Social Media Trends Across Generations

Social Media and Generations

• In the UK, individuals aged 55-64 (3.5 million) and over-65s (2.9 million) are increasingly joining Facebook, soon to become the site's second biggest user group.

Reasons for Social Media Use

• Sheila, 59, joined Facebook to see what her grandchildren are doing, as her daughter posts videos and photos of them.
• Sheila believes social media allows her to see more of her grandchildren's lives than her grandparents did in her childhood.

Teenagers and Social Media

• Children under 17 in the UK are leaving Facebook, with only 2.2 million users under 17.
• Teenagers spend a lot of time on their phones at home, missing out on spending time with friends in real life.
• Chloe, 15, sleeps with her phone, using it as an alarm clock, and checks it before sleeping and upon waking up.

Intergenerational Differences

• Sheila has made contact with old friends from school she hasn't heard from in forty years through Facebook.
• Sheila uses Facebook to arrange meetups with friends all over the country, changing her social life completely.
• Teenagers, on the other hand, are less likely to use Facebook and spend more time on their phones at home.

Parents and Smartphone Addiction

• Peter, 38 and father of two teenagers, recognizes that parents may be responsible for their children's smartphone and social media addiction.
• Peter used to be constantly connected to his phone or laptop, but now removes his SIM card in the evenings and weekends to set a better example for his kids.

Digital Life Trends

• There is a growing trend towards a less digital life, with some individuals seeking a better balance between screen time and quality time with family and friends.