By Jessica Hopper and Tim Uehlinger
Rock Center
Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced Thursday that his company has reached an unprecedented milestone: one billion users.
In an exclusive interview with NBC’s Matt Lauer, Zuckerberg said the 8-year-old company added 200 million new users in the last year and called having a billion users across the world “an amazing honor.”
“To be able to come into work every day and build things that help a billion people stay connected with the people they care about every month, that’s just unbelievable,” Zuckerberg said in an interview airing Thursday morning on Today and on NBC’s Rock Center with Brian Williams at 10pm/9c.
Despite the excitement of crossing the billion mark, Zuckerberg acknowledged the company’s leadership and its staff have been in a “tough cycle” in the months since the company’s initial public offering in May.
Valued at $100 billion when it went public, Facebook is now worth nearly half that. The social network has faced new scrutiny from its users and investors over how it plans to make money from those billion users, especially the ones who access Facebook through mobile devices.
“Things go in cycles. We’re obviously in a tough cycle now and that doesn’t help morale, but at the same time, you know, people here are focused on the things that they’re building,” said Zuckerberg of his staff. “I mean, you get to build things here that touch a billion people, which is just not something that you can say at almost anywhere else, so I think that’s really the thing that motivates people.”
The drop in the company’s value has left many questioning if the 28-year-old tech visionary has the business know-how to be CEO.
“I take this responsibility that I have really seriously and I really think Facebook needs to be focused on building the best experiences for people around the world, right? And we have this philosophy that building the products and services and building the business go hand in hand,” Zuckerberg said.
Zuckerberg said that he and his team are focusing on growing the number of people who use Facebook on mobile devices, such as smartphones, a move that he says will make money and respond to the changing needs of their users.
“There’s five billion people in the world who have phones, so we should be able to serve many more people and grow the user base there,” Zuckerberg said.
Of his strategy as CEO, Zuckerberg said that he has taken a few lessons from his late friend, Apple founder Steve Jobs.
“I mean, he was just so focused, right? I mean for him, the user experience was the main thing that mattered, the only thing that mattered and I think that there’s a lot that every company can learn from that,” he said. “We’ve had a lot of that philosophy too, which is we just want to stay maniacally focused on building the best product for those people and I think that’s the path to building a great business and, you know, I think that’s something that Steve understood more than most.”
Zuckerberg is also friends with current Apple CEO Tim Cook who recently gave him a new iPhone 5 as a gift. Zuckerberg, who called the phone a “wonderful device,” wouldn’t say which mobile device he thinks is the best. More people use Facebook on Android than on the iPhone, Zuckerberg said.
“It’s a pretty diverse ecosystem and we spend our time building for all these different things,” he said.
Zuckerberg’s army of builders work on the company’s sprawling campus headquarters in Menlo, Park, Calif. The word “hack” is imprinted on one of the walkways; a homage to the spirit with which Zuckerberg founded the social network. In a building with a red sign saying, “The Hacker Company,” casually clad programmers, engineers and designers toil for the CEO they call 'Mark.'
Zuckerberg, often wearing a uniform of jeans and a gray t-shirt, said he frequently leaves his glass office in the afternoons to roam the offices or walk outdoors to talk to his staff. Every Friday, Zuckerberg holds a weekly Q&A for team members to air their grievances and propose their ideas.
Zuckerberg said he tries to keep his personal life “simple.” When his May wedding to Priscilla Chan was splashed across magazine covers, he said it felt “odd.”
“It’s surprising, but you know, it doesn’t take away from these moments, right? I mean the wedding was an awesome thing,” he said.
Zuckerberg met Chan when both were students at Harvard. He said they secretly planned their wedding to be around the time Chan finished medical school.
“I sent out this email to all our friends, telling them that I was having a surprise party for her from graduating from medical school,” he said. “It was a really small wedding. We had it in our backyard. It was 80 or so people, but it was really nice.”
Of his future, Zuckerberg said his company’s mission has morphed into his life’s mission.
