The Age Shift of Social Media Platforms

Ashley C. | @wordsofchim Time is ticking, and with it, the oldest social media platforms are starting to mature. While more people familiarize themselves with the world of social media, new platforms are developing to become the next "big thing." All ages and generations are exploring the world of social media, shaping the way we connect in our era referred to as "The Information Age." Facebook, a social media flagship here to stay, continues to innovate its functionality and versatility as it matures. Older generations have caught on how to use the network as a tool.

The majority of Twitter users are 18-29 years old, according to Media Bistro. Twitter, although younger than Facebook, is becoming more popular with the younger crowd through its attractive complexity and world of hashtags. The concept of hashtags is difficult to explain to those who don't use Twitter, ultimately making their purpose vague in the minds of many while appealing to younger generations.

As 2013 continues, younger generations have neglected their Facebook accounts to embrace Twitter, and other new platforms, such as Pheed. Twitter and Facebook especially are experiencing user demographic changes within their platforms.With mom, dad, mom's best friend, and grandmother all on their Facebook friend list, the younger generation seizes more attractive opportunities to branch out to other new platforms. Social media platforms now operate to accommodate higher usability expectations, privacy concerns, and constant innovation. This ultimately influences how we will continue to connect with one another.

Pheed is the next social craze for teens, according to Mashable. The new social platform launched last year online, and also rolled out a sleek app available on both the iPhone and Android markets. The growing platform is propelled by teenage users, with 81% of users between the ages of 14 and 25.

The new platform is a prime example of platforms popping up that appeal mostly to young audiences. As time goes on, it will be interesting to see what other social platforms experience a change in demographics as the acquisition of social media expands- such as Instagram, LinkedIn, Pinterest, and YouTube. Which platforms do you think will continue to change drastically for years to come?