Subtitles section Play video Print subtitles Since Facebook’s was started in 2004, it has grown to be the world’s dominant social network. 1 in 5 people worldwide are active monthly users, and Facebook’s net worth is more than $250 billion dollars. As one of the most visited websites on the internet we wanted to know, how powerful is Facebook? Well, Facebook has been widely popular as a website where users can connect with their friends and express themselves through shared media. Membership is free, and the site is primarily funded through advertising revenue. Facebook’s founder, Mark Zuckerberg, has become the 7th richest person in America, with a net worth of about 35 billion dollars. But Facebook isn’t just about social media. The company has acquired a number of tech startups and continues to grow. In 2012, Facebook bought the image app Instagram for 1 billion dollars, and two years later, purchased the messenger program WhatsApp for 22 billion. The increased partnerships across different social media platforms have helped Facebook diversify. Through their social media holdings, Facebook has become an all-powerful collector of data. In 2013, roughly 300 million photos and billions of comments were posted every day. Facebook accumulates massive amounts of information about its users which allows them to sell very effective targeted ads. But Facebook isn’t just making money, it is changing the way the world communicates. During the Arab Spring, millions of people used Facebook to organize and share information. It has influenced American politics, with many pointing to President Obama’s use of Facebook as one of the reasons for cornering the youth vote. It even helps companies interact directly with consumers, and collect information on how best to serve them. But people value their privacy, and oftentimes photos or opinions that are posted to Facebook can never be fully removed, even after deactivating a user’s account. Additionally, Facebook has been accused of tracking users’ web histories through cookies, and secretly supplying data to the government. The company also introduced facial-recognition software in 2010, sparking a class action lawsuit about invasion of privacy. Still, the company has maintained that it is committed to transparency and user data rights. Facebook has become the most popular social network for adults, and the company has undoubtedly affected the way Americans interact with each other in real life and online. Since the company’s humble beginnings, Facebook has made smart business choices that allow it to grow and respond creatively to the digital era. Google is Facebook’s biggest competitor. To find out just how powerful the tech company is, watch this video. Thanks for watching! Make sure to like and subscribe to our channel for new videos daily.
B1 facebook company social net worth social network data How Powerful Is Facebook? 424 24 richardwang posted on 2015/10/20 More Share Save Report Video vocabulary