MANILA, Philippines – A new study  from the research arm of investment bank Piper Jaffray says fewer teenagers are using Facebook in Fall of 2014 when compared to its earlier study, held in Spring of 2014.

According to Piper Jaffray’s study, Facebook use is down to 45% from 72%, meaning less than half of the respondents answered “yes” when asked if they use Facebook.

Of the various forms of social media tested, the number of those who said they used Instagram grew from 69% to 76%, while Twitter fell from 63% to 59%.

While no reasoning was given for the shift, the Washington Post notes  that research and anecdotal information points to “the presence of adults on the site, as well as the typically high-school plagues of oversharing and in-fighting” being potential reasons.

The increase in use of anonymous chat apps, such as Whisper and Yik Yak, may also be a cause of the decreased Facebook usage.

The national survey had 7,200 respondents with an average age of 16 years, and was taken using classroom visits and electronic surveys of upper-income and average-income teens.

source:http://www.rappler.com/technology/news/71514-facebook-social-media-study-piper-jaffray