Yep, Teens Hate Facebook, but It Doesn't Matter

A comprehensive study in Europe confirms a not-so-surprising point about teenagers: They're ditching Facebook in large numbers for other services such as Snapchat, Twitter, and Instagram, reports the Guardian. In fact, the lead researcher uses the phrase "dead and buried" to describe how teens feel about Facebook in a post at the Conversation. The short version of why teens are leaving is, of course, that their parents have signed on, and it's safe to say that the trend holds true for the US. So is this cause for concern for Mark Zuckerberg? Hardly:

• Selena Larson, ReadWrite: "Truth is, Facebook might not need teens as much as many people seem to think. Facebook is attempting to become a platform for finding and sharing news and current events, not just for interacting with friends." In short, parents are the real target of the future.
• Ryan Tate, Wired: "Zuckerberg has been telling people for years that he wants to turn the service into a global utility, akin to the power grid or the water supply—something that feeds everything else you do. Kids don’t appreciate utilities. That’s just the way it is. But as they get older, they eventually look on them very differently."

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