Facebook Ghost Town: Will It Be The Next MySpace?
Princeton's New Facebook Study I've felt a bit uneasy all day.
Well, ever since reading about Princeton's latest research proposal, anyway.
Princeton's Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering provided research predicting 80% of Facebook users would vanish somewhere between 2015 - 2017.
I considered how this Facebook Ghost Town might impact me personally and professionally.
Reading this had a larger personal effect on me, I must admit.
It feels like I've learned an old friend has an incurable form of cancer.
I know she is dying.
I know she only has 1-3 years left of her life to live.
I remember all the fun times we had.
I remember all the old friends she reconnected me with.
I know when she's gone, things will never be the same.
That's what the newly-released research proposal of two PhD candidates did for me today.
Yes, I know.
It is the nature of trends in social media.
We have a strong need for community.
When our friends leave a social media platform, we leave too.
We are fickle.
Humans.
And, I did see this shift happening last year.
(I'll tell you how in a moment.
) The study only highlighted what my gut had already told me.
I could no longer be in denial.
Mark Zuckerberg is in Denial This afternoon, Facebook attempted to strike back at Princeton.
A spokesperson retaliated by saying the premise was completely flawed.
I don't, however, believe it is flawed.
Facebook cannot prove why they believe it's flawed.
The Facebook own stats aren't flawed.
Yes, Facebook is still the biggest.
They are still growing.
But the growth rate is declining.
They've seen the subtle changes in the trends, but they are still in denial.
I think of a quote by Mark Zuckerberg: "I don't have an alarm clock.
If someone needs to wake me up, then I have my BlackBerry next to me.
" My question is, do you think Mark still has a BlackBerry or do you think he now has an iPhone? Of course Facebook is scared to death.
Facebook has it's own in-house guru-geeks.
They've seen the stats and have analyzed them every which way possible for years.
They have to fear this study will cause people to leave by the droves! There's new technology on the market and Mark Zuckerberg doesn't have a product that competes.
The only thing "micro" on Facebook is the amount of space in ad copy! Social Media Observations Here's why I know this IS happening: It's my 16-year-old and 20-year-old daughters.
Almost a year ago, the 16-year-old started saying, "I never go on Facebook anymore.
" She didn't.
And, I asked why.
She always replied with, "I just don't.
" I thought it odd (and slightly sad).
I did notice she Tweeted.
I noticed she Instagramed.
I noticed she Snapchatted.
She even pinned pins on Pinterest.
Then, a month ago, my oldest daughter posted this on Facebook: "My baby sister just told me Facebook is for old people.
Is it as bad as MySpace now?" Not yet.
Do you know why my daughter doesn't use Facebook anymore? It's because her FRIENDS are not there.
Social creatures.
And, prior to last year? She was all about Facebook.
She couldn't wait until I thought she was old enough to have her own FB page.
She, nor her friends, is never coming back to Facebook.
They're bored with it.
Others slightly older will continue to follow.
I witnessed the same thing with MySpace, my older daughter and her young friends.
This is my anecdotal evidence I know to be true.
Trends Happen In Every Industry It's true.
Trends do happen in every industry.
But so do shifts.
I even saw it in healthcare.
Certainly, social media is not immune to trending and shifting.
Something bright and shiny always happens upon us.
It has happened to the teenagers of MySpace when Facebook came along.
It's happening again to the teens of Facebook-land.
So, what is the bright-and-shiny of social media? I see Pinterest as the sleeping giant that someone awoke during the last holiday shopping season.
I also see Twitter gaining more and more of a foot-hold in the traffic generation.
And, have you taken a look at Google+ lately? Google is taking over the world.
All three platforms are clearly gaining devote, addicted supporters.
Traditionally, it's the 'old folk' who have the toughest time adapting to changes in technology.
They were the last to join Facebook.
Let's take a micro-blog site like Twitter.
It was WAY outside the box when it was created.
But with time, the seniors can catch up.
My 90-year-old mother has a "cell-a phone.
" When one observes 30-, 40- and 50-year-olds embracing Twitter technology, that's clearly a shift.
They may be the last ones in the Facebook Ghost Town, but they're having fun learning.