“Our responsibility as a company is just to do the best that we can and build the best products for people,” Zuckerberg said. “If we build the best products, then I think that we can continue leading in this space for a long time.”
Editor's Note: Matt Lauer's exclusive interview with Mark Zuckerberg airs Thursday, Oct. 4 at 10pm/9c on NBC's Rock Center with Brian Williams.
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Why does the news media consistently provide free advertising for Facebook? No other business do I see reported on with the same regularity as Facebook. I've seen the media prop Facebook up with stories when they were in trouble and then reports like these promoting Facebook. It's as though they have some sort of stake in the company, which maybe they do since I look below and see that "Post to my Facebook Wall."
Could it be perhaps that there are financial arrangements between FB and the MSM? Of course. Just follow the money. It's transparent and almost embarrassing how some (like msn) shill for this hollow business modeled company.
Now it will go down to 999,999,999 since im deleting mine soon.
Could it be they now have billion users?lol. Mark bucks the trend, it might have cost him a bit but he has stuck to his ways. Once you reach a certain point in wealth the extra money is used more for others than yourself(payroll,invesrtments,charities). eg Buffet said once you have reached 500 million, there really is nothing you can not have.
@pj;
The story is about a milestone, does not seem to be glorifying FB.
Considering the drop in stock and those that control Wall Street, yes, they're trying to keep those FB stories comin'. In their ideal world, everyone would be on FB as a means of control and keeping tabs on you. The more FB gets in my face the more I dislike it.
They may have hit a billion accounts, but the reality is that many, if not most of them are not used on a regular basis and a significant percentage are almost completely dormant. From a financial perspective what is important is the number of accounts that are accessed on a regular, say at least weekly basis. This is the real base that they have to sell to advertisers, not the huge number of seldom used and dormant accounts.
if the numbers are rising it's only because of the companies trying to force people to use it. personally I'll not join and never will join face book to get a discount or to give anything as stupid as a "like" to anything or anyone.
You must have overlooked the daily iPhone 5 articles before its release.
It just means both FB and Apple have very effective PR divisions.
You must have overlooked the daily iPhone 5 articles before its release.
It just means both FB and Apple have very effective PR divisions.
I never joined facebook...
Saw how much time others wasted on it...
Now I'm seeing how much money others wasted on it...lol
I don't Trust facebook..?
i deleted my account months ago, and have never had so much time to do other things in my life, like, gasp, talk to people face to face.
Another hater who has no clue what they are talking about. Dormant users are not being counted in this number. Facebook has one billion ACTIVE MONTHLY USERS and that is the statistic that matters.
so where is the proof of this one billion user milestone? what criteria did they use to deem a user as active?
Ill bet it's all just a ploy to pump up the plumetting stock prices.
@whino33,
where in this article did they mention anything about active users?
they didn't because I looked.
First like of article,
Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced Thursday that his company has reached an unprecedented milestone: one billion users.
end quote.
one billion users,
pretty vague if you ask me.
I didn't read this article - I work in the industry, not for Facebook directly.
Active is defined as a user who has logged in within 30 days.
Here is a better article to reference:
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/sns-rt-us-facebookbre8930n3-20121004,0,3224966.story
Yes, there is another company that gets free media advertising on a regular basis, it's called Apple. I firmly believe it is the level of investment but the media moguls because if they own the stock they are going to help it along as best as they can.
When Facebook announces that it has one billion "unique" users. Then I will be impressed. When Facebook also anounces that all the accounts belong to humans I will be impressed. How many acounts are setup for pets, newborns and others that don't personally manage their page? How many users that are under 14 and arent' supposed to have accounts?
If you are going to brag then brag about something truly special. The fact that the companies value is down 50% since it's IPO is a better gauge of things.
How about the fact that revenue increased by 32 percent to $1.18 billion in the second quarter? Just three years ago, Facebook made $500 million dollars for the entire year.
Do you know how many companies have grown that much, that quickly??? (Hint - the answer is 1)
Maybe because damn near every website out there has a link to facebook or twitter, or a way to communicate through them?
Mark doesn't need any help from the news outlets.
