Everyone’s on Facebook, right? While some people have opted to stay away from the popular social network, others simply can’t stay away. The result is what one study is now calling “Facebook fatigue.” When you think of fatigue, you usually think of exercise or a stressful situation. If you think carefully about Facebook, it’s a form of online exercise and nothing if not stressful.
If you’ve found yourself needing a day away from updating your status or commenting on your friends’ latest escapades, you might be experience Facebook fatigue yourself. The “Coming and Going on Facebook” report from Pew Internet published on Tuesday shed a little light on social network fatigue.
* The much talked-about survey was conducted by the Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project during December.
* Sixty-one percent of survey participants stated they had taken several weeks or more off from Facebook. The most popular reason was because the participant was too busy. Other top survey answers included “just wasn’t interested,” “waste of time” and “too much drama.” With all of the personal data shared on a daily basis, it’s surprising that only 9 percent of participants stated drama was one of the reasons they took a break.
* To deal with Facebook fatigue, 27 percent of users surveyed stated they would spend less time on the site this year than in 2012. While not a major change, this number could mean Facebook isn’t considered quite the necessity it once was for connecting with friends and family. The survey didn’t state whether users were tired of social media entirely or just with Facebook.
* One major revelation in the survey is the fact that young adults are the most likely to spend less time on Facebook in 2013. In the age group 18-29, 38 percent reported they would reduce the time spent they spent on Facebook. Considering the site began as the college student’s social network, it could mean social networking in general is losing its appeal with the younger audience.
* Comments submitted from the survey make Facebook appear boring, time-consuming and tedious instead of the fun, friendship-oriented place Facebook is supposed to be. From complaints of people posting too much information to users feeling like the site gave them nothing in return except wasted time, it is clear that some of the glitz and glam has worn off.
* Despite the fatigue and breaks, more than half of users surveyed said the site is still important to them and they won’t change how often they use it. Though Facebook might worry about potential lost revenue, the numbers show that there aren’t likely to be any drastic usage changes during 2013. Only 3 percent stated they’d increase their usage.
No matter how the numbers stack up, Facebook fatigue is real. Whether you take a day, week, month or more away from your online friends and family, we all need a little time to connect face to face and explore our hobbies outside of social media.
