This latest report from Hitwise stating that Facebook was the most visited site in the US on Christmas. Even though it has out grown hits on Google, the giant in search but we had been reporting how the apps were gaining popularity just before the holiday season. But I salute the social network for its mammoth growth in the last half a year and now stands at a massive 350 million and there is no stopping it.
What interests me the most here is the fact that it remained at the top for two consecutive days. To be honest, beating Google, that is like a default destination or more precisely a ribbon breaker for anyone who logs onto the Web before doing anything else is a big achievement and this being done by a social network makes it sound even more impressive.
So why has Facebook taken the lead?
Primarily the fact that Facebook is determined to be the primary destination for all. I mean it has got everything bunched up in one platform, from letting you build networks within a network, exposing and marketing your brand to the masses or simply having your profile spammed by those who enjoy using the apps it has to offer.
I have been very repetitive on providing a comparison on Facebook with MySpace (and of course with Twitter)but it now appears very old school as I see the battle on the Web is being headed by Google and Facebook. And here I side with Facebook more, given that the social network has just a thousand employees for whom it only recently plans to expand its offices compared to Google that has a massive workforce of 30,000 people.
I just wonder if in times to come Facebook would actually be something to worry Google about. Of course the two are very different and will continue to lead their specific domains and call me biased or whatever, I personally think there is no beating Google. Do you agree, yes or no and why?
