Social Networking Explodes Worldwide

Social Networking Explodes Worldwid… Press Release Social Networking Explodes Worldwide as Sites Increase their Focus on Cultural Relevance Facebook and Hi5 More than Double Global Visitor Bases During Past Year RESTON, VA, August 12, 2008 – comScore, Inc. (NASDAQ: SCOR), a leader in measuring the digital world, today released a study of worldwide usage of social networking sites, indicating that while the growth in new users in North America is beginning to level off, it is burgeoning in other regions around the world.During the past year, the total North American audience of social networkers has grown 9 percent compared to a much larger 25 percent growth for the world at large. The Middle East-Africa region (up 66 percent), Europe (up 35 percent), and Latin America (up 33 percent) have each grown at well-above average rates. Social Networking Growth by Worldwide Region June 2008 vs.June 2007 Total Worldwide Audience, Age 15+ – Home and Work Locations Source: comScore World Metrix Unique Visitors (000) Jun-07 Worldwide Asia Pacific Europe North America Latin America Middle East – Africa 464,437 162,738 122,527 120,848 40,098 18,226 Jun-08 580,510 200,555 165,256 131,255 53,248 30,197 Percent Change 25% 23% 35% 9% 33% 66% “While the social networking trend first took off in North America, it is beginning to reach a point of maturity in the region,” said Jack Flanagan, comScore executive vice president.
However, the phenomenon is still growing rapidly in other regions around the world – especially as the established American brands turn their focus to developing markets. ” Facebook and Hi5 Lead Global Growth among Top Social Networking Sites During the past year, many of the top social networking sites have demonstrated rapid growth in their global user bases. Facebook. com, which took over the global lead among social networking sites in April 2008, has made a concerted effort to become more culturally relevant in markets outside the U. S.Its introduction of natural language interfaces in several markets has helped propel the site to 153-percent growth during the past year. Meanwhile, the emphasis Hi5.
com has put on its full-scale localization strategy has helped the site double its visitor base to more than 56 million. Other social networking sites, including Friendster. com (up 50 percent), Orkut (up 41 percent), and Bebo. com (up 32 percent) have demonstrated particularly strong growth on a global basis. Worldwide Growth among Selected Social Networking Sites June 2008 vs.June 2007 Total Worldwide Audience, Age 15+ Home and Work Locations Source: comScore World Metrix Total Unique Visitors (000) Jun-2007 Total Internet : Total Audience Social Networking 778,310 464,437 Jun-2008 860,514 580,510 % Change 11% 25% comscore. com/Press_Events/…/eng-US 1/2 23/11/2010 FACEBOOK.

COM MYSPACE. COM HI5. COM FRIENDSTER. COM Orkut BEBO. COM Skyrock Network Social Networking Explodes Worldwid… 52,167 114,147 28,174 24,675 24,120 18,200 17,638 132,105 117,582 56,367 37,080 34,028 24,017 21,041 153% 3% 100% 50% 41% 32% 19%Facebook Gains Traction in Europe and Other Regions Facebook’s recent ascension to become the top global social networking site has been spurred by its substantial growth across worldwide regions. Though its largest visitor base is still in North America (49 million), Facebook’s growth in the region is a relatively modest 38-percent. In every other worldwide region, Facebook’s audience has more than quadrupled.
Europe is quickly catching up with North America as Facebook’s largest visitor base with 35 million visitors in June, a 303percent increase and a net addition of nearly 27 million monthly visitors versus year ago.Other worldwide regions have seen even more dramatic growth on a percentage basis. Worldwide Growth for Facebook. com June 2008 vs. June 2007 Total Worldwide Audience, Age 15+ Home and Work Locations Source: comScore World Metrix Total Unique Visitors (000) Jun-2007 FACEBOOK. COM North America Europe Asia Pacific Middle East – Africa Latin America 52,167 35,698 8,751 3,712 2,974 1,033 Jun-2008 132,105 49,248 35,263 20,712 14,951 11,931 % Change 153% 38% 303% 458% 403% 1055% “Facebook has done an exceptional job of leveraging its brand internationally during the past year,” added Mr. Flanagan.
By increasing the site’s relevance to local markets through local language interface translation, the site is now competing strongly or even capturing the lead in several markets where it had a relatively minor presence just a year ago. ” About comScore comScore, Inc. (NASDAQ: SCOR) is a global leader in measuring the digital world. For more information, please visit www. comscore. com/boilerplate.Contact: Andrew Lipsman Senior Director, Marketing Communications comScore, Inc.
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