We pay for all kinds of software, from to-do apps and dating apps to money management and streaming apps. So surely people would be willing to cough up a few dollars a month for software that facilitates our most important relationships. The cost of transmitting texts, photos, and videos ‘ the bread and butter of social media ‘ gets cheaper every day. I’ve spent a lot of time blaming founders for changing their products at the whims of advertisers, but to any social platform’s credit, the users do indeed do it to themselves. Currently, social media serves as a platform to disseminate news, information, experience sharing and connecting with friends and family.
An extra 15 minutes per day might not sound like a lot, but added up over the course of a year, that would translate into an additional 91 hours per user, which is about 5′ waking days. However, in the ranking by total time spent, TikTok and Facebook Messenger trade places, while LINE jumps up a few spots to sit ahead of Snapchat. However, the latest figures do reveal quite a big difference in the active user numbers for fifth-ranked Facebook Messenger and sixth-ranked TikTok. It’s also important to highlight that these rankings don’t include data for China, and rankings are based on average use throughout 2022, not just the most recent quarter.
However, things can change rapidly in the world of digital, so you’ll need to keep your stats up to date if you want to build the most compelling case for your plans. For perspective, that represents a year-on-year decline of 7.2 percent. And these numbers don’t really corroborate a claim that Instagram is ‘over’. / Sign up for Verge Deals to get deals on products we’ve tested sent to your inbox weekly. During my trip abroad I met a guy in a bar who was in his twenties, and jokingly called me a boomer for not having Instagram.
So much so that I couldn’t help but finally, grudgingly agree with the critics who’ve been warning that we are witnessing the end of days for the social media network as we knew it. It’s not that people are no longer using social media ‘ they are. If these and other decentralized platforms find a way to merge into a larger ecosystem, they will force big platforms to change their tune in order to keep up. And hopefully, that future will yield a more balanced and regulated online lifestyle. These findings only relate to increasing potential reach, but reach is only one of the metrics you should consider when building a social media portfolio or media mix. Indeed, overall reach numbers can often be a distraction, because they invariably include large numbers of people who are outside the audience that you’re hoping to reach and engage.
In recent years, there has been much debate over whether social media is losing its appeal or if it’s simply a case of individuals outgrowing these platforms. With the rise of new trends and technologies, it’s natural to question the future of social media and its impact on society.
The friend in me wants my friends at Snap to keep their jobs amid waves of tech layoffs. When a company submits to digital advertising, there’s no avoiding the tradeoffs that come with it. And this group of people is also more likely to marry late until they prefer a single life. Moreover, in sex life, this group of people is more gender diverse. Along with a more open society, singles and LGBTI people have gained a wider reputation.
The Decline of Social Media
There is no one-stop-shop or single method to memorialise or delete accounts. Some companies, including Google, are now deleting accounts after two years of inactivity but there is no consistency across platforms. Yet for those in good health, Schoger and others agree that the potential benefits of digital talk about death still seem to outweigh its negative consequences. Writing a tweet helps me rationalize things or reassure myself,’ says Kate Granger, a British doctor who made headlines this year when she decided to forgo treatment for terminal cancer after five rounds of chemotherapy. Granger had originally taken up Twitter professionally to network and fundraise, but found a home for her struggles as her followers encouraged her to talk openly about her experience with the disease. But Aronson also points out that most older people rate their health as good or excellent because they can still do the things that matter most to them.
Some argue that social media is indeed losing its popularity due to a number of factors:
- Privacy Concerns: Users are becoming more aware of the potential risks associated with sharing personal information online.
- Oversaturation: The sheer volume of content on social media platforms can be overwhelming for users.
- Fake News: The spread of misinformation on social media has led to a lack of trust in these platforms.
Changing Preferences
On the other hand, some believe that the decline in social media usage is simply a result of changing preferences among users:
- Shift Towards Privacy: Many users are migrating towards more private messaging platforms like WhatsApp and Signal.
- Desire for Authenticity: Users are gravitating towards platforms that prioritize genuine connections and meaningful interactions.
- Rise of Niche Platforms: Specialized platforms catering to specific interests are gaining popularity among users looking for more focused communities.
Embracing Change
While it’s natural to feel nostalgic for the early days of social media, it’s important to acknowledge that these platforms are constantly evolving. Whether you choose to adapt to these changes or step back from social media altogether, the decision ultimately lies in your hands. So, is social media dying out, or are you simply growing older and wiser?
