I think pandemic is a strong word. It implies a dying off of social media. We may just be seeing the lull before a new platform grows. Or we may see measurable decreases in the use of social media. But I don't envision young people giving up on the social media we grew up on. There are always alarmist views before logical change. We just don't see what the change is yet. 

I see it as an ever changing trend.  Young people stop using platforms once their parents start  ie emails, facebook, etc.   Once parents and grandparents find it cool, it is no longer trendy  

There is always something new on the horizon.

I don't think social media is going away - changes for sure but I don't know about Major Exodus.

Hi Fred - I think there's always going to be churn and change in the platforms, but I wouldn't count FB out just yet. They're spending a lot of time and energy trying to get ahead of the ciurve, even though we don't see much of it yet there.

People like to waste time, social media will continue to grow and evolve, even my fitbit is more enjoyable with the social media function built into it.

I really like John Meussner's answer! I think there will always be something new and shiny that will attract our attention.

I disagree -there will continually be new platforms that bring new users.  I do see facebook losing it's appeal, along with some others that are currently popular.

Here's how it works ---> platform is created that teenagers think is really cool, they start using it by the millions -->  older people join platform -->platform pushes to earn revenue from older user base --> younger user base doesn't want to use a service so obviously hellbent on getting into their wallets (nor do they want to hang out where the old people are) ---> younger users abandon platform for latests & greatest platform in infancy.

It happened with myspace, it happened with facebook, and it's happening with LinkedIn, SnapChat and Instagram.  People LOVE social.  They HATE when social becomes a platform for some suits to make millions or billions.

I strongly believe if ANY of these platforms avoided ad based revenue, they'd succeed long term, but they won't turn down the $$ for longer term viability.

Hmm, that is interesting indeed and I have not heard much chatter about a major exodus from Social Media.  I know that there is way too much drama with a lot of the social media stuff though.

Hyperbole existed before social media.  And likely after too.   

Fred Griffin well, I still believe some of them is going to stay here forever...

love it!  Seriously - when the shooter in Orlando was on Facebook... I think that says something - I am not sure what, but it must say something... 

For many reasons I have seen many relatives and friends cut back on social media sites.

I do think social media is here to stay. FB is like google. It's what people think of when they think social media. I believe FB will stay popular for quite a while. So many people have so much invested in it. But then something new and cooler will eventually come along. 

Just a loud name for a post and very subjective speculation. 

My sense is that things are shifting, and will continue, even without reading this article - pandemic sounds rather dramatic. Will it go away? I suspect not but I bet there will be fewer in our business using it specifically for business. And I haven't heard that ore and more agents are gaining business this way - some do, many do not

In many cases, the people are simply moving to different platforms.

Fred Griffin Only when the next new generation platform appears.

I only see it expanding in different directions.   Yes it ebbs and flows.. My business FB has been doing very well.  Personally I would like to post.. please keep your opinions to yourself and post a cute pic of puppy please.

Cody Carmen makes a strong argument, but to remember is that social media relies on a ever-changing membership and the user field is in constant flux based on more young people discovering social media.

I doubt there will be an exodus.  I think the pendulum swung too far in the "do everything online" direction and is now swinging back towards a "happy medium" of online and offline.

I think it's a little overload & overwhelm.  I personally am hating FB more & more everyday.  I think it is dumbing us down.

I think that alot of people are just in "overload" mode.  It's hard to say and use a broad brush that there is a mass exodus from Social Media.  I dont use it very often, I'd rather pick up the phone and call someone.  I know some agents that generate business from it, but I haven't - unless you consider AR "social media".

Agree, pandemic is a bit strong. But I do witness especially the younger one's in their 20's don't spend as much time on the platforms as they once did. 3 of my 4 kids are in their 20's... They post to Facebook, but not on a regular basis. They all have a Tumblr blog and are on Instagram. Two are on Twitter... They aren't trying to climb the mountain to #1, they just share when they feel like it. The one thing I hear from all of them is advertisement fatigue, and they don't much like how all the platforms deliver content 'that's driven by AI they think you want to see' (or may it's will tolerate) instead of your connections to other people by your choice and keep it simple, chronological... Like a lot of things in life I think social media is nolonger that bright shiny new object, it just is. Most of this age group that I know probably spend more time on YouTube than anywhere else online...

I do not have an opinion on that. I don't spend much time on social media.

Excellent topic, I learn something.

I've been seeing this for quite some time - too bad nobody believed me - maybe now they will?

I saw it and all I could think was "yet another thing to worry about." And then I decided I had no time to worry or think about yet another change.

It would not surprise me...

I do not agree.

No, just shifting popularity from one platform to the next.

Is this just another change or movement toward another trend? I am not aware of this major exodus. What platform are the millennials running toward?

I don't see it yet ?

When it finally mitigates, I wont be there. I would have been long gone

Agree. The numbers don't lie. The proof is in this article study findings, as well as many others. Personally, it has not hit me and mine yet or I would be -1 vs. +1 daily.

Social Media is becoming more dispersed.

As enterprises like Facebook become more predatory in their practices, people will migrate to newer platforms creating and even dizzier social soup.

The heart and  soul of those using social media (for social purposes) have made their priorities well known and the 800 lb gorillas in the market pl;ace chose to plunder and pillage business people while undermining what their main users wanted.

One would take a look at what the Bernie Sanders campaign and Chatsnap is revealing about this demographic. They have not stopped, they moved on.

Fred,

Yes, I do.  I wrote a post about Social Media Fatigue several years ago.  We saw the signs.  And the majority of those who make the Real Estate Trends and WSJ lists do not spend time on SM to get business.  We have worked with a least a dozen of them and many that would have made the list had they posted their numbers...A  

Absolutely not....It's like anything else--it will change, and change fast. As marketers, the tough part is keeping up with it...