Go to one of your bookmarked sites and see for yourself.
They don't have to be. The system still counts someone with 15 dummy accounts so they can live it up playing FarmVille. While that represents 15 separate accounts, it is still just one user. He can boast a billion "active" accounts all he wants, but the actual number is probably closer to 800 million.
Also, remember, that you are considered an active user even if you only log in once a month.
I agree that the actual number is probably closer to 800 million. That's pretty friggin incredible. The truth is that most people log on way more than once a month and spent more time engaging on Facebook than any other site - and it's not even close. Of course they are going to be discussed often.
If you take out the underage, dogs, pigs, multiple accounts, etc. the number will be way below 800 million. yes, this is my personal opinion with no factual backing...
“Our responsibility as a company is just to do the best that we can and build the best products for people,” Zuckerberg said. “If we build the best products, then I think that we can continue leading in this space for a long time.”
"Zuckerberg said that he and his team are focusing on growing the number of people who use Facebook on mobile devices, such as smartphones, a move that he says will make money and respond to the changing needs of their users."
The only product that Facebook sells it YOU. The only obligation Facebook has is to its shareholders. If you have a Facebook profile, you and your personal information are merely commodities that Facebook aggregates and sells to generate revenue for its shareholders. Facebook has no loyalty to you. It has no interest in you if they cannot use your information to generate revenue.
@ big
Seems about a billion people do not mind. They do not charge you for your account, your information is out there in this day and age not much you can do about it but refrain from sharing it. Personally I do not have a facebook acct(for the reason you state), nor do many of my mid age male friends.
If I said to one of my buddies to "friend me" they would start clowning me, or give me a strange look.lol That being said I still think it is and has been a wonderful outlet and has caused much more good than bad. Just not my thing.
I think Mark has loyalty to his users, he does not seem to be about pomp and circumstance, more about substance and sincerity. Staying grounded being a young billionaire would be difficult for many, I believe he is doing it, as he has watched his mentors use their money for good,and has not let the money ruin who he is.
funny that no one is this paranoid about their telephone.
Coral Taxi - Delusional much? Mark Zuckerberg firmly believes that the personal information of everyone on the planet is his to do with as he pleases, mostly to line his own pockets. He has not one bit of loyalty to his users or he would not use their personal information in ways that he knows full well they did not intent. His loyalty is to the advertisers on FB and to his own personal wealth.
Tree - I'm not paranoid about my telephone because the telephone company is not recording every word I say, keeping my phone conversations forever and using them however they choose. You are comparing apples and motorcycles.
@joe;
Umm no,you are dead wrong.
When you sign up for FB, you are putting yourself out there, this forum is free,advertising is how everything in entertainment is promoted. ie FM radio is free why? Because of advertising, do they target ? Yes, demographics is everything .
When you sign up you are putting yourself out there, seems about a 7th of the world does not mind as much as you. As far as me being delusional, obviously you did not read my post correctly, I stated I did not sign up for FB, for that reason ,I do not want my biz al over the net.
The guy wears the same type of clothes daily. He throws a wedding without much fanfare, he makes his own ring for his wife, not some gigantic gaudy rock, but a simple ruby.
I love the way they keep claiming 1 billion users. In the beginning of facebook everyone just had to have a facebook page...but once everyone or most people saw how really useless and intrusive it was they never went back. This is sort of like newspapers that claim to have so many subscribers when really they don't. I myself got a facebook page years ago just out of curiosity...haven't been back since. And quite honestly I'm sick and tired of seeing that damn thumbs up option everywhere...where's the thumbs down option? Kind of hard to get a real understanding of something when all you see is thumbs up.
So...how many "actual" users are there really...inquiring minds would love to know the real numbers...not the bloated count they keep claiming to have.
And what is this product? It's a website that doesn't offer anything.
