Facebook Further Declines Among UK Teens

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Not-on-facebook3A new study shows that British teenagers find Facebook embarrassing. The Social Media Global Impact Study tells a dramatic story of teenagers moving away from Facebook.  

A member of the research team and professor of anthropology in University College London, Daniel Miller describes the shift:

"Parents have worked out how to use the site and see it as a way for the family to remain connected. In response, the young are moving on to cooler things.

"What we've learned from working with 16-18 year olds in the UK is that Facebook is not just on the slide, it is basically dead and buried."

Miller also describes the impact on family dynamics:

"Where once parents worried about their children joining Facebook, the children now say it is their family that insists they stay there to post about their lives."

According to the study, UK teens are using Snapchat, Whatsapp, and Twitter rather than their parents' social network. 

Discussion Starters: 

  • Do the study findings surprise you? Why or why not? 
  • What, if anything, can Facebook do to lure back teens? Respondents in this study admit that Facebook has better functionality than other sites, so that may not help.