Is moving away from Facebook a conscious decision for the Gen Z and millennials? We asked, they answered!

In the generation of sliding into DMs, are people deliberately 'poking' their way out of Facebook? Or are there other reasons to not be on the platform? We ask Gen Z and millennial creators Tvisha Tuli, Muskan Rawant and Ankit Srivastava for their opinion.

The only and simplest way to know how old or young we are today is by identifying the era we belong to on the digital timeline. From writing emails to sliding into DMs, we have seen the growth of digital influence in our lives. As someone who could be counted among Gen Z, I am constantly influenced by the trends that people my age follow. I want to be on apps they are in and share stories that I know they would appreciate. That includes moving away from apps that are not considered in trend.

This also makes you wonder if, as a generation that inclines towards what’s trending, it was only natural to ditch a popular app. Case in point: Facebook. Among all these digital apps, one may argue that Facebook is slowly seeing people from the younger generation become ghost members of the app. But is it as outdated as most people think? How did we go from an app that was considered to be revolutionary in the digital space to something that many from the younger generation consider to stay away from? Business content creator, Tvisha Tuli reflects on the downfall of Orkut to offer insight into Facebook’s current struggles. “Orkut was once India’s leading social network but lost its position to Facebook due to its clunky interface, lack of innovation, and privacy issues. Today, Facebook finds itself in a similar position, facing fierce competition from agile and engaging platforms like TikTok and Instagram.” According to her, these platforms’ ability to captivate younger audiences with their dynamic content and user-friendly interfaces is a major reason for the audience’s shift. 

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Creators, Muskan Rawant and Ankit Srivastava also feel like Instagram and Snapchat have become the go-to for Gen Z and millennials because they offer visually driven and ephemeral content that aligns with their communication styles. Ankit believes that Gen Z never had a strong connection with Facebook. “Globally, they gravitate towards TikTok for its dynamic and engaging content. In India, Gen Z favours Instagram and Snapchat, which offer visually driven and ephemeral content that aligns with their communication styles.” While the daily consumption of Facebook among Gen Z might be down, it’s not completely missing especially since everything happens through the app. Talking about how often this generation uses FB, Muskan said, “I think only when some website asks us to sign up and the Facebook option pops in! But really Facebook has lost its relevance in our generation due to so many other fun platforms that offer things the young generation dies for!”

People talk about the technical aspects of it when regular individuals who like to join the bandwagon and everything 'cool' can't ignore the perception of Facebook often referred to as a platform for older generations. Gen Z is a generation that was born into the world of social media and will always find a new, better and improved version of the platform to connect online. Meanwhile, millennials happen to be a generation too scared to be called old and would rather stick with what’s trending.

Tvisha Tuli mentions that Facebook is often perceived as a platform for older generations, particularly Baby Boomers and Gen X. "This perception is a significant deterrent for younger users, who are keen to distinguish their online presence from that of their parents and older relatives. The association with older demographics makes Facebook seem less cool and less relevant to younger users who are looking for more contemporary and dynamic social media experiences.”

Even though we think that Facebook has become a talk of the past, we know of individuals who use it in some capacity. It's common to see our moms spend hours on the app, it's surprising to hear your friends talk about something they came across on Facebook. While you are left asking 'Are you still using Facebook?’ it also makes you wonder about the factors that could be the reason keeping Gen Z and millennials away from the app.

One would argue that it’s the design and layout aspect that they choose to stay away from on the platform. Tvisha agrees on how it is a major factor deterring younger users. “Facebook’s interface is often criticized for being cluttered and less intuitive compared to the sleek, user-friendly designs of Instagram and Snapchat. The overwhelming number of features and constant changes can confuse and frustrate users who prefer straightforward, streamlined platforms.” She thinks that younger users are drawn to the simplicity and ease of use found in Instagram’s clean design and Snapchat’s straightforward navigation, which enhances their overall user experience. Even though visuals are fundamental, one cannot brush past a crucial concern that still got everyone looking at the app with scrutiny - privacy. Tvisha and Muskan describe being on Facebook as a bit creepy and unsafe and point out how most Gen Zs are concerned about who sees what and who can reach out to them on any of the platforms. However, Ankit doesn’t consider it as the primary reason Gen Z and millennials avoid Facebook. According to him, the trust across all Meta platforms remains consistent which is also why privacy never significantly influenced their decision to stay away from Facebook. 

Either way, one must recognize the influence that Facebook, as a platform, has on our social media experience. As online users, we'll always be connected to Facebook spreading, sorry, feeding information about our likes, dislikes, things we prefer, support, and more. One may believe that Facebook has little to no value in our lives but the monopoly of Meta speaks otherwise. Unfortunately, the platform knows us better than anyone else while it also entertains and provides nostalgia.

What are your thoughts about Facebook? Tell us in the comments below.