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Study: 33% of Facebook Users Want Less News In Their Feed (businessinsider.com)

Posted by BeauHD on from the clickbait dept.

An anonymous reader writes from a report via Business Insider: According to a survey of 526 random Facebook users conducted by Spot.IM, 33% of Facebook users in the U.S. want to see fewer news articles in their feeds. The survey comes at a time when Facebook is desperately trying to improve the quality of publisher articles that gain traction on its platform. Here are some important takeaways from the study: Older people are likelier to want less news in their Facebook feeds. While 33% of all respondents indicated there was too much news and shared links in their Facebook feeds, the majority of this group was individuals aged 30 or older. Those 30-44 (37%), 45-59 (36%), and 60+ (36%) said they want less news in their feeds. Young Facebook users enjoy consuming news on social media. While middle-aged and older Facebook users don't like seeing news in their feeds, those aged 18-29 were much more interested and excited to see even more news articles on Facebook. 32% of respondents in this group wanted to see more news, while just 21% wanted less. This is an encouraging sign for publishers who want to reach a new generation of news consumers. The majority of people don't care about how much news they see on Facebook. Overall, 51% of all surveyed said they simply don't care if more or less news shows up in their Facebook feeds. A study conducted in June by Columbia University says that 59% of people don't even read the articles they share.

6 of 95 comments (clear)

  1. No news! by Vrallis · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Facebook is not a news site. I do not go to Facebook for news.

    I go there to see updates from friends. I have absolutely no interest in anything else, period.

    1. Re:No news! by darthsilun · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Wish I had mod points. I never seem to have them when I want to use them.

      I'm like you, I want to see pics my friends post and hear about what they're doing. I have a few friends who have never mastered email or sharing pics, but fb works pretty good for them.

      And in the mean time I'll wait for a better version of AdBlockPro.

    2. Re:No news! by nine-times · · Score: 4, Insightful

      It's not just Facebook, though. Honestly, part of the problem is that too many of my Facebook "friends" are under the impression that their social media presence is so influential that they have a moral obligation to post really important "news" to their feed on a regular basis. Aunt Alice wants me to read a story about how Trump is a secret genius while ex-classmate Jeremy wants us all to read a story about how women are mistreated in the workplace. Unfortunately for them, I'm just logging on so I can see pictures of my nieces and nephews. For everyone else, I'd be happy to read about what's going on with your lives, but I'm completely disinterested in your political views.

      Maybe it's just me?

  2. I'd prefer if facebook by QuietLagoon · · Score: 4, Insightful
    allowed me to configure my newsfeed the way I want it to look, and have it stay that way.

    .
    I'd configure it for no news, and most recent posts first.

    Such a simple request, it amazes me why facebook doesn't allow it.

    As things stand now, I find myself using facebook less and less because it has become annoying to use it.

  3. get rid of the fake news / ad's that look like n by Joe_Dragon · · Score: 4, Insightful

    get rid of the fake news / ad's that look like news

  4. yes please. by cmiller173 · · Score: 3, Insightful

    I want less "Suggested" posts. I don't mind news that one of my friends shared and thinks is important, I do dislike algorithmicly chosen junk that I might like, because usually it is wrong.

    Really I just use facebook to keep up with long distance family and friends. And really, I don't accept friend requests from all of my family either.