Facebook now has more than one billion people using it every month the company has announced.
The site, which was launched only eight years ago in 2004, is now looking towards emerging markets to build its user base further.
Statistics released to coincide with the announcement revealed there were now 600 million users accessing the site via a mobile device – up 48 million from 552 million in June this year.
Sustained growth- particularly mobile growth is seen as crucial if Facebook is to rebuild its value – the company has seen its share price drop halve to about £17 ($22) from it’s listing price of $38 in May.
Investors will expect the company to look at ways to make more from the users it already has as well as seeking to attract new users in areas of the world where it does not yet dominate.
Although the service is by far the world’s biggest social network, there are key areas, such as China and Russia, where local competitors still remain the online networking tool of choice.
Facebook’s growth is listed below:
Facebook at one billion:
- Median user age: 22
- Top countries (alphabetical order): Brazil, India, Indonesia, Mexico, United States
- Mobile users: 600 million
At 500 million (July 2010):
- Median user age: 23
- Top countries: Brazil, India, Indonesia, Mexico, United States
- Users who joined the site at this point now have an average of 305 friends
At 100 million (August 2008):
- Median user age: 23
- Top countries: Chile, France, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States
- Users who joined the site at this point now have an average of 334 friends
At 50 million (October 2007):
- Median user age: 26
- Top countries: Australia, Canada, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States
- Users who joined the site at this point now have an average of 321 friends
At 25 million (January 2006):
- Median user age: 19
- Top countries: Australia, Canada, Germany, United Kingdom, United States
- Users who joined the site at this point now have an average of 598 friends
In recent weeks, Facebook has been looking to monitor the real business world effects of advertising on the platform.
These efforts are key if the company is to convince businesses that investing in the platform is not a waste of money – recent admissions over “fake” users and have dented the site’s credibility.
There’s no doubt that Facebook is sitting on a potential goldmine of customer data.
But that goldmine is also be a minefield. We know that Facebook, despite its claims to the contrary, constantly pushes the boundaries of what’s seen as acceptable in regards to data privacy.
These activities are being persued by data regulators. In Europe in particular, Facebook has been faced with increased demands to tighten data privacy practices.
The company, which has based its European headquarters in Ireland, was last month told by the Irish Data Protection Commissioner, Billy Hawkes, that it must amend its Phototag feature – a tool powered by facial recognition software.
Which is why the future growth in Europe and “developed” countries may be slow- as the remaining people who are not Facebook users decline to do so given Facebook’s cavalier attitude to personal data.