Facebook fastest growing social networking site globally

by Hayley Pinkerfield, Revolution UK 01-Aug-07, 10:40

LONDON - Facebook has experienced the fastest global growth of the major social networking sites, in a year when all have significantly expanded their international visitor base.

New comScore research into social networking web sites during June 2007 found that MySpace attracted more than 114 million global visitors aged 15 and older, representing a 72 per cent year on year increase. However Facebook experienced even stronger growth, leaping 270 per cent to 52.2 million visitors. Bebo (up 172 per cent to 18.2 million visitors) and Tagged (up 774 per cent to 13.2 million visitors) also grew, indicating the growing global trend for online networking.

“During the past year, social networking has really taken off globally,” said Bob Ivins, executive vice president, international markets, comScore. “Literally hundreds of millions of people around the world are visiting social networking sites each month and many are doing so on a daily basis. It would appear that social networking is not a fad but rather an activity that is being woven into the very fabric of the global internet.”

The research revealed regional variations in site popularity. Both MySpace (62 per cent) and Facebook (68 per cent) attract the majority of their visitors from North America, despite amassing a large international user base. ComScore suggests that both are posed to continue expanding globally. Bebo is most popular in Europe, attracting nearly 63 per cent of its users from the region. Orkut has a firm grasp in Latin America (49 per cent) and Asia-Pacific (43 per cent). Friendster also attracts a significant proportion of visitors (89 per cent) from the Asia-Pacific region. Both Hi5.com and Tagged.com have more balanced visitor bases, drawing at least eight per cent from each of the five worldwide regions.

Ivins added: “A fundamental aspect of the success of social networking sites is cultural relevance. Those doing well in certain regions are likely doing an effective job of communicating appropriately with those regions’ specific populations.”