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Grandparents Love Facebook, Teens Not So Much

The social network is expected to lose 2 million users ages 24 and younger in 2018.

 & Angela Moscaritolo Managing Editor, Consumer Electronics

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Think you're hip like a teenager? If you spend a lot of time on Facebook, think again. According to a report from market research firm eMarketer, teens are leaving Facebook faster than expected as older users embrace the social network.

The firm predicts that Facebook will lose 2 million users ages 24 and younger in 2018. "This year, for the first time, less than half of US internet users ages 12 to 17 will use Facebook via any device at least once per month," eMarketer wrote in a blog post.

Facebook, Instagram Snapchat users Facebook is still growing, but "older age groups" are driving that trend, eMarketer wrote. This year, Facebook is expected to reach 169.5 million US users, up less than 1 percent from 2017. But at the same time, the number of US Facebook users age 11 and younger is expected to decline by 9.3 percent, the firm predicted, while users ages 12 to 17 decrease 5.6 percent and users between 18 and 24 drop 5.8 percent.

Facebook recently started targeting younger audiences with Messenger Kids, its first app built specifically for children. But that app has drawn criticism from child advocates and experts, who argue it will "undermine children's healthy development."

Facebook owns Instagram, "but not all of those users are migrating to Instagram," eMarketer wrote. The photo-sharing service will add 1.6 million users ages 24 and younger this year, while Instagram's total user base is expected to increase 13.1 percent to 104.7 million in 2018, the firm predicts.

Facebook declined to comment on the report. Predictions about the social network's demise are not new, though. In 2014, for example, Princeton University researchers predicted that Facebook would lose 80 percent of its peak user base between 2015 and 2017. We're not quite there yet, but Facebook did recently change its News Feed algorithm to feature more posts from friends and family rather than news stories and viral videos, which it admitted has decreased time spent on the service.

Rival Snapchat, which has seen Facebook crib many of its features, is forecast to grow 9.3 percent to 86.5 million. "Snapchat could eventually experience more growth in older age groups, since it's redesigning its platform to be easier to use," eMarketer principal analyst Debra Aho Williamson said in a statement. "The question will be whether younger users will still find Snapchat cool if more of their parents and grandparents are on it. That's the predicament Facebook is in."

Early reactions about the Snapchat update have been largely negative, however. Following the redesign's rollout in the US, more than 30 petitions were launched on Change.org in a single day, which asked Snap to change the app back to the way it was before.

About Our Expert

Angela Moscaritolo

Angela Moscaritolo

Managing Editor, Consumer Electronics

My Experience

I'm PCMag's managing editor for consumer electronics, overseeing an experienced team of analysts covering smart home, home entertainment, wearables, fitness and health tech, and various other product categories. I have been with PCMag for more than 10 years, and in that time have written more than 6,000 articles and reviews for the site. I previously served as an analyst focused on smart home and wearable devices, and before that I was a reporter covering consumer tech news. I'm also a yoga instructor, and have been actively teaching group and private classes for nearly a decade. 

Prior to joining PCMag, I was a reporter for SC Magazine, focusing on hackers and computer security. I earned a BS in journalism from West Virginia University, and started my career writing for newspapers in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.

The Technology I Use

My little Florida beach bungalow is brimming with smart home tech. I have a smart speaker or display in every room, allowing me to control other connected devices by voice. The Nest Hub on my bedside table lets me set wake-up alarms, control my smart light bulbs, and set the temperature on my smart thermostat. I use the Amazon Echo Show 8 on my kitchen counter to browse recipes, reorder protein powder, check the weather, and watch the news while I do dishes. 

Because I suffer from allergies, air purifiers are essential. My favorite model is the Dyson Purifier Cool TP07, which doubles as a fan and continuously sends indoor pollution data to its companion mobile app. 

My pitbull Bradley sheds, so a good robot vacuum is a must. I currently use a premium Ecovacs Deebot that can both vacuum and mop, empty its own dustbin, and wash its own mop cloth. 

For fitness, I like to mix up my routine with cycling, indoor rowing, running, and strength training in addition to yoga. I take classes on the Tonal 2 smart strength training machine, I row indoors on an Aviron machine, and track my beach runs with an Apple Watch while listening to music on my Apple AirPods Pro. On the weekends, I love riding e-bikes like the rugged, beach-friendly Aventon Aventure for fun and fitness.

My job involves a lot of virtual meetings, so a quality webcam, microphone, and ring light are important. I use the Jabra PanaCast 20 webcam, the Elgato Wave: 3 microphone, and a Yesker tripod ring light. 

As for my preferred phone platform, I'm an iPhone person, but I've also extensively used Android for product testing.

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