“We grew up, we were born with it”… Immersion in youth addicted to social networks

“No, but what do you mean, you still create private events on Facebook? And do you still talk to your friends on Messenger? ” A touch of judgment and irony on the part of the elders. Certainly, the taste of the author of this article is older than his actual age – licorice, Michel Legrand and Suze – but that does not mean that the social network should be considered the first step towards a nursing home. At home 20 minutesTo reassure our eternally youthful selves, we wondered if social networks aren’t still a little trendy among those stuck between Generation Y and Z. Immersion in the heart of Facebook by young people, the early boomers of a network social that they grew up with.

When 27-year-old Emmeline wakes up in the morning, she automatically opens Messenger, Facebook’s instant messaging service. “All my close acquaintances talk about this app and keep planning their birthdays on Facebook.” The platform also allows her to find events near her home or find out who is interested in upcoming parties. “Flea markets, even thrift stores.” Enough to make a little online diary. “You might even get the scoop on an event because you’re collective. There’s a beautiful community thing that’s left on Facebook, it allows you to see what your friends are up to and get inspiration for an outing.”

The importance of communities

It is this community spirit that keeps ten of our young people interviewed on Facebook. Manon, 27, uses the groups to find good real estate deals or even plan her vacations. In April, she will move to New York and thanks to a Facebook group she found a place to stay. “When you focus on the good things, you can have everything in perspective,” she rejoices. The fashion enthusiast admits that there is still little visibility on the groups, especially on the Cezannes group – which is dedicated to the Cezanne clothing brand. “The girls kill me with laughter. With my friends, we are all in groups and we exchange the funniest messages.”

But groups can also help young people involved in associations. Eva, 28, is a volunteer for the Palets Pompettes Association – “a girl who shines in the evening” – whose organization is growing more and more. “On Facebook, we really use it for our own evening and to build a whole community around it, as well as for engagement.” For Maxim, 25, Facebook groups are also an opportunity to meet people who share our passion. Gaming, for example, in its case. “It allows me to interact with the community of gamers on specific, more private issues. And I only get that on Facebook.” For video game fans, it’s also a chance to find information they don’t see in mainstream media.

It’s impossible to talk about groups without mentioning the neurchis of memes, groups made famous thanks to Facebook as well. Neurchy of extramural memes, Neurchy of memes
From News, Nurchi from Top Chefs…etc. Guillaume, 26, continues to see funny images while “passing the time” during his metro commute. “I made some myself, but I was never even a master,” he laughs.

“I realize I don’t have some people’s phone numbers”

Many people find themselves still looking at their news feed, as they do mechanically on X (formerly Twitter) or Instagram. “I open it a little reflexively with all the other applications. I use it to watch stupid news,” says Marion*, 26. Others, like Adrian, 22, go even further and use it as a video platform. “I’m addicted, I spend a lot of time on it,” he tells us. “I can’t explain why, but I love watching little extracts from the series Rookie: Los Angeles Cop Or Doctor House Five minutes or bits of interviews from the show amuse bouche “

But if young people are so attached to Facebook today, they all agree that it is mainly a question of habit. For most people, Facebook was their first social network, adopted in middle school. “We grew up, we were born with it,” emphasizes Emmeline. “I would say the strength of Facebook is that all our friendships from school studies are included. I have a lot of people on this network that I don’t follow on Instagram,” adds Jean-Loup, 31. Most people also admit that they are not really ready to chat other than Messenger. “I realize I don’t have some people’s telephone numbers because we’ve always used this medium to talk to each other,” Alice, 26, admits. Switching to a messaging service like WhatsApp may seem difficult for some. “For me, this app is mainly used for family and friends abroad,” Emmeline explains. Jean-Loup, for his part, finds it difficult to propose an old friendship to move to another platform.

What if this was the end?

For many nostalgic young people, the question of archives is also important and Facebook sometimes contains many memories. “From time to time I go to the past,” says Maxim. Let’s face it all, our ten-year-olds know all too well that today’s Facebook looks like an elephant graveyard. “My feed is not as interesting as it used to be,” admits Manan. If most people have already agreed with the idea that social networks may die one day, everyone is trying to find alternative solutions… in vain. “I don’t know if I’ll find groups anywhere else,” Marian worries. Others even wonder how they will be able to remember their loved ones’ birthdays. “Facebook saves me every time,” says 22-year-old Mary.

For Eva and Emmeline, the platform’s planned demise will not be without emotion. “To be honest it annoys me anyway, I use it every day,” says the former. “It would hurt my heart,” affirms another.

*The first name has been changed to avoid duplicating another speaker’s first name and to facilitate reader understanding.