I think Facebook is wonderful. I don't care about all the advertising and stuff that allows them to earn money. I don't find it intrusive at all. I use it to keep contact with my dispersed family. Of course we chat on the phone and see each other several times a year, but with Facebook everyone in the family gets to see my grandson's first steps - not just hear about them. Everyone learns of Uncle so and so's illness and begins to pray for him - the information can be put in one place and everyone can see it. That is the importance of FB to me - the rest of it, "liking" things, etc. I could care less about. My security settings are very tight, and I've not been bothered with any intrusive things at all. I'm glad Zuckerberg invented it, and I sign in daily.
d clark, you are a paid fb troll. Funny, you are the first out of hundreds on here to say anything good about the CIA front, facebook. follow the new world order, who is the grandfather of zuckerberg, could it be rockefeller. interesting. And the CIA has admitted its their best source for info. Same with the scabs at the FBI. Smart thing to do is stay off facebook, then nobody has to deal with idiots like d clark.
Steve - they have one billion active monthly users. Your dormant account is not being accounted for.
I like Facebook, too! It makes me feel connected to my friends and work acquaintances, when, otherwise, my world is pretty small. I vacariously enjoy their vacations, elate with the birth of their children and grandchildren, and over all, it's just plain fun!!! With control over posting options and security, I am not worried about who's looking at what. Just having fun and passing some time. I am on the go every day, and Facebook lets me chill for a bit every evening. Fun, funny, and most of the stuff I'm connected to is positive and upbeat. I think the billion mark is amazing and something for Mark Z to be in awe over. He's created a wonderful tool to allow people to connect. Makes life alot less lonely sometimes, too! So, D. Clark, I'm with ya'! :-)
Good for them then. Why shouldn't law enforcement not use FB as a tool to help them?
Are you telling me that you wouldn't take advantage of some of the mental midgets that use FB to brag about their crimes? Tens of millions of users in the U.S. alone and you don't think that monitoring FB is a smart idea by our agencies?
At the time of my reply, which was a few hours after you made this claim, there was still under 100 (82) comments. Math isn't a strong subject for you, right?
So now that you have shown no integrity to be honest, as that would impede your agenda, I can move on when I see your name.
How sad so many ppl say they do not use Face Book, yet they are busy bashing the brilliant young man that has made a large contribution to all the people that do use it . There is a whole world of people that use it to communicate with friends and family each day.
At least Jobs and Mark have let us know that the American Dream is still possible.
aye, there's the thing - good ol' thumbs down. Without it, thumbs up are rather useless, nay? If it's all just smiles, then smiles are naught...
Facebook is great for many. M'self - I prefer t' gae-n-see. I don't see how anyone 'connects' without the eyes, or a cup a' summatnuther. If I just facebook suthin', I'm left out...
Eventually Facebook will join the ranks of "Yeah, I used to use that" social tools like ICQ.
After all, while Facebook may claim 1 billion users, there are 6 billion others like myself who do not use it all and are missing exactly nothing.
Facebook is just a stepping stone in the internet revolution. Watch these short TED vids for how Facebook represents a perfect example of "We haven't seen nothing yet."
http://www.ted.com/talks/andrew_mcafee_are_droids_taking_our_jobs.html
http://www.ted.com/talks/clay_shirky_how_the_internet_will_one_day_transform_government.html
How many of those 6 billion don't have computers though. I suspect among the average connected user that the number who use FB is a very substantial portion.
Other sites like hi 5 are growing faster than facebook. I have talked to thousands who had fb but now they don't and they aren't missing a thing. Who needs the lame posts about who got married, who farted, who ate breakfast and who doesn't have anything else to do with their day. Funny how the fb stock crashed.
In reality it crashed because too many ill-informed people believed they could profiteer from something without ever bothering to investigate whether it was a good investment. By doing so they assisted those in on the ground floor who simply cashed in their pre-IPO investment and made out like bandits. Smarter investors realized it wasn't worth the initial price. Those who jumped in within maybe the last month or so might make some money out of it.
As for the "you've talked to thousands" aspect, I am suspecting you are vastly exaggerating similar to how many on FB believe they truly have 500 "friends".
I dislike Facebook and wish it did not exist. Previously, I could just ignore it. Now, many companies are using it exclusively and, without a Facebook account, you are left out. Sad really.
