Facebook is the world’s leading social network. With over 1 billion active users, the social site boasts the largest user base of any social network. However, recent reports show that Facebook may be losing the interest of teenagers, its largest demographic of users.

Facebook Admits Teen Usage Is Down

David Ebersman, Facebook’s CFO, told investors during the company’s third quarter earnings call last week that, “We did see a decrease in [teenage] daily users [during the quarter], especially younger teens.” This is a direct contradiction to CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s comments where he claimed that the rumors about a decrease in teen usage were “just not true.”

Why Are Teens Disinterested In Facebook?

Teens thrive on companionship, and that is one thing that Facebook offers more of than almost any other site in the world. The ability to connect with friends and keep in touch, even when long distances separate the two individuals gives teens the opportunity to make and keep friends.

However, Facebook has been increasing the number of advertisements in newsfeeds, as well as boosting the ad space in the sidebars of the site. Teens are looking for communication and friendship, not the next best fishing lure to hit the market. The site is losing the interest of teens because it has lost it original flair for connecting people and allowing them the freedom of expression.

The knowledge that the CIA and other federal agencies are prowling around on Facebook also contributes to the reduced number of teens. If there is one thing a teenager hates, it is to know someone is looking over their shoulder. For many teens, the idea that someone is watching everything they post and write in private messages is enough to turn them off to the idea of using the service.

The Demise Of MySpace

While teens are leaving the social networking site, they are not going offline. In fact, they are utilizing more and more online services every day. While Facebook may be the largest social network out there, it is not the only one.

There are other chatting services, dating services, and social networking sites that many of these young people are turning to instead of Facebook. MySpace once ruled the world of social networking. With customizable themes, vivid color choices for profile decoration, and an active user base, the site was the dominating force.

However, Facebook came along, and it took it only a few short years to catch and surpass MySpace in popularity. MySpace was hemorrhaging users to Facebook at an alarming rate. Now, it appears that Facebook may be in the initial stages of losing users.

So, Where Are They Going?

Snapchat
Snapchat.com is a relatively new site that many teens are turning too. Centered around photo sharing and networking, the site is generating a lot of interest in teens. It is available through the dot com URL, as well as being an app that is available from Apple and Google.

WireClub
WireClub.com is an online social networking site that allows users to exchange personal messages, post on each other’s wall, and chat in group chat rooms. There is also an instant message feature for users who have added you as friends.

Chat-Avenue
Chat-Avenue boasts free chat rooms for people of all ages, from teens only rooms to adult and video chat. With chat rooms aimed at almost every interest group in the world, this site is creating some interest in the online community.

Paltalk
Paltalk is a popular social network that allows people to meet and connect in an online atmostphere. Teens enjoy the video chat capabilities here, as well as the text chat rooms and the social networking features.

Twitter
Twitter is the most popular micro-blogging sites in the world. While it does not offer the same features as Facebook, it does allow teens to connect with their peers and voice thoughts and opinions in a public space.

Is Facebook on its way down? While the social network has been losing teen users, the site is really not in any danger of becoming defunct any time soon. With more than 1 billion active users, the site still reigns supreme in regards to size. However, over a long period of time, if Facebook does not reach out to teens with more interesting features, they will undoubtedly move on to the “next big thing” in social networking, whatever it happens to be at the time.