Meta FTC Trial Unveils Key Social Media Usage Trends
Meta's ongoing antitrust trial against the FTC has revealed valuable insights into social media usage trends. These data points offer marketers a deeper understanding of user behavior on Facebook and Instagram.
Video Consumption Dominates Facebook
Video continues its reign on Facebook, with users spending increasing amounts of time watching video content. This trend underscores the importance of video marketing strategies.

Reels Drives Engagement Growth
While News Feed engagement declines and Stories plateau, Reels continues its upward trajectory. Meta's emphasis on algorithm-driven Reels recommendations contributes to this growth.

This shift highlights the importance of incorporating short-form video content into marketing plans.
Private Messaging Surpasses Public Posts
Meta revealed that private messaging volume significantly outweighs public posts. This indicates a shift towards private communication and highlights the potential of direct message marketing.

Implications for Marketers
These trends suggest that video content is crucial for reaching audiences on Facebook and Instagram. Click-to-Message ads and influencer marketing offer effective ways to connect with users in private messaging channels.
The TikTok Effect and Platform Convergence
Data presented in the trial also showed which platforms benefited from TikTok's temporary US ban. This offers insights into potential market share shifts should TikTok face future restrictions.

Furthermore, the trial highlighted the increasing similarity of features across social media platforms.

The Meta FTC trial provides a rare look into internal data, offering valuable insights for marketers seeking to understand and adapt to evolving social media trends.