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.

Meta FTC trial data showing increased video consumption

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.

Chart showing Facebook time spent, with Reels increasing

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.

Meta FTC trial data showing message volume compared to posts

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.

Meta FTC trial data showing platform usage during TikTok ban

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

Meta FTC trial data showing platform feature convergence

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.