Social media’s rise to prominence within the online world over the past few years has been extraordinary.
As more people sign up to these networks, the ways in which internet users communicate with each other has continued to evolve. With leading social networks signing up new users on a daily basis, it will be interesting to see what role these networks play in altering online communications habits.
A recent survey by comScore found that towards the end of 2010 visits to web-based email sites declined by 6%. The survey also found that general email usage was down across all age ranges below 55.
A sharp decline was seen in the youngest age group – 12–17 year olds – with a drop of 53% on the same period the previous year. This could be construed as a warning sign towards a drop in email use for the future.
The creation of Facebook chat has allowed users to cut out the need for dedicated software, instead conversing with each other through the social media channel
Real-time communication
The decline in usage can be further understood when investigating the prominence of other online messaging services. Instant messaging services such as Windows Live Messenger and IM allow users to chat to each other in real time through dedicated software.
Furthermore, the creation of Facebook chat has allowed users to cut out the need for dedicated software, instead conversing with each other through the social media channel. Given Facebook’s sizeable user base and daily usage, it’s possible that further additions and functionality updates could make it easier than ever for people to communicate whilst online.
However, even with the continued rise in prominence of social-media messaging, I believe it’s unlikely that email will disappear. Facebook may have hundreds of millions of users logging on each day, but messaging through the network is done on a more personal level, between friends or acquaintances.
The limitations of only being able to chat with ‘friends’ means that on the whole, communication within and between businesses is likely to happen with people the user doesn’t know on such a personal level. Of course, with rumours circulating that Facebook is creating its own email system, the email market may be transformed further.
Email use may be down heavily among the young demographic, but this is likely to be due to Facebook chat, with youngsters communicating through the social network rather than email-based messaging services. However, the use of email is likely to increase as people grow up and enter a more business-orientated environment.
It’s unlikely any businesses will look to eradicate the use of email in the near future, at least until a suitable replacement is readily available. As such, email is likely to remain the dominant form of communication in the business sector for the foreseeable future.
