Two-thirds of online American adults (67%) are Facebook users, making Facebook the dominant social networking site in this country. But there is considerable fluidity in the Facebook user population.
About six-in-ten (61%) current Facebook users say that at one time or another in the past they have voluntarily taken a break from using Facebook for a period of several weeks or more. One-fifth of the online adults who do not currently use Facebook say they once used the site but no longer do so. And just under one-in-ten (8%) online adults who do not currently use Facebook are interested in becoming Facebook users in the future.
For those saying that they had voluntarily taken a break from Facebook, the reason cited most frequently – by 21% – was being too busy or not having the time for it. One-in ten (10%) said they weren’t interested or didn’t like what they found on Facebook and the same number described it as a waste of time or having content not relevant to them. About as many (9%) said they were finding too much drama, gossip, negativity and conflict on the social networking site.
Some of the verbatim thoughts from those who took Facebook breaks include the following: “I was tired of stupid comments.” … “[I had] crazy friends. I did not want to be contacted.” … “I took a break when it got boring.” … “It was not getting me anywhere.” … “Too much drama.” … “You get burned out on it after a while.” … “I gave it up for Lent.” … “I was fasting.” … “People were [posting] what they had for dinner.” … “I didn’t like being monitored.” … “I got harassed by someone from my past who looked me up.”… “I don’t like their privacy policy.” … “It caused problems in my [romantic] relationship.” Read more
