
Isn't all social media designed to be a mirage? I mean, they're not exactly building Mount Rushmore, here. *poof* Its there! It's the greatest thing ever! Everyone simply MUST learn it! Master it! Use it! Wait… *poof* There it goes. But was it ever really there in the first place? As Uncle Gertrude says, "There is no *there* there" (emphasis mine).
MJR says
I still like Facebook. I use it to connect with family and friends and hide almost everyone else. I like putting up old family photos, youtube videos of favorite songs, connecting with cousins I haven't seen in thirty years etc–I guess, sort of uncool stuff…but it's fun…
Cathy @ Abnormally Paranormal Reviews says
I definitely spend less time on it. I don't like it much anymore. Seems like most of my FB friends have been neglecting it lately, too.
Backfence says
They can't just leave well enough alone already! You wind up spending half your time just trying to protect yourself from their "improvements"!
I still pop in once a day, but I block all that nonsense – games and questions and surveys and the like – which is mainly intended for purposes of gathering information to target you as consumers.
Thanks, but I, for one, am not as enamored with Facebook as I used to be.
DanaS says
I hardly ever go to my FB anymore, but I was never into posting like most people. Twitter is MUCH more useful to me in connecting with other writers. I'm also very annoyed with the sites that badger me to 'connect through FB'. If I wanted FB connected to everything, I'd link it up. FB has already proven it has no respect for privacy. If FB were to shut down tomorrow, I wouldn't spend a moment grieving.
Caitlin says
I still use it quite often, but the Internet doesn't pay attention to many things for very long. I don't really think that the privacy issues will be what brings about Facebook's demise. C'mon, most people haven't cared that much up to this point. Sure they shout that it's outrageous…on their status updates. But soon enough something will come along to take it's place, and Facebook will hunker down with Myspace in the has-been pile.
Neurotic Workaholic says
I never used Facebook because I figured it would be one more way for me to procrastinate on the Internet. Not to mention I'm not very photogenic, so I probably wouldn't post any pictures of myself in my profile. And I guess that would defeat the purpose of Facebook. But since I don't use Facebook, I'm still not entirely sure what the purpose of it is. I figure it has something to do with coupons.
Alaina says
A lot of people I know are concerned about Facebooks decision to incorporate advertising into their program. It will track what people look at, are interested in, and then hand over that information to their partners so that they can advertise different things to different users. Many I know feel it has lost its 'home user' feel with all the corporate agreements. So, only time will tell I suppose. 🙂
Joe Romel says
If they're losing people now, I'd have to say yes. Myspace drew people from the secondary sites like Friendster because it had better features and layouts, and lost users to Facebook for the same reason. What is Facebook losing users to? There isn't another site in that mold looming, as the other major social networking device is Twitter.
So if they're not moving on to a better Myspace/Facebook clone, then the paradigm must be changing. Makes sense if you think about it. The earliest sites clued us all into the idea of social networking, and Facebook perfected it…but now that everybody's here, so to speak, what now? Could it be that we're now all so in touch that our priorities are changing, and we're branching out into different mediums, namely Twitter? It's entirely possible. Facebook was the tool we used to get in touch with each other, but broken down to its essential components–statuses (which have long since been synced to Twitter accounts anyway) and pictures–it's not quite as necessary as it used to be.
I doubt we're talking about a precipitous fall here, but I think it's safe to say it's peaked. There's really no other explanation for the loss of users.
Whirlochre says
Facebook is the plaything of Satan.
And it's 'troughed', not 'peaked'.
Personally, I have no desire to spend hours trawling through photos of people's home made cheese and snotty children.
Dan Blank says
It's an interesting question and good discussion. For me, I'm simply amazed that regardless of whether or not Facebook fades or continues, that our culture has made a cultural shift where we want to be sharing and connecting, and are now open to online tools such as Facebook. Just 2 years ago, many people I know wouldn't have considered ever making a status update or share a photo of their family online. Now it is commonplace and something people have made a habit of checking. Thanks!
-Dan
Simon Haynes says
Every time I visit facebook I get a hundred invites to join in brainless games whose only point seems to be generating ad revenue.
I've blocked nearly all of them, but they're a many-headed hydra.
Then there's the new 'share everything about you' features which always seem to be enabled by default. Wouldn't be too hard to include a 'never opt me in for anything' button, would it?
I guess everyone else is finally getting fed up with it too.
chitrader says
I've resisted Facebook, Twitter, and all the latest fads because that's how I see most 'innovation'-a passing fad that may or may not prove useful to a majority of the population. Remember MySapce? Online chatrooms? Betamax videos? Heck, videos themselves are becoming obsolete.
I don't see how brief, instantaneous commumucation can survive in the long run on a mass scale. How soon before people get tired of saying in Twitter or FB, "Nothing much going on today, but I'll check back in with you after I get home from my boring job and resume my exceedingly average life."?
And once they realize that having a zillion 'friends' and/or followers hasn't enhanced their lives one iota, FB, Twitter, and the like will fade into a peripheral electronic activity, used by a respectable minority of people for whom these tools have some utilitarian value.
Lori says
I hope it's the end of Facebook. I prefer one-on-one with my family and friends. I don't like the service and it's not personal enough for me. Maybe people will start communicating better and enjoy a great conversation in person. Too much technology in the wrong direction.
Guilie says
The beauty of Facebook was reconnecting with people you hadn't seen / heard from in ages. It was a kind of distance class reunion. For those of us ex-pats living far away from our family and friends, Facebook afforded us an easy way to stay in touch, share photos, keep up-to-date on what was happening in everyone's life, without having to draft long, tedious and heavy (attachment-wise) emails. In that sense, Facebook will probably continue being popular for us, at least until a better option comes along. As for social networking per se, I agree with the consensus here: it's peaked.
Jenny says
I use it about the same, but I'm not surprised this happened. It was bound to anyway.
Kevin says
I used to be on Facebook daily. Now I go there once every few weeks, if that.
Adam Heine says
I think the wall Facebook is hitting is that it WANTS to be open and public–like Twitter or Tumblr–so that it can attract as many people as possible who just want to dabble but don't want to be dragged into the whole "thing." But it can't be open, because that's not what it was from the start, that's not what it's users believe it is (even though it pretty much is), and every time they try to connect something new, people sue.
Actually, now that I say that, I think Facebook's real problem is perception. People perceive it as this private place where nobody can see what you're doing except friends that you allow. But it hasn't been like that in YEARS. I'm not sure it ever was.
Gran says
I'm spending less time on Facebook, and so are my FB friends. I'm spending more time on Twitter and Blogger these days. Privacy concerns and boredom are my reasons.
Gran says
I'm spending less time on Facebook, and so are my FB friends. I'm spending more time on Twitter and Blogger these days. Privacy concerns and boredom are my reasons.
Rebecca Kiel says
I have no clue if it has peaked. I do know that I hear more and more people discussing the privacy issue. Most of their points are valid.
To say that FB could be used for psychological studies about the relationship between self-efficacy and strength of will in high schoolers as a means of creating future extraterrestrial control of our planet is just silliness. But that was just my attempt at ending the debate at an otherwise pleasant picnic.