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I really don't understand why teens would need facebook, and why people are always surprised they don't use it more. They see most of their friends on a daily b

I really don't understand why teens would need facebook, and why people are always surprised they don't use it more. They see most of their friends on a daily basis. They have different communication needs. Maybe once they get to college I would expect that to change.

josefresco 12y ago
Relavent quote from article: "While talking to several members of the teenage\young adult age bracket, it became clear that the above results did not mean teenagers did not use Facebook. Facebook, even if not their “primary” social network, continues to play a big role. It is, however, more of a utilitarian role than before." So Facebook has become akin to your public "phone book" listing for younger users. I don't think it's a matter of how often they "see" their friends, as Snapchat, Instagram and other app usage is very high so clearly - they want to connect in this manor - just not on Facebook.
- Matachines 12y ago
  >So Facebook has become akin to your public "phone book" listing for younger users. This makes sense to me. I am 21 and "use Facebook" every day (i.e. open the Messenger app). Almost everyone I know is on there and I am on several group chats with both online and real friends. It's very useful. Haven't logged in the actual Facebook site in a while, though.
untog 12y ago
Facebook is practically a utility these days. It's not just your friends on it, it's your family, distant relatives, etc. That makes it a lot less cool, but it also means its position is safe for now.
xasos 12y ago
Teen here. I don't see 95% of my friends on a daily basis (even good friends). Facebook is incredibly useful for managing events, messaging others (my main use), groups (school and interest groups), and keeping up with what's going on in my friends lives (Snapchat and Instagram don't really solve this).
antjanus 12y ago
Former teen here. When I was a teen, we used MySpace and slowly transitioned to facebook. So why did I spend so much time on it despite basically adding only people I saw at school? - you don't see people every day at school. or if you do, your time is limited with them - texting gets you so far but facebook is not a direct communication channel anyways, never was. It's a "let me tell everyone something!" type of thing. MySpace was the same thing - FB/MySpace let you post pictures. Sending pics is still cumbersome and you can't just "blast it". Instagram, obviously, is better at that and definitely my new app of choice (and SnapChat too but Snapchat has less of my friends on it). Idk, just some thoughts.
- nly 12y ago
  If MySpace was still relevant when you were a teen, and you transitioned to Facebook, then it sounds like you were just using the best tools available. Nowadays there is more out there for teens, so I'm not sure how your (or my) experience really helps in cracking this nut.
- ohitsdom 12y ago
  "Former teen here" is my new self-introduction in all settings.

josefresco 12y ago

Relavent quote from article: "While talking to several members of the teenage\young adult age bracket, it became clear that the above results did not mean teenagers did not use Facebook. Facebook, even if not their “primary” social network, continues to play a big role. It is, however, more of a utilitarian role than before." So Facebook has become akin to your public "phone book" listing for younger users. I don't think it's a matter of how often they "see" their friends, as Snapchat, Instagram and other app usage is very high so clearly - they want to connect in this manor - just not on Facebook.

Matachines 12y ago
>So Facebook has become akin to your public "phone book" listing for younger users. This makes sense to me. I am 21 and "use Facebook" every day (i.e. open the Messenger app). Almost everyone I know is on there and I am on several group chats with both online and real friends. It's very useful. Haven't logged in the actual Facebook site in a while, though.

untog 12y ago

Facebook is practically a utility these days. It's not just your friends on it, it's your family, distant relatives, etc. That makes it a lot less cool, but it also means its position is safe for now.

xasos 12y ago

Teen here. I don't see 95% of my friends on a daily basis (even good friends). Facebook is incredibly useful for managing events, messaging others (my main use), groups (school and interest groups), and keeping up with what's going on in my friends lives (Snapchat and Instagram don't really solve this).

antjanus 12y ago

Former teen here. When I was a teen, we used MySpace and slowly transitioned to facebook. So why did I spend so much time on it despite basically adding only people I saw at school? - you don't see people every day at school. or if you do, your time is limited with them - texting gets you so far but facebook is not a direct communication channel anyways, never was. It's a "let me tell everyone something!" type of thing. MySpace was the same thing - FB/MySpace let you post pictures. Sending pics is still cumbersome and you can't just "blast it". Instagram, obviously, is better at that and definitely my new app of choice (and SnapChat too but Snapchat has less of my friends on it). Idk, just some thoughts.

nly 12y ago
If MySpace was still relevant when you were a teen, and you transitioned to Facebook, then it sounds like you were just using the best tools available. Nowadays there is more out there for teens, so I'm not sure how your (or my) experience really helps in cracking this nut.
ohitsdom 12y ago
"Former teen here" is my new self-introduction in all settings.