Facebook: Is It Still Relevant For Gen Z?
Facebook has been around for just a little over twenty years, but the past couple of years, it seems that younger generations are utilizing the platform less and less.
Today, Facebook has over 3 billion users monthly, but how many of those users are Gen. Z? Looking at statistics, less than thirty percent of Gen. Z has an account on Facebook and roughly twenty percent of that is actually active on the app. The majority of Facebook users are millennials or older. Instead of Facebook, most young adults and teens are drawn to other social media platforms such as Instagram, YouTube, Snapchat, or TikTok. These platforms tend to attract younger generations because of their layouts of the apps and how content is presented.
I, like others in my generation, have Facebook but it is not one of the apps that gains a lot of screen time on my phone. During a typical week, the majority of my time spent on my phone is on Instagram or TikTok. I spend more time on these platforms because I gravitate more towards what people post on those. On Instagram, I am able to see what my friends have been up to recently, even though we're miles apart, and also stay up to date with what some of my favorite artists and celebrities are doing in their field. With TikTok, I am drawn to how easy it is to view content. The majority of the time, I do not know of the creator so I am viewing their work for the first time. I can tell within seconds if I am interested in the content, and if I am not, I can just scroll to the next video. I do not have to go to a new page or feed to access new material. Although Facebook has many similarities with Instagram, it has some qualities that I and other young adults are not entirely obsessed with. One that I'm not a fan of is how certain posts end up on my feed. For example, there have been numerous instances in which one of my friends has posted to their account and their content rarely, if ever, ends up on my feed. I have also heard from others that this has happened to them as well.
Looking into the future, I believe that Facebook will continue to be used by older generations, but as the younger generations grow up, it will slowly become outdated by the use of other apps. When the time comes when Facebook becomes entirely irrelevant, another app will come and take its place.
I agree, Facebook will eventually die off like MySpace or another platform before. Yet, platforms like YouTube have remained very prevalent, starting back in 2008. I know for certain that if I had to choose a social media platform, it would have to be Facebook. Despite its updates and controversy, it remains simple and reliable. I wonder what will come in its place in the future? I guess we will have to wait and see. - VA
ReplyDeleteI do agree that our generation and the generations to come will gravitate more towards platforms such as snapchat and tik tok. The way that they are set up and the reel trends that go on throughout the apps are what I feel draw in the younger generations. Not only that but most of the content posted on those platforms are geared more towards younger generations I feel. Eventually, platforms such as Facebook will become irrelevant for the generations to come and possibly even have the adaption of new social media platforms.
ReplyDeleteYou make a really interesting point about how Facebook's appeal is dwindling among younger generations, with platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube offering more immediate and engaging content. The user experience is so different, especially with TikTok’s easy content discovery and Instagram’s ability to keep up with friends and celebs. I agree that as time goes on, Facebook will likely remain more popular with older generations while newer platforms take center stage. It'll be interesting to see what the next big app will be when Facebook's reign eventually fades!
ReplyDeleteGreat insights on Facebook’s relevance for Gen Z! I totally agree with how Instagram and TikTok have taken over in terms of engagement and ease of use. I also get the frustration with how posts don’t always show up in your feed—it definitely feels like Facebook doesn’t prioritize content as well as other apps do. The times are changing, like you said. It will be interesting to see if Facebook adapts to stay relevant or if it'll eventually just die out.
ReplyDeleteI am really intrigued by your observation that Facebook will continue to be used by the older generations until it becomes outdated. I would if the app will simply "die out" and become irrelevant or find a way to attract younger audiences. They have to be careful, though, because Instagram is owned by the same company and they don't want to take away users from that app either and make their own two brands compete with each other.
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