Om Malik says Facebook traffic is tanking, based on the September Comscore data which shows a 9.3% decline in uniques v. steady uniques at MySpace.
There’s a problem though - he’s showing unique visitor data but talking about traffic. The Comscore data for U.S. traffic shows only a 4% decline, from 15.2 billion to 14.7 billion page views. MySpace declined 2% in that same period.
And the data is also only taking U.S. traffic into account. Over the last year, non U.S. users have grown to become more than half of Facebook’s total audience. Comscore worldwide data runs a month behind U.S. data, so that information is not yet available for September.
But the bottom line is, there isn’t enough information yet to make any kind of definitive statement about Facebook traffic. It’s also worth noting that something very similar may have happened last year (a September dip in traffic) At the very least we need to wait for the international data.
Data is below - unique visitors is top, below is page views.
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It’s most likely dropped cause of back to school…
George - that may be the dumbest comment ever left on techcrunch.
Haha, I’ve seen much worse Michael.
Anyway, this data should definitely raise some eyebrows, but comscore has been known to report some inconsistent data from time to time. I wouldn’t be surprised if this were just a blip like you said.
Actually, Michael, although it’s counter-intuitive, there was a similar drop last year during back to school. People get excited planning before school starts, but once you get there there’s less downtime, meaning less time on the computer and more time, you know, actually seeing your friends in person, going to class, etc.
data from last year: http://www.marketingpilgrim.co.....ja-vu.html
Is TechCrunch the Facebook Chronicles or what??? Michael, I’m sure out of the 1000’s of technology companies TechCrunch can provide us readers newsworthy stories besides Facebook!
I think is too early to come to conclusioin that FB traffic is on the decline. If you look at the data (total unique) from Jan 07 to Feb 07, there was a derease of traffic also.
yeah, this facebook stuff is getting real old.
Mike, it is newsworthy. Facebook in a lot of ways is a marketplace ecosystem all by itself. Their direction is shared through out the industry
here’s a ludicrous observation as for the decline. What is the gender divide amongst the demographics? If nearly half of the group is female, expect the PMC cycle to coincide with a blip in the traffic.
@Faramarz - I perfectly understand that. I was a devoted TechCrunch reader because they had the heartbeat of the Technology industry and now TechCrunch has became Facebook’s PR company. I would love to get the inside information on the Technology industry again and not just Facebook!
Jeez….There is much more important things to discuss than something this minor. TechCrunch must have some kind of financial interest in Facebook because there is no other explination for TC kissing Facebook’s butt so much!!!
unquestionably back-to-school. these kids are busy with their homework!
rapid adoption masks the true seasonality of a site. (this happened at ebay, for instance). when the growth starts to level off, voila, it looks like a normal media property or marketplace that has ups and downs.
but then if you’re looking at facebook as the second coming of the internet, then you’re bound to be disappointed….
Arrington:
1) Treat your readers with a bit of respect. How is that comment dumb? Qualify possibly the dumbest response to a comment ever from a Techcrunch writer, with something more than snarky tone at your very lifeblood. Infantile egotist.
2) Stop with dull FB updates on slow news days. I’d rather have nothing at all than the mindless gossip laden witterings and reactionary conjecture that is rapidly decending into the bstrd child of Perez Hilton and a tech industry blog. It’s absurd and rather base.
Wow…
Is Arrington actually Mark Zuckerberg’s mom? He sure does act like it.
Nice job including Orkut into that mix, really shows their footing in the market.
Hey Mike,
Actually Om malik talks about both traffic and unique vistors.
The actual text from gigaom -
” just got the spread sheet and there seems to be a 9.3% decline in their unique visitorsfrom 33.75 million in August 2007 to 30.6 million in September 2007. Even their page views are down 3.8% from August 2007″
I just thought of correcting as your post sounds like it’s trying to ridicule Om malik’s blog.
I always go to techcrunch but still let’s just keep the competition healthy.
Peace
D
Mike,
I read your post with that link to Paul Graham’s essay on the future of startups and how tech startups are becoming a commodity.The real question is what are we going to do when there are hundreds of facebook sites and thouands of TechCrunch type blogs etc.when people are faced with that many choices they tend to do nothing at all?
Thank you BRadC!
It amazes me you base anything on Comscore. For such a web2.0 guy you measure things on a system like that?
Of course it shows traffic tanking; their panel doesn’t measure well on college campuses or track those users which is FaceBooks core.
Find me an accuracy with Comscore and you have some real news.
Faramarz, assuming you meant PMS, THAT seriously is the dumbest comment ever left on here [even if your smiley face tries to bolster your attempt at sarcasm/humour]
Hmmm… the september effect.
I want to see MA and OM fight this out!
Instead of another facebook story, could you get some timely interviews with valley movers and shakers about any topic other than Facebook. Just a thought….
Something must be happening in the valley other than facebook….
I think Comscore has a major bug just like the feed burner bug which showed an increase of TC feed subscriber by more than 30% in a day.
http://vidsonly.blogspot.com
I’m sure Compete, Hitwise and Quantcast (all are active in the blogosphere) will no doubt be rushing their versions of the story up ASAP while this story is still hot.
I don’t trust the numbers from any service individually. You need an aggregate sample to get the best picture.
That being said, I’m just about in favor of any trend that minimizes the Facebook talk at this point. Ironically, even a Facebook decline doesn’t really do that.
Could it be the rise of Vassilly at Facebook?!
Mike,
Keep posting about Facebook - it’s interesting and important. We have to realize that people are starting to use the internet differently, and FB is leading the charge.