It's also adaptation.
Regardless of age, the attraction to Pinterest is like crack cocaine.
Twitter-users often confess to their own addiction.
When something is so different, bright and shiny, it is very attractive.
Things happen for a reason, Mark Zuckerberg.
Facebook's logo is blue for a reason.
Your Red-green colored-blindness might have something to do with it.
In our fickle marketplace, though, Mark, you should know you need to keep up or move over! So what does this mean for those whose business is based on Facebook? It means they should have done the same thing for their marketing plan as what they're advised to do for their personal investments.
DIVERSIFY! Great News The great news is you can learn your lesson now without much penalty.
Each of three social media platforms can be a home run for your business.
If you've tolerated all the change that happens frequently on Facebook, you can learn to tweet, pin or post.
The statistics for these contenders are quite impressive.
It may be a tough decision deciding which is more beneficial to business, in fact.
Business Dilemma But, I wouldn't tarry long.
Time to analyze your marketing plan and diversify.
It's time to look at the realm of social media.
Decide on a strategy.
On paper, decide which platforms you'll use.
Figure out how much time and funding you'll have for each approach.
Determine your weekly schedule.
If you aren't well acquainted with the other platforms, then start learning.
The fact is, while we, humans, are fickle, we also don't usually embrace dramatic change.
We can all adapt to change.
Some of us will stick our head in the sand until we realize we are out of options.
Then, our business may never recover.
The Take-Away I was probably grieving a bit yesterday.
Not because someone made an off-the-wall prediction and I'm afraid.
I know we'll never have a "social media ghost town.
" I also know in my gut these Princeton PhD candidates are right on target.
It's sad because Facebook has become a part of us and I'd prefer that not change.
I will have to search for the next social media platform which will best give me the same connection with my past, present and future.
It will have to fit well into my life.
It will have to be easy to learn and access.
My friends will have to buy into it as well.
It can't have too many flaws or down-sides.
That said, you've still got time to take the bull by the horns.
And, don't worry about the Facebook Ghost Town.
Adapt to the winds and prepare.
WE HAVE SEVERAL GREAT OPTIONS! There are plenty of resources and help available out there to get you through it!
Well, ever since reading about Princeton's latest research proposal, anyway.
Princeton's Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering provided research predicting 80% of Facebook users would vanish somewhere between 2015 - 2017.
I considered how this Facebook Ghost Town might impact me personally and professionally.
Reading this had a larger personal effect on me, I must admit.
It feels like I've learned an old friend has an incurable form of cancer.
I know she is dying.
I know she only has 1-3 years left of her life to live.
I remember all the fun times we had.
I remember all the old friends she reconnected me with.
I know when she's gone, things will never be the same.
That's what the newly-released research proposal of two PhD candidates did for me today.
Yes, I know.
It is the nature of trends in social media.
We have a strong need for community.
When our friends leave a social media platform, we leave too.
We are fickle.
Humans.
And, I did see this shift happening last year.
(I'll tell you how in a moment.
) The study only highlighted what my gut had already told me.
I could no longer be in denial.
Mark Zuckerberg is in Denial This afternoon, Facebook attempted to strike back at Princeton.
A spokesperson retaliated by saying the premise was completely flawed.
I don't, however, believe it is flawed.
Facebook cannot prove why they believe it's flawed.
The Facebook own stats aren't flawed.
Yes, Facebook is still the biggest.
They are still growing.
But the growth rate is declining.
They've seen the subtle changes in the trends, but they are still in denial.
I think of a quote by Mark Zuckerberg: "I don't have an alarm clock.
If someone needs to wake me up, then I have my BlackBerry next to me.
" My question is, do you think Mark still has a BlackBerry or do you think he now has an iPhone? Of course Facebook is scared to death.
Facebook has it's own in-house guru-geeks.
They've seen the stats and have analyzed them every which way possible for years.
They have to fear this study will cause people to leave by the droves! There's new technology on the market and Mark Zuckerberg doesn't have a product that competes.
The only thing "micro" on Facebook is the amount of space in ad copy! Social Media Observations Here's why I know this IS happening: It's my 16-year-old and 20-year-old daughters.
