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Facebook is losing more of its younger audience in 2018, due to a new study

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Facebook is losing more of its younger audience in 2018, due to a new study

A study by eMarketing predicts that 700,000 young people will be leaving social media site Facebook in 2018, reports Emma Parker

A study by eMarketing predicts that 700,000 young people will be leaving social media site Facebook in 2018, reports Emma Parker

In 2004, Mark Zuckerberg launched Facebook.It has lasted 14 years as one of the most globally popular mainstream social media sites. However, once most popular amongst young users, there has been a sudden decline in its number.

In 2018, 2.2 million 12- to 17-year-olds and 4.5 million 18 to 24-year-olds will still regularly be using Facebook in Britain. Despite these large numbers, this will be 700,000 fewer than in 2017. Ultimately, this will make over-55’s the second-biggest base of Facebook users in the UK.

It would appear that the younger generation are now more interested in sites such as Snapchat and Twitter. In 2012, Facebook bought Instagram for one billion dollars, but their main competitor now is Snapchat. Created in 2011, Snapchat allows users to send photos to friends and add to their story. It currently holds a 43% UK social media user rate.

Despite the decline in young users, Facebook remains the most used social networking site in the UK with approximately 32.5 million regular users. Instagram are some distance behind with 18.4 million, Snapchat with 16.2 million and Twitter with 12.6 million. Even though Facebook is still the most used, other social media sites seem to have a growing audience, whereas Facebooks numbers are declining.

Facebook has already put preparations in place to try and keep their audience.They have declared an improved news feed that prioritises what Facebook friends can see and share, whilst condensing the amount of advertising content. Furthermore, Zuckerberg has promised to spend this year “making sure that time spent on Facebook is time well spent”.

20 year old aspiring Journalist from Essex, and now based in London. Interested in fashion, travel and beauty but I will cover all things students want to know.

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