Facebook usage has fallen among social media users in the U.S., but one group is not showing the same decline: moms. Eighty-one percent of U.S. moms use Facebook compared to 61% of the total U.S. population.
Ninety-two percent of U.S. moms use social media compared to 79% of the U.S. population age 12+, and a new study from The Research Moms at Edison Research, Moms on Social Media 2019, reveals some of the reasons moms are active users of social media.
Moms have two major motivators for continuing to use social media: the emotional connection it provides, and the practical ways it helps them in their busy lives. The study finds that on the emotional side, moms are using social media to stay up-to-date with friends, share aspects of their lives, and share their opinions. On the practical side, moms are using social media to get information on school events, details on extracurricular activities, health and parenting advice, and find product recommendations.
As Edison Research Vice President Megan Lazovick notes, “It turns out that the majority of moms are using social media for more than just social motivations. The bottom line is, the life of a mom is not simple, and the way she uses social media isn’t simple either.”
Some key findings:
81% of U.S. moms on social media use Facebook compared to 61% of the total U.S. population 12+. There are 15 million fewer Facebook users in the total U.S. population 12+ in 2019 than there were in 2017, according to The Infinite Dial 2019 , but we don’t see that same downward trend among U.S. moms
Pinterest and Instagram have seen significant gains year-over-year. Among U.S. moms on social media, 63% are using Pinterest in 2019 compared to 47% in 2017, and 53% are using Instagram compared to 37% in 2017
36% of moms on social media agree with the statement, “You often feel like social media is your main connection to the outside world.”
80% of moms on social media say they turn to it for product recommendations, and 58% of moms on social media said Facebook is the platform they turn to first for product recommendations
Regarding how they feel about social media, 59% of moms on social media say they feel connected, 54% say they feel entertained, and 41% say they feel informed.
There is a negative side to social media for moms, though:
53% of moms on social media say there is too much negativity on social media
23% of moms on social media say social media has had a negative impact on their emotional well-being
24% of moms who use social media say they would like to quit, but nearly the same percent of moms on social media (23%) say they can’t live without it
49% of moms on social media say they have decided not to post, share, or comment on social media because they worried others would judge
26% of moms on social media say they feel annoyed, 25% say they feel addicted, and 24% say they feel concerned about social media
The relationship U.S. moms have with social media is complicated as social media has become necessary for the busy moms of today. Moms might experience negative feelings on social media, but without it, they’d lose the ability to keep in touch with friends or keep up with the daily activities of their families and lives.
Moms were asked if they thought social media had brought people together or divided people, and their answer perfectly illustrates this complicated relationship: they were split almost evenly with 51% saying social media has brought people together and 49% saying social media has divided people.
Edison Research Vice President of Digital Operations Laura Silvia adds,“As moms ourselves, we discuss many of these items around the office, so it is especially exciting to quantify moms’ feelings about social media and at the same time produce research that is useful to brands and marketers.”
About The Research Moms
The Research Moms are a group of experienced researchers within Edison Research with a specialization in understanding today’s moms. Combining a solid platform of market research with real life insight, they are a unique resource for analyzing habits, behaviors and trends among moms. Pooling their research talents from the different branches of Edison Research, they are equipped for both quantitative and qualitative studies.
About Edison Research Edison Research conducts survey research and provides strategic information in over 50 countries for clients including AMC Theatres, AMC Theatres, Amazon, Apple, The Brookings Institute, Facebook, The Gates Foundation, Google, the U.S. International Broadcasting Bureau, Oracle, Pandora, The Pew Research Center, Samsung, Spotify, and SiriusXM Radio. The national tracking study The Infinite Dial® and the syndicated Share of Ear® are two of the most widely cited studies in the audio space. Edison is also the leading podcast research company in the world and has conducted research for NPR, Slate, ESPN, PodcastOne, WNYC Studios, and many more companies in the podcasting space. Edison’s network of more than 20,000 experienced interviewers allows the company to conduct research in almost any location. Since 2004, Edison Research has been the sole provider of Election Day data to the National Election Pool. For the 2020 U.S. elections, Edison will provide exit polls and will tabulate the national vote across every county in the United States for ABC News, CBS News, CNN, and NBC News.
