A study from Pew Research’s Internet & American Life Project reveals that users of Facebook Inc (NASDAQ:FB) occasionally take a vacation from using the website. The study said there is a “considerable fluidity” in the user population of the social networking giant.
According to the study, Facebook Inc (NASDAQ:FB) is the leading social media in the United States with two thirds or 67 percent of adults online using the site.
Pew Research found that 61 percent of the existing Facebook Inc (NASDAQ:FB) users revealed that they voluntarily took a break from using the website in the past. The study also revealed that 20 percent of adults online previously had a Facebook account, but are no longer using the website.
The study also found that 8 percent of adults online, who are currently not using the social network’s website expressed interest in becoming Facebook users in the future.
A majority (21%) of those who said they took a break from using Facebook said they were too busy and didn’t have the time to spend on the website, while 10 percent of the respondents said they were not interested. Another 10 percent explained it was a waste of time and the content on the site were not relevant. Nine percent said there was excessive “drama” or gossip from their friends, 8 percent felt they were spending too much time on the site and 8 percent believed they needed a break.
Pew Research included some of the actual responses from users in its study, including the following statements: “I was tired of stupid comments”… “I did not want to be contacted” …”I got harassed by someone from my past who looked me up”… “I don’t like their privacy policy”…”You get burned out on it after a while.”
According to the study, one in five (20%) of adults online stopped using Facebook. Some of the respondents said , “It’s a gossipy thing.”… “I didn’t like to talk too much.”…”I got tired [of] minding everybody else’s business.”
According to Pew Research, a vast majority of Facebook users (92%) maintain a profile on Facebook Inc (NASDAQ:FB), even if they adjusted their time allocations in using the website.
