I have just read an article on Computerworld that Facebook lost more than 5% of its users in the U.S. last month. Is it a signal an underlying shift in social media?

Personally, let me tell you what I think is happening:

Social media will never die out. Until recently, Facebook was the main performer in town. The only shift we are noticing because now a days, there are other players in the market. Now the social media on the whole became so popular, we will see many other players in the market in future as well. Do not get shocked if you hear news next month that Facebook has lost more than 5% of its users in the U.S market. Certainly social media on the whole is here to stay.

Let me give you a perfect example, the concept is best conveyed in what have happened with news paper industry. News papers industry has died badly, not because people have lost interest reading news but lately, they shift online. The readers actually are reading more news on various news channels than previously.

Just understand the natural behavior of the users; they will be always on the lookout for other exciting new technologies or trends, in this case another social networking service.