News flash: Facebook isn't cool anymore. At least that's what the arbiters of taste, American teenagers, seem to think.
A new report by Frank N. Magid Associates Inc. found that 88 percent of social media users aged 13 to 17 years old used Facebook in 2014, as reported by Bloomberg. This is a decided drop in the percentage, which was at 94 percent in 2013 and 95 percent in 2012.
In contrast, Twitter and messaging apps are more popular among this age group, according to the report. Anyone who frequents Twitter knows that's not a surprise. How many mornings have you logged on to the social media platform only to see top tween stars dominate the national trending topics, from One Direction to 5 Seconds of Summer to Little Mix? Let's not forget about how youngsters were able to make #AlexFromTarget an overnight sensation. Grown-ups may like to think they're in charge, but it's really teens who are ruling the social media world.
This isn't the first time we've seen results like this, and Mark Zuckerberg has said in the past that Facebook's data doesn't support those claims. Still, Facebook has been busy over the last few years diversifying its portfolio with apps seemingly targeted toward a younger audience, such as acquiring Instagram, launching its own messaging app and purchasing WhatsApp, Inc.
But really, as we all know, once you get that friend request from your grandma, it's over.