Not only that, but they are building profiles of non-users, including facial recognition in photos, from the posts of users. So guess what? Even if you didn't "opt in" you've been drafted into the FB army. They can steal your privacy, even without your consent. Pitiful.
Pj 742966 that is so true, I am so sick and tired how for everything you have to sign up using your facebook account i am so sick every web page pushing facebook on you
Facebook is a CIA front, to keep tabs on everyone. zuckerberg is a fag and has admitted to working with the government to spy on everyone. Only idiots use fb.
Right, Skeptic. It's called "control".
One billion users would be impressive if there weren't so many pages advertising "10,000 friends instantly if you like accept this friend request" and free dating websites.
I am a grandma. I love being connected to family and friends around the world. I wish FB much more successes and good luck. Zuckerberg is living the American dream. He had an idea, worked hard and became successful. The other people who make negative comments are jealous because they sit on their butts and do nothing but complain. If you do not like FB don't use it! Just sayin.......
I love keeping in touch with family and friends also...I use a phone or a webcam though...less intrusive. If you really knew what they were taking from you you might not like it so much...just sayin.
I disagree. I am successful in my own right and make negative comments; it does not mean I am jealous. When FB was an option, that was fine. If people wanted 1,000 fake "friends" or felt the need to share everything with everyone, that was fine because I didn't need to. Now, if you want to look at something online, you have to have a FB page or you cannot. If you want to comment, you need a FB page. If you want more information about something, you have to go look at their FB page. Etc. When it was optional and I could still do everything I wanted, then I was less negative. Now, it is just annoying and frustrating and I feel like my choice of not joining is being taken away. I'll not have an account as long as I can. But, I am not jealous of Zuckerman or his success. I just do not like his creation.
Get a grip grandma cecella, fb is for losers just like you. fb is a great place to spy on enemies though. The idiots tell every little detail, so funny. cecella you are one of the very stupid sheep. Hope when the new world order takes over shortly, you realize how dumb you are, before they put a bullet in your head.
SlepticOne, very good points.
And I suspect much of the growth sustained by FB has come because of this invasion: many are simply creating duplicate/phony accounts to view FB pages that force you to login while protecting their real identities. Particularly so with legal decisions that deem it OK for your employer to decide on your employment status based on your "likes".
I use to have a FB page until one day when FB automatically raided my contacts list on my MSN e-mail account and downloaded it to FB -- right before my very eyes. That's when I got out. The only thing I can see about FB is how Zuckerburg looked around for a way to make a buck and saw great marketing potential in exploiting the Constitution of the United States of America along with the Bill of Rights . . . you know, the priviledge of having your privacy taken away and stolen by business. And how your rights stop at business' right to make a profit of you. Well, good luck with that.
What you just described is the exact reason you should never use the same password on multiple websites. Thankfully it was *just* FB that did that. What if it had been somebody who really was trying to steal from you or assume your identity? Imagine if a thief did that...
Never use the same password on multiple websites. Ever.
you are an idiot. that only happens if you hit the accept/continue button on 'friend finder'. i hit accept to block your rambling on this board
I make fake FB accounts for fun in my spare time,guess I have made 200 or so.Have never had one in my real name and never will.
Apparently, you're not the only one.
I don't know anyone that doesn't have several fake fb accounts. I have several fake ones, but not one in my real name. Only suckers get one in their real name. Great place to keep track of people. I know the CIA is saying the same thing.
So, you ARE an idiot FB user, Alex, you just don't admit to it in your Alex personna... or what ever your name is! That's hysterical!!!
O.K., so I'm rapidly entering the age of Old Goatdom (late 60's), but I still like to keep up with the world. I have a FB page, which I look at once in a blue moon only to make sure I'm still vertical. The only thing of significance I see in FB is the ability to discern what's going on in the minds of my grandchildren as I occasionally check their pages. Couple this with regular personal interaction with them and I'm pleased to state they are solid citizens........at least to the extent you can make that claim regarding teenagers. As for the type of stuff typically seen in the universe of FB postings? "Had a great bowel movement this morning" or "I'm getting my nails done!" Let's hope our culture evolves beyond much of this......
