Twitter overtakes Facebook among US teens –survey

Could this be a sign of things to come? Facebook is no longer the most important social network for teens in the United States, yielding the distinction to Twitter, at least for Fall 2013.

 

This is according to a survey by financial firm Piper Jaffray, which found 23 percent of some 8,650 teens interviewed in the survey preferred Facebook.

 

But Facebook can take consolation in the growing popularity of its recently acquired photo-sharing network Instagram, which is gaining popularity.

 

Figures from the study as compiled by Statista showed Facebook's popularity among US teens on the decline, from 42 percent in Fall 2012 to 33 percent in Spring 2013 .

 

In contrast, Twitter is the most popular among US teens in Fall 2013, with 26 percent considering it their preferred network.

 

Twitter was chosen by 27 percent of teens in Fall 2012, and by 30 percent in Spring 2013.

 

Meanwhile, Instagram is presently tied with Facebook at 23 percent, but has been rising from 12 percent in Fall 2012 and 17 percent in Spring 2013.

 

A separate report on The New York Daily News quoted analysts Gene Munster and Douglas Clinton as telling clients the trend had been moving toward Twitter.

 

"The data point is likely unsurprising as the trend in our survey has been moving toward Twitter over the past couple of years," they said.

 

"Overall, regardless of the trend in teen preference toward other networks, we continue to believe that Facebook has additional avenues for monetization in Instagram and video in the coming months," they added.

 

Two other networks

 

Statista's chart also showed Facebook, Twitter and Instagram beating two other social networks - Tumblr and Google+ - by a wide margin.

 

Tumblr had a measly three-percent share among US teens in Fall 2012, though the share went up to four percent in Spring 2013 and Fall 2013.

 

Google+ appeared to fare worse, from six percent in Fall 2012 to five percent in Spring 2013 and three percent in Fall 2013. — TJD, GMA News