Baby Boomers Quitting Facebook
Facebook may be losing ground among its older users, according to Inside Facebook.
Over the past few months, baby boomers joined the popular social networking site in droves, creating some inter-generational tensions in the process. From February and March, though, to April and May, that trend seems to have reversed. According to data that Facebook supplies to its advertisers, the 55-to-65-year-old age group's activity has drastically declined over the past couple months (by 651,080, to be exact), making it the only demographic to experience an overall drop in numbers.
The data is not accompanied by any reasons why baby boomers are quitting, but Inside Facebook wonders if the over-55 set just hasn't figured out how to use the real-time updates that were implemented on social network's recent facelift. Then again, it could be all the phishing scams that have surfaced on the service lately. We think it might just be because half the time we try to send messages on social network, we get an error message telling us to log in again (very annoying), or any of a myriad of other reasons to quit Facebook.
While their parents seem to be fleeing Facebook, 18-to-25-year olds are spending more time on the site than ever. Since the end of March, nearly 2 million new members have joined up in that age bracket. The root of these developing Facebook trends? We'd bet that those Gen Y-ers, finding themselves unemployed and out of school, are aiming to waste some time and distract themselves. Meanwhile, we'd guess that their parents, in light of their companies' tightening belts, are laying off the during-office-hours browsing.
How about you? Are you still on Facebook? Have you thought about quitting? We have -- check out some of our reasons, by clicking 'Next,' below. [Via Business Insider]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 12)
StockHappy said 2:18PM on 5-27-2009
This article didn't even give any concrete reasons WHY baby boomers are quitting Facebook. Speculated that MAYBE it's that the adults aren't cruising Facebook while working, but doesn't sound like they actually ASKED anyone.
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Lisa said 3:08PM on 5-27-2009
Its because it's just damn boring.
Arb said 4:43PM on 5-27-2009
probably because facebook was made for college students. It should have stayed that way, but no they had to allow gold oldies and jailbait on the site. Mark Z is a sell out, just like napster
Niki said 4:56PM on 5-27-2009
If you must know, its the same reason theyre all getting myspace accounts. They think they can get work. Either they are currently unemployed, or they are in a job where they need to gain clients. Im 26yo, and me and my husband see no reason to have a FB/MS account. I think its pathetic that any business, or individual sign up for the sole purpose to gain exposure, especially since teres been social networking sites for years, and only in the mid 00s has it really taken off. In fact, most online forums I am a member of, are getting more and more "need a job" threads. A few years ago, there wasnt a single one. People got work the old fashion way.
nancysmurphy said 7:28PM on 5-27-2009
They joined because their teen-age children have accounts. Every high school in America encourages parents to join Face Book. Of course the population will swell. Once they look, and find their kids are alright, they never come back. That's why baby boomers are leaving Face Book.
catzlovr10 said 7:48PM on 5-27-2009
i know i agree with u ^^^ if u took the time to explore it, u could make something out of it i m sure. i have one nd i like the flair nd friend FAQ some people should actually try it b4 they beleve all this online stuffs.
chuckie said 11:57PM on 5-27-2009
They have REAL lives and have better things to do.
cepfish said 10:17PM on 5-28-2009
Could it also be because your computer gets infected with viruses every time you get on Facebook?
Roseann said 2:22PM on 5-27-2009
could it be maybe that the weather is nicer and more adults are spending thier time elsewhere???????
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rydeordie31 said 2:22PM on 5-27-2009
lee bains, your super ignorant. young adults from the age of 18-25 are spending more time on the site in the past couple months because its the end of the school year and they're graduating; and being that facebook is more appealing to college students, while myspace is more for high school students, there are many graduates joining facebook. many graduates are moving out of state, probably to room with someone, and whats the easiest way to find your college roommate of 500 miles away than typing their name in a social network for college students. its just the people 55 - 65 realize its a website for people out of their age group and are probably joining websites that are more appealing to them which have popped up recently. why do u gotta be so freakin pessimistic?
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Sosumi said 7:49PM on 5-27-2009
Funny, I have a good friend that has sent me several invites and then I just got another from him and someone else I know. So I asked him why I should or shouldn't join and what he got out of it. And he is 39. He said it was fun at first, met some old football teammates etc. But he said that he barely even goes there anymore because "the novelty" has worn off. My point being is that it is a NOVELTY. And why should I put my info out there in cyber space for a novelty? That is why people are leaving. Not because of a demographic. Because one only has so much time in a day and why spend it on a glorified yearbook.
gsan201 said 8:03PM on 5-27-2009
I agree totally !! rydeordie is an gnorant douchebag him/her self, Not only do I have a problem with all the Polarizing Political stunts of the FACEbook Owner and some of the crooked things he and the Company do..Like keeping your personal info in far more of a big brother way then any other company does.Facebook is great for the social butterfly that needs constant companionship and as many "friends" as they can get. I have friends like that that actually count omg I got a hundred new friends this last week and do you know who is my friend now? I'm like WTF? Who care's you have to stop living in the Past and concentrate on your future. For girls i can undrstand they love to be overtly social but guys come on,get a grip!!!What i did on it? Play some of the games ere and there messaged soe of the people on there a bit here and there and saw what they were doing and then after awhile it lost its luster I do not care to put any personal info on a site that uses my info to make money while they act like they are doing me a favor!?!? That is why the schmuck zuck is worth a fortune and you and me aren't!!!
kyokushin2 said 2:33PM on 5-27-2009
I am 39 and I love facebook
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space_master2169 said 2:34PM on 5-27-2009
could it because we have other things to do besides set at the computer all day
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MiMi said 2:46PM on 5-27-2009
Maybe it's all those ridiculous "tests" that appeal to a 14 year old mentality.
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Jim said 2:48PM on 5-27-2009
No different then myspace, chat rooms, you spend the time you have to spend there and move on. No biggy.
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Azhsmom22 said 2:50PM on 5-27-2009
Maybe their quitting because they have a life and have realized that it's only morons who think it's cool to send virtual flowers and drinks to people!! My husband and I joined for about three months. What a huge waste of time! We deleted everything and got rid of our accounts. Now we have more time to spend on ebay and playing computer games.
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Pamela said 5:12PM on 5-27-2009
Aren't you being contradictory? Talking about people being on Facebook (because they have no life) but then you say now you have more time for EBay and computer games... so, does this mean you have no life? You just choose to go to a different site - but still on the computer!
gsan201 said 8:23PM on 5-27-2009
Pamela quit being a biaytchhhhh!!! I thought she was being saracstic and funny saying that! Even if she was serious,different things for different peopleEbay is just shopping which people do in normal life,playing computer games or games outside or card games is something a family can do together..For many FACEBOOK is a fad and is an online chat network,far different then shopping or playing games with family members. Douchebag!!!
montana2298 said 4:40AM on 5-29-2009
and your not a loser because??????