Which Social Media Channel Will Disappear in 2018?

Social media has become a big part of our everyday lives. We get on various platforms to check for updates on what friends and family are doing. We’re attached to the latest news. Even using a social media channel can helps us market our businesses. Can you imagine a week without Facebook or Twitter? Social media has even made it into news reports frequently in the last few years.

Social media seems to almost consume our lives in both positive and negative ways. Anyone who has been sucked into a social media battle over politics or life values will attest that it can get ugly and nasty. Then, there are the instances of cyberbullying over social media. Consider the amount of time it can consume when you could be doing something more productive.

However, there are also positives. Social media gives businesses and individuals a platform to reach people they otherwise might not. When there is a disaster, Facebook offers a check-in system that allows loved ones to indicate they are safe. In some situations, social media can warm us of impending doom and keep us connected during tornados, hurricanes and other natural disasters.

Daily Social Media Statistics

Social media usage grew 21 percent between 2015 and 2016, with about 2.8 billion people using various platforms. In America, the numbers are staggering, with about 83 percent of people owning at least one social media account — many own more than one. Think about how often you get on social media and you’ll gain a small idea of the reach it has today.

As far as how they access the internet, the mobile access numbers have been growing consistently for a number of years. A study found that in 2016, for the first time, mobile devices overtook desktops as the way that people access the Internet, with 51.2 percent using a mobile device versus 48.7 percent using desktop devices.

Of course, traffic can vary from day to day, with new users signing up and old ones falling away. Social media platforms come into favor quickly, but can fall out of favor just as fast.

When Social Media Channels Disappear

Probably one of the most obvious examples of a social media channel disappearing into obscurity is one of the first social media channels: Myspace. It used to be populated by a large number of people. However users started to flock to Facebook, Twitter and eventually other channels and abandon the Myspace model.

It is a good lesson for social media websites that they have to stay current, update their algorithms and bring the general public what they most want. Some smart marketing never hurts, either.

When you look at Myspace, you probably wonder which social media channels are likely to disappear in the near future. After all, most marketers spend a lot of time and money building up their followers on social media. The last thing you want to do is spend a fortune only to discover the site is obsolete. And all those followers don’t even visit that site any longer.

Some signs to look for that a site might be getting ready to disappear include:

• Lack of regular updates
• People not interacting with one another
• Outdated software that runs slowly or inefficiently

Which Will End in 2018?

Let’s get back to what social media channel will disappear in 2018. Even though there are some players out there who are beginning to see a nice, steady growth and give Facebook a run for its money, it is highly unlikely that Facebook is going anywhere anytime soon.

Even though younger users are looking more toward Instagram and Snapchat than Facebook, Facebook still holds the largest portion of the market share at 18 percent and has over a billion active users. The nearest competitor is WhatsApp, also owned by Facebook, and then WeChat, Qzone, Instagram, Tumblr and Twitter. Snapchat is neck and neck with Twitter.

Young people are leaving or overlooking Facebook for other social media channels now. That may signal a shift in the marketplace that we will see in years to come. Those on Facebook are older, and at some point the paradigm will shift. Facebook finds a way to draw the younger generation back.

Facebook isn’t in any danger of disappearing in 2018 or the near future. However, there may come a day when it isn’t such a powerhouse.

Predictions for the Future of Social Media

Already Instagram has more than 700 million active users each month, which is double what Twitter boasts, making it a fast-rising star and powerhouse among social media platforms. The ability to post a photo or video on the fly with minimal effort is the most likely reason for Instagram’s success.

At the same time, there are some drawbacks to the limited platform that is mainly images. For one thing, there is so much content that users might not see. Still, since the younger generation seems to prefer this method of communication, it is likely that Instagram will continue its growth. They’re really targeting those under 18 and are trying to market their brands on the platform.

No matter what your philosophy about where you think social media will go in the coming year, there is no denying it’s not going away anytime soon. It is an effective way to market your brand online and reach new customers in a targeted way.