The importance of Facebook among teenagers decreased rapidly just in one year. From the chart above it looks like Instargram and numerous smaller social media sites named as "Other" took most of Facebook "votes".
Visual Communication is in Human Nature
It is no surprise that Instagram is steadily gaining support since people naturally prefer to collect information visually. Instagram allows us to share emotional experiences using pictures and express ourselves instinctively. The growth of Youtube is another example how its important for people to be visible and to observe others. It’s human nature.
Niche Networking
A number of various social media sites is constantly growing allowing us to choose from a wide variety of ways how to communicate using digital media. Technological advancement opens new possibilities for communication and allows us to choose a number of ways how to be in contact with others. As societies are becoming less and less standardized (read Alvin and Heidi Toffler book "Revolutionary Wealth" about revolutionary changes in the 21st century) people choose their own ways of communication which suit their personalities best. Niche social networks offer us that possibility.
Decentralization
It is probable that the golden age of Facebook is in the past. Perhaps it will remain an important player for years to come, but other types of social media which are orientated to satisfy specific needs of society will take over a significant amount of communication traffic and continue to decentralize the market. Facebook understands that and is constantly looking forward to buying new social networks (it bought Instagram in 2012 and is interested in buying Snapchat).
Our human nature and the way we communicate is shaping the social media market. It is exciting to observe how the act of expression is altered with the help of digital technologies.