What is it ? I don't know about it and don't use it ! I must be one of the 1% !
It's funny how Mark Zuckerburg can sit there and say that Facebook has one billion users when about two-third or more of the users are fake profiles claiming to be real people. I am a wrestling fan and when I type in someones name and about 25-30 profiles pop up stating that its there real page and then you find out on Twitter that they dont even have one. These profiles should be deleted. Mark Zuckerburg should have a system in place to confirm real profiles like Twitter does. I mean it is so easy to make a profile and claim you are someone famous just to get friends. People even make profiles for there dogs, give me a break. I like Facebook but they need to wake up and make some real changes.
all you people slamming facebook i bet have it. i don't use it like some people do but i do have it, i'm just real selective about who can see it and who i let in. i think it can be dangerous but then again, it's not facebooks fault that there are so many freaks and idiots out there nowdays. i've found people that i thought i would never see or hear from again and i do like that about social networking. the people that live their lives based on facebook are sad but they would be having that kind of behavior with anything i feel. god forbid you don't have your cell phone in front of your face these days. to me, that is just plain creepy.
as far as zuckerberg goes.... i wish i had thought of it and so do all of you.
Zuckerberg probably wishes he had thought of it too.
Part of me wants to quit using this social website. Another part of me says you are in too deep its not a wise idea, you are going to miss it really bad if you do.
One billion users... MY ASS. Probably closer to 250k.
Hey diddle diddle,
The Cat and the fiddle,
The Cow jumped over the moon,
The little Dog laughed to see such fun,
And Z Man claimed one billion today
i think it's great. now since so many play or do fb, perhaps it can work for world peace on a one by one basis. it has it's drawbacks, but wow, can you imagine what must be happening that we don't see as we wander around fb. amazing feat.
i'm amazed that there's such a big lesbian network that recruits through the poker games
And I'm not one. Gossip garbage has never been my idea of something to do, you see, and I really don't care to know what everyone else is doing, saying, or hallucinating.
Have fun - how do you find time to stop talking on your cell phone, text-messaging, and fiddling with your hair? - until something meaningul comes along (but then, do you really suppose you'll recognize it?).
What a sad group of dopes this world has that is what we have been reduce to do all day. Hey look at me this is what I did, etc. Overindulgent parents and teachers who blew smoke up this under 30 year old crowd ass for years. Telling them how special and smart and they can do anything. Then they hit 18 and they realize they really can't do much at all, no job, a worthless college degree, just a bunch of losers. Are now ledt with nothing but facebuggers and hope and change of barry since they love him so much. They are a sorry and sad generation, I truly feeel sorry for them.
Save your pity for those who need it. I am not that much younger than you, but you sound like my old grandpa did when talking about our generation. I guess it is true when people say, "What goes around, comes around."
Facebook has a billion users and I have a bridge for sale if anyone is interested.
HEY..................I hope that is a different bridge than I advertised to FB uers!!!!!????? Does yours have fantastic toll income over the Hudson river??
I wish they'd stop putting that thieving twat on the news. Mark Zuckerberg=Idea thief and scumbag
Your tears taste good.
A billion accounts, maybe, but not a billion users. Because of the games, I know many people who have two or more accounts with the additional accounts being used to help advance them in games.
Guilty... In fact, I was going to make that very point. Everyone I know has at least two, and some three, accounts in various versions of their names so that they can "gift" themselves stuff in the games. The actual user count is probably at least half with only about half of them actually using it regularly (weekly or more).
Yep, I did that. But then I quickly got bored with the "games" that were dull and boring.
Wow, so now sell-your-Face-to-everyone-Book has a billion losers? I guess Farmville really is getting popular.
Well said. I do not understand the appeal. 1,000 fake friends to share everything with and yet, these same people have no one to eat dinner with or call. I'll take my few real friends over a billion fake ones anyday.
There have been other social media in the past, but not like facebook! Thank you Mark.