Facebook has been under fire for privacy concerns, data breaches, and its dramatic growth after acquiring Instagram – and a new survey reveals that many users aren’t having it. Some 42% of users have taken a break from the social media site for weeks at a time, and 26% have deleted the app from their phone, according to a survey of 1,012 U.S. adults by Security.org, an online security research firm. In addition, 7.8% of users have deleted or deactivated their Facebook account in the past year – and 62% have considered doing so. Millennials were the most likely to cut the social media cord, with 9.2% quitting Facebook, compared to 7.5% of Generation X and 1.1% of Baby Boomers. The reasons Americans give for quitting Facebook:
- 66% I didn’t want Facebook to have my personal information
- 61% of privacy concerns
- 58% too much drama
- 43% too many political arguments
- 41% I spend too much time on the site
- 32% of my interactions felt fake
- 32% I kept comparing my life to other people on Facebook
Top Reasons Americans Say They Cannot Quit Facebook:
- 65% I need it to stay in touch with friends and family
- 35% Don’t want to lose the pictures on my account
- 34% I enjoy it
- 29% I would miss out on news
- 27% I use Facebook to log into other accounts
- 10% I enjoy participating in debates