3 On Your Side: Teens Flee Facebook
By Jim Donovan
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- A new survey finds that for the first time Facebook use is declining among teens. As 3 On Your Side Consumer Reporter Jim Donovan tells us, a large number of kids ages 13 to 17 are dropping off the social media site.
An annual internet survey by Magid Associates finds that Facebook use among teens dropped six percent last year. Jeff Segal with Magid Associates says, "By far the largest decrease of we saw of any group using Facebook currently."
Social media experts say the fact that moms and dads and grandparents are now on Facebook, makes teens less willing to share thoughts and photos on the site. According to Segal, "Facebook is more a utility now, like your electric bill, its something you have to have."
High school senior Eloise Lobenthal took an eight-month break from Facebook, and now is back in a very limited way. She says, "it's the easiest way to communicate with the my classmates we have a grade-wide Facebook page which is also really super helpful."
Facebook's drop in popularity among teens - is helping other social networks like Twitter and Snapchat gain ground and the photo-based site Instagram saw a 25 percent jump in 13 to 17-year-olds last year. Eloise's younger sister Adelaide is just 12 but is already social media savvy on Instagram, which by the way is owned by Facebook.
According to the survey, another reason teens are opting out of Facebook: too many advertisements.
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