Social Media: The number of daily active users on Instagram and Facebook is consistently declining. According to the latest report, the count of daily active users dropped by 20 million (2 crore) this quarter. While users attribute this to a poor feed experience, the company has cited ongoing global internet-related issues as the reason.
Facebook and Instagram: In today’s world, the majority of people use Instagram and Facebook. You likely share this belief; however, are you aware that users are becoming increasingly dissatisfied with Meta’s social media platforms—Facebook and Instagram? Users are no longer pleased with the feeds on either platform. This isn’t merely our assertion; the statistics speak for themselves.
According to a report by 9to5 Google, Meta itself has acknowledged that the number of its daily active users declined by 20 million this quarter. Furthermore, the company is now taking several measures to enhance the quality of the feeds on both Facebook and Instagram. Users have been voicing their concerns regarding the deteriorating quality of Facebook and Instagram feeds for quite some time, and the impact of this sentiment is now becoming evident. However, the company has attributed the decline in active users to a different factor altogether.
The Internet: The Reason Behind Declining User Numbers
The company attributes the drop in the number of daily active users on Instagram and Facebook to internet-related issues occurring globally. Conversely, many observers believe that the root cause lies in a poor user experience. Users’ feeds have become inundated with advertisements, leading to a steady decline in user interest. The company claims that the sudden and significant drop in user numbers is primarily due to internet shutdowns in Iran and new regulations in Russia that have restricted access to WhatsApp. However, the narrative emerging from users on a daily basis tells a different story.
The Real Problem: A Subpar Feed
According to media reports, users have grown weary of the excessive number of advertisements and suggested posts appearing in their feeds—content often generated by accounts they do not even follow. Obtaining genuine updates from friends is becoming increasingly difficult. Rather than a simple, straightforward list of photos, timelines are now cluttered with algorithmically forced content and repetitive videos.
The Company Is Making Changes
In an effort to win back users, the company is modifying its approach to recommending posts. It is updating its guidelines to prioritize and give greater prominence to creators who consistently post entirely original photos and videos. If an account primarily reposts content from other people without making any original changes, the algorithm will stop showing its posts to new audiences.
