Yoo-Kyoung Seock, a professor in the College of Family and Consumer Sciences’ textiles, merchandising and interiors department, recently spoke with NBC about the reasons young people use Facebook Marketplace.
Although use of Meta’s Facebook may be down among teens, Marketplace, Facebook’s resale platform, is one reason they stay on the platform.
“Younger buyers are drawn to affordability and sustainability,” Seock said. “Marketplace offers both.”
A key advantage is trust; users’ Facebook profiles make transactions feel safer than on anonymous platforms like Craigslist, according to Seock.
Facebook Marketplace acts like a digital flea market. While Facebook doesn’t charge listing fees, it does take a 10% cut of sales made through its shipping service, according to Facebook’s Help Center. Revenue comes from the value advertisers see in users’ engagement in Facebook Marketplace.