socialmediocrity

Following the revelation published yesterday that Facebook user numbers are falling, in some of their originally strong-growth and key territories, we can today reveal that user numbers have DOUBLED on socialmediocrity.com in just a couple of days.

At this rate of growth, it will surpass MySpace user numbers in about 174 days. Reports of hurried preparation of an 8-figure IPO in the near future are “wide of the mark” according to a socialmediocrity.com spokesperson, despite increasing demand for anything “social”.

As covered in BusinessInsider earlier today, the rise and rise of Facebook user numbers appears to have hit the rails.

In fact, evidence has begun to emerge that many of the key, and early, markets are falling in user numbers. According to Inside Facebook’s data service, the US has lost 6 million users, Canada 1.5 million – approximately 4% and 8% respectively.

Daily user numbers from Google also support that evidence, showing thatdaily user have been falling for several weeks now, cerainly in the US, and the UK, shown.

Daily Facebook users in US falling

UK Facebook users also falling

Better news still exists in other territories, and there is of course a lot more growth to come from the less mature markets. Turkey, for example, has always stood out as an over-adopting nation almost, and yet growth continues there

Growing base in Turkey

Does any of this impact Facebook’s strategic direction? The pressure to monetise existing audiences may grow, especially as FB move inevitably towards an IPO, and it won’t help valuations if falling mature markets become the norm.

Or will falling “western” users increase the pressure to expand in the more nascent markets? And presumably seek to retain and monetise aggressively. The Facebook user experience, which has been exceptional to date bar the occassional privacy indiscretions, could suffer with the combined pressures of growth and revenue.