Facebook Is Losing Young Users to Snapchat, Study Shows

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If Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg was throwing a party, young people would rather go to Snap CEO Evan Spiegel’s place instead.

Two million users under 25 will abandon Facebook in 2018, according to a new study from eMarketer. At the same time, Snapchat will add roughly 1.9 million users, while Facebook-owned Instagram will grab about 1.6 million.

With Facebook being pegged as the social platform where older relatives hang out, less than half of Americans between ages 12-17 will use Facebook for the first time this year. This is a boost to Snapchat, which hasn’t become a digital hangout for parents in the same way. However, its recent redesign aimed to make the app “easier to use,” as Spiegel put it, which will allow it to add more users, albeit older ones.

Also Read: Snap's 'Comeback Story': What Comes Next for Snapchat?

“Snapchat could eventually experience more growth in older age groups since it’s redesigning its platform to be easier to use,” said eMarketer analyst Debra Aho Williamson in a statement Monday.

“The question will be whether younger users will still find Snapchat cool if more of their parents and grandparents are on it. That’s the predicament Facebook is in.”

If this trend sounds familiar, that’s because eMarketer put out a study six months ago showing Snapchat was more popular than Facebook with users aged 12-17 in the States. Many are “Facebook nevers” or kids that bypass the social network altogether. Facebook is working to win back some of those lost Gen Z’ers, introducing a “Messenger for Kids” app.

Also Read: Snap Rockets 34 Percent Following Best Quarter as Public Company

Even so, Facebook still has a huge lead when it comes to overall users, with more than 1.4 billion people using the social network each day. Snapchat just reported it has 187 million daily active users.

8 Eye-Popping Gadgets at CES 2018, From Storytelling Robots to Augmented Reality Glasses (Photos)

Tech companies have gathered at CES in Las Vegas to show off their newest gadgets for 2018. From Samsung's massive 146' TV to the first fingerprint sensor smartphone, check out what has caught our eye so far.
Vivo
Samsung has taken the big screen to a whole new level. "The Wall" is literally bigger than most walls, coming in at 146' wide. The picture is just as eye-catching, with its MicroLED display representing a major step up from the LED screens found on most TVs. If you're looking to cover your living room wall with "The Wall," it's coming out sometime in 2018, although the company hasn't put even a ballpark price tag on it yet.
TheWrap
Rokid's AR Glasses highlight the main reason TheWrap continues to be bullish on AR compared to VR. In short: functionality. Throw on a pair of these wi-fi enabled glasses, look someone in the face, and you'll be hit with their social media profiles and contact information. It's a bit Terminator-esque. The glasses, manufactured out of San Diego, will be arriving later in 2018. Rokid wouldn't put a price on it, yet, but said it'll be "competitive" with VR headsets like Oculus, which run for roughly $400.
TheWrap
Dolls are out, robots are in. That's what AvatarMind wants parents to believe, at least. The China-based company was showing off its three-foot robot, aimed as a 21st century educational toy for kids. The bot will sing lullabies and read stories, among other features. They'll cost around $1,600 to $2,000 when they come out in the U.S. later this year.
TheWrap
Samsung and Apple lost the race to fingerprint sensors to Vivo. The Chinese smartphone maker has put th scanner right on the front of its unnamed phone. Similar to signing in at the gym, simply place your finger on a blue dot at the bottom of your locked screen, and it'll open up. It's the first smartphone to integrate the tech.
VIvo
XYZ's 3D Da Vinci printer shows you can make nearly anything in minutes... even a bust of President Trump, if you want.
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Sony is showing off its three new "extra bass" SRS speakers, running between $100 and $250. The Bluetooth-enabled speakers have 24-hours of battery life.
Sony
Japan-based Omron's electronic censors can mirror human movement by building an artificial intelligence-powered ping-pong partner. Unfortunately, you can't buy this for practicing in your basement. But the global company's tech is being used at U.S. companies like Tesla, where it helps assemble its cars.
TheWrap
Saving the adult content for last. Mashable recently pointed out porn accounts for 60 percent of the top virtual reality sites, and the industry is now betting on augmented reality as well. Naughty America, a San Diego-based studio, is displaying an upcoming AR app that'll allow fans to superimpose themselves right next to their favorites adult performers.
TheWrap

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The first fingerprint sensor-enabled smartphone is also on display

Tech companies have gathered at CES in Las Vegas to show off their newest gadgets for 2018. From Samsung's massive 146' TV to the first fingerprint sensor smartphone, check out what has caught our eye so far.

View In Gallery

8 Eye-Popping Gadgets at CES 2018, From Storytelling Robots to Augmented Reality Glasses (Photos)

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