The Indo Daily: Is social media dead? Why so many of us are switching off

"Not everyone is on it right now, or has ever dabbled in this digital space, but for many of us the likes of X, Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp and YouTube aren't just daily distractions, they are how we communicate and engage with the world at large. Some have found the love of their life through an online social network, others the job of their dreams, and others still... well, we've all seen some poor soul being "cancelled" in real-time."

"But have we given these platforms too much prominence? And indeed, too much of our time and energy? According to a study by the Global Web Index (GWI), which monitors consumer behaviour online, and the Financial Times, time spent on social media has been in steady decline over the past two years. Remarkably, the drop is most pronounced among teens and 20-somethings, the cohort who had been the heaviest users."

"Additional findings from GWI and the FT show that the platforms' original premise - to stay in contact with acquaintances - has changed completely, and not for the better. So, with words like "enshittification" and "deactivation" being increasingly thrown around, are the ludicrously expensive playthings of Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg too big to fail? On this episode of The Indo Daily, Tabitha Monahan is joined by Irish Independent journalists John Meagher and Chloe McPolin to ask if the social media bubble has finally burst."

Social media platforms have become primary channels for communication and engagement for many people. Some users find romantic partners or career opportunities through online networks, while others experience public shaming or cancellation. Time spent on social media has declined steadily over the past two years. The largest reductions occur among teenagers and people in their twenties, who had previously been the heaviest users. Platforms have shifted away from their original role of keeping people in contact with acquaintances, and many users view those changes negatively. Growing talk of 'enshittification' and account 'deactivation' reflects rising dissatisfaction and uncertainty about platform futures.

Read at Irish Independent