Facebook users in the US down 15M, says report – but most switched to Instagram

CyberTech

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The number of Facebook users in the US fell by 15M people between 2017 and 2019, says a new report, with the various privacy-related controversies likely to have played some role in that.

But, ironically, Facebook-owned Instagram has seen to biggest increase in US users over the same timescale …

Marketplace spoke with Edison Research’s Larry Rosin.

New numbers from Edison Research show an an estimated 15 million fewer users in the United States compared to 2017.
Said Rosin: “Fifteen million is a lot of people, no matter which way you cut it. It represents about 6 percent of the total U.S. population ages 12 and older. What makes it particularly important is if it is part of a trend. This is the second straight year we’ve seen this number go down. Obviously, the U.S. is the biggest market, in terms of dollars, and it’s going to be a super important market for Facebook or anybody who’s playing in this game.”


But with almost 80% of the US population using social media, there’s no suggestion that people are abandoning social networks – simply switching between platforms.

We only show trace numbers of people leaving social media altogether. They’re obviously just transferring their usage. The big gainer, interestingly, is under the same roof as Facebook. It’s their co-owned Instagram.


The percentage of the population using Instagram grew from 9% to 16% in the same timescale.

Edison also found that more than half the US population aged 12 and over has now listened to a podcast.


“This is a watershed moment for podcasting–a true milestone. With over half of Americans 12+ saying that they have ever listened to a podcast, the medium has firmly crossed into the mainstream,” noted Tom Webster, Senior Vice President at Edison Research.
One-third of the population reported having listened to a podcast in the last month, representing 90 million monthly listeners.

Finally, it seems once people get their first smart speaker, they want more.

Smart speaker ownership saw a big jump in the last couple of years and keeps climbing. About 23 percent of us have them now, with Amazon’s Alexa devices in the lead. One interesting trend developing around smart speakers is that people who get one tend to want multiple. In 2018, only about a tenth of smart speaker owners had several. Now, about a quarter of owners have three or more.


Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg yesterday outlined plans to focus more on privacy.
 

Azure

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LOL, Zuck plans to focus more on privacy? This is a funny joke. It is like saying Google will focus more on privacy.
Is it really that surprising? Considering the incredible backlash Facebook has gotten recently, them trying focus/improve privacy seems like a reasonable solution for their problems.
 

Ink

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Instagram=Facebook
Same company :ROFLMAO: Nice joke
You are not required to own a Facebook account to use WhatsApp or Instagram. Users are allowed to register with a phone number or email address, but can be linked to Facebook (and other social platforms) if desired. Facebook cannot view your Contacts unless you explicity allow permission on a mobile device.

You may be required to open a Facebook account if you wish to Instagram for business (ie. access to Analytical data).
 

Hollow

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You are not required to own a Facebook account to use WhatsApp or Instagram. Users are allowed to register with a phone number or email address, but can be linked to Facebook (and other social platforms) if desired. Facebook cannot view your Contacts unless you explicity allow permission on a mobile device.

You may be required to open a Facebook account if you wish to Instagram for business (ie. access to Analytical data).
Yes I know that
But WhatsApp,Facebook and Instagram are owned by same company
They can link each other for analysis purposes
 
L

Local Host

Is it really that surprising? Considering the incredible backlash Facebook has gotten recently, them trying focus/improve privacy seems like a reasonable solution for their problems.
Is only surprising how people believe his claims, he makes money with data and ads just like Google.
 

Azure

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Is only surprising how people believe his claims, he makes money with data and ads just like Google.
Don't know if Facebook will become more privacy-conscious. Most likely they won't.

My point is considering their situation. Them saying this stuff shouldn't surprise people.
 
L

Local Host

Don't know if Facebook will become more privacy-conscious. Most likely they won't.

My point is considering their situation. Them saying this stuff shouldn't surprise people.
Both Facebook and Google pay fines every year, and are constantly in court due to privacy concerns.

The same way they always come up to public "We sorry, we'll change" every year. At this point anything both of those companies say has no credibility for the majorly of us.

Unfortunally they have enough money to bribe everyone, as well as to pay their petty fines, so they have no reason to stop their ways until someone steps up and starts harsly punishing them, instead of giving them a pat on the back.
 

Moonhorse

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Maybe when using term ' social media'

But instagram and facebook are completely different platforms, doesnt make sense to compare them except theyre both called social medias
 

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