A question, though - when MySpace platform launches, are you going to be as hot on MySpace news? I hope so, because I think it’s just as important.
Dan Ackerman Greenberg
Head Course Assistant, Stanford Facebook Class
http://www.ackermangreenberg.com
PS - Our students are building some sweet FB apps that will put the life back into Facebook.
@Dan - Of course you want to hype Facebook considering that you’re teaching a course on FB Apps - more PR for you and your course. Are you getting equity in from your student apps or what?
Tell us readers about the up & coming startup company that’s…. Please, anything besides the Facebook Chronicles. I might as well read ValleyWag.com - atleast I’ll hear juicy technology gossip!
Mike Davis
Of course we’re not getting equity in our students’ apps!
Dan Ackerman Greenberg
Head Course Assistant, Stanford Facebook Class
http://www.ackermangreenberg.com
MA: dumber than any of the Fake Steve Ballmer posts? I highly doubt it.
Nope. Still poking around Nola, thanks.
I have a website that is directed at mostly college age kids and my traffic always spikes in September so I’m not sure I believe these stats.
@BRadC - I am constantly amazed by all the rude and angry comments I read on TechCrunch. There seem to be a lot of frustrated entrepreneurs/wannabes out there (who clearly aren’t getting nearly as much sex as Duncan.) Normally the TechCrunch staff is very professional and doesn’t lower themselves into the muck so give Arrington a break for what was obviously said partially in humor.
@Dan
of course you want more FB stories, you have a vested interest as to remind us at every available opportunity.
Seriously, this is becoming almost farcical. An inane stream of pseudo-stories getting increasingly more desperate to develop some sort of angle. What the devil is going on? I can’t help but wonder what Arrington’s angle is!
There’s More To The FaceBook Traffic Story
Facebook Debate: Valuation, Value To Developers and Random Ad Hominem Attacks
Facebook Vs ConnectU: “Facebook Makes Untrue Assertions”
Facebook to Granted Visiting Rights to Her Kid. Shaves Head
on and on ad infinitum…
Tell us something interesting instead of this banal white noise, it’s blocking out any signal
Comrades - it is no Vassilly. It is eye, Eueugenue….
@former NC beauty queen
Rude & angry? Must’ve come across wrong, I was aiming for indignant and mildly peeved.
Actually, I am Mark Zuckerberg’s mom, thank you very much.
what is this thing people refer to. this face-book thing. i typed face-book.com and nothing happened.
regards
Thanks for pointing to the historical trend and how Facebook bounced back. This provides context and minimizes the alarm bells that Facebook’s traffic is declining. Well through-out.
Welcome to TechCrunch.com - all Facebook, all the time!
hehe, there’s probably a good reason that GoDaddy just show me that FUCKFACEBOOK.COM is already taken.
Personally, I don’t care either way - I’m just waiting for the next shiny object to come drifting by, so the speculation and finger pointing can start all over again.
FadBook is headed to extinction fast!
http://fakesteveballmer.blogspot.com
TC is not doing PR for facebook intentionally. Facebook is like Paris Hilton of entertainment or iphone of gadgets. Every one wants to know every little bit about the ‘in thing’ in this information age, and facebook is the ‘in thing’ on the web today. So, any writeup on facebook, however insignificant it is will attract readership.
Alexa stats show only 28.8% of Facebook’s traffic comes from the US…ok, you dont like Alexa etc etc but of all of the measuring tools it has the best international tracking reach by a long way. Alexa shows Facebook growing in September.
Wow, thanks for that Michael. May I say you may be dumbest to ever write on Techcrunch. Whats the average age group of the people on Facebook? I would say at least half are under 25. What are the majority of these people doing during the summer? Sitting at home. What are they doing in September? Back to school. It’s not that far fetched.
I don’t see the problem with this post. I do think the first comment was valid and felt it didn’t warrant that response.
Facebook has replaced Digg in hype and you can’t blame a startup news blog for reporting whats hot.
I do have to agree with the general feeling here and that is lets have more startup focused news and maybe create a new blog for web tech news thats not startup related. You have the writing talent and man power to create another new tech news brand.
George - are you talking about me?
If so, well thanks for being so quick to label me - I appreciate your shallowness.
You probably have 5 FB accounts, don’t ya?
(Poke)
Oh, and if it wasn’t to me, then let me by you a drink.
Mike — I wasn’t talking to you — see the first and second comment — I was talking about Michael A. and the disrespect he shows his readers.
yeah well, it’s too late to edit my comment - I do see now that you were the first to comment here George, and yeah, you are probably correct -
Actually, this time of year, until around March will not be a very good time to launch anything online as people do get busy with real life events.
So, I’ll buy ya two drinks now.
facefunk!
Hey,
Dan Ackerman Greenberg
Head Course Assistant, Stanford Facebook Class
http://www.ackermangreenberg.com
PLEASE stop posting with that annoying sig.
It’s almost like, an ad, you know? But for you. Boo. That’s the old way.
I’m happy you’re excited about your class, and hope the Stanford students will rock better apps than fluff friends, super wall, glitter box, etc. It shouldn’t be too hard. I hope they’re successful, too.
So post all you want, of course, but knock off the “I’m Part of Stanford :)” associated branding and street hustle. That’s not how alums roll. And back in the day, students had more class.
Tone it down, and you’ll be more successful.
-Your Friendly Class of ‘93 Virtual Advisor
P.S. On 9/25 you said you would set up the course blog. Two weeks later, it’s still empty,and you’re still the TA? Get that DONE, yo. You laggin.