Facebook Growth Tear

The social media blogosphere is buzzing about a comScore report on Facebook’s impressive growth from May ‘06 - ‘07.  Back in September ‘06, some observers proclaimed trouble at the SocNet’s move to open up, saying it would kill the site’s exclusivity, a primary factor in its appeal.  But with improved privacy controls and the ever-spiraling popularity race for new friends, Facebook has thrived and effectively repositioned itself as a social media utility with broad-base appeal. 

The 12 - 17 segment, which grew 149% during the year-long period, is particularly valuable for the company over the next 4 - 8 years as teens transition into existing college networks, potentially cementing Facebook’s base with “lifers”.

And the mass of 25+’s to have recently joined Facebook makes it look more like MySpace, still the biggest SocNet with 4x more visitors.  Check out this comScore report from last year, stating more than half of MySpace’s visitors are 35+. 

With this shift into the upper age brackets, Facebook heads into direct competition to MySpace.  But MySpace isn’t ignoring the threat.  They recently announced a plan to roll out their own Developer Platform, following Facebook’s move earlier this summer.

And coexistence is possible.  As reluctant internet pundit Danah Boyd pointed out in a recent essay, American youth self-selects along a class divide into their preferred online network.