Almost a year ago, the 16-year-old started saying, "I never go on Facebook anymore.
" She didn't.
And, I asked why.
She always replied with, "I just don't.
" I thought it odd (and slightly sad).
I did notice she Tweeted.
I noticed she Instagramed.
I noticed she Snapchatted.
She even pinned pins on Pinterest.
Then, a month ago, my oldest daughter posted this on Facebook: "My baby sister just told me Facebook is for old people.
Is it as bad as MySpace now?" Not yet.
Do you know why my daughter doesn't use Facebook anymore? It's because her FRIENDS are not there.
Social creatures.
And, prior to last year? She was all about Facebook.
She couldn't wait until I thought she was old enough to have her own FB page.
She, nor her friends, is never coming back to Facebook.
They're bored with it.
Others slightly older will continue to follow.
I witnessed the same thing with MySpace, my older daughter and her young friends.
This is my anecdotal evidence I know to be true.
Trends Happen In Every Industry It's true.
Trends do happen in every industry.
But so do shifts.
I even saw it in healthcare.
Certainly, social media is not immune to trending and shifting.
Something bright and shiny always happens upon us.
It has happened to the teenagers of MySpace when Facebook came along.
It's happening again to the teens of Facebook-land.
So, what is the bright-and-shiny of social media? I see Pinterest as the sleeping giant that someone awoke during the last holiday shopping season.
I also see Twitter gaining more and more of a foot-hold in the traffic generation.
And, have you taken a look at Google+ lately? Google is taking over the world.
All three platforms are clearly gaining devote, addicted supporters.
Traditionally, it's the 'old folk' who have the toughest time adapting to changes in technology.
They were the last to join Facebook.
Let's take a micro-blog site like Twitter.
It was WAY outside the box when it was created.
But with time, the seniors can catch up.
My 90-year-old mother has a "cell-a phone.
" When one observes 30-, 40- and 50-year-olds embracing Twitter technology, that's clearly a shift.
They may be the last ones in the Facebook Ghost Town, but they're having fun learning.
It's also adaptation.
Regardless of age, the attraction to Pinterest is like crack cocaine.
Twitter-users often confess to their own addiction.
When something is so different, bright and shiny, it is very attractive.
Things happen for a reason, Mark Zuckerberg.
Facebook's logo is blue for a reason.
Your Red-green colored-blindness might have something to do with it.
In our fickle marketplace, though, Mark, you should know you need to keep up or move over! So what does this mean for those whose business is based on Facebook? It means they should have done the same thing for their marketing plan as what they're advised to do for their personal investments.
DIVERSIFY! Great News The great news is you can learn your lesson now without much penalty.
Each of three social media platforms can be a home run for your business.
If you've tolerated all the change that happens frequently on Facebook, you can learn to tweet, pin or post.
The statistics for these contenders are quite impressive.
It may be a tough decision deciding which is more beneficial to business, in fact.
Business Dilemma But, I wouldn't tarry long.
Time to analyze your marketing plan and diversify.
It's time to look at the realm of social media.
Decide on a strategy.
On paper, decide which platforms you'll use.
Figure out how much time and funding you'll have for each approach.
Determine your weekly schedule.
If you aren't well acquainted with the other platforms, then start learning.
The fact is, while we, humans, are fickle, we also don't usually embrace dramatic change.
We can all adapt to change.
Some of us will stick our head in the sand until we realize we are out of options.
Then, our business may never recover.
The Take-Away I was probably grieving a bit yesterday.
Not because someone made an off-the-wall prediction and I'm afraid.
I know we'll never have a "social media ghost town.
" I also know in my gut these Princeton PhD candidates are right on target.
It's sad because Facebook has become a part of us and I'd prefer that not change.
I will have to search for the next social media platform which will best give me the same connection with my past, present and future.
It will have to fit well into my life.
It will have to be easy to learn and access.
My friends will have to buy into it as well.
It can't have too many flaws or down-sides.
That said, you've still got time to take the bull by the horns.
And, don't worry about the Facebook Ghost Town.
Adapt to the winds and prepare.
WE HAVE SEVERAL GREAT OPTIONS! There are plenty of resources and help available out there to get you through it!
