A line chart from the Financial Times showing how social media motivations have shifted from interpersonal connection to passive consumption between 2014 and 2024.

A line chart titled 'Social media has become less social' illustrating the percentage change in reasons for using social media. Motivations like following celebrities and filling spare time have increased, while meeting new people, keeping up with friends, and sharing opinions have sharply declined.

Social media has become less social Change in share of people reporting each reason for using social media (%) +20 To follow celebrities To fill spare time +0 -20 To meet new people -40 To keep up with friends To share my opinion 2014 2019 2024 Source: GWI FT graphic: John Burn-Murdoch / @jburnmurdoch ©FT