Facebook reaches 1 billion users but...

You heard it, Facebook reached 1 billion users. It was in the air but still a huge number to achieve, hats of to the FB Team. The question is, can anyone compete with Facebook? And, most importantly, will anyone be able to overtake Facebook?

I put together a list of top 10 social networks at global level and their users; you’ll see a few unfamiliar names:

1. Facebook: 1,000,000,000+
2. Twitter: 555,000,000+
3. Qzone: 531,000,000+
4. Tencent Weibo: 373,000,000+
5. Saina Weibo: 250,000,000+
6. Google+: 170,000,000+
7. Renren: 170,000,000+
8. Linkedin: 150,000,000+
9. VKontakte: 133,000,000+
10. Pengyou: 131,000,000+

Qzone? Weibo? Renren?? Who are they? Let's find out:

Qzone is a Chinese social networking website created by Tencent in 2005. It allows users to write blogs, keep diaries, send photos and listen to music. Some of its services, as well as the mobile version, are not free.

Tencent Weibo is a Chinese microblogging platform launched by Tencent in 2010. Users may broadcast a message including 140 Chinese characters at most through the web, SMS or smartphone.

Sina Weibo is a Chinese microblogging platform launched by SINA Corporation in August 2009 and very similar to Tencent Weibo (and Twitter). They say its functionality beats Twitter (threaded comments, groups, audio messages and direct video uploads).

Renren, formerly known as Xiaonei Network, is a Chinese social networking service that exists as the Chinese remake of Facebook.

VKontakte, or VK, is a European social network service popular among Russian-speaking users around the world. It is especially popular in Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Moldova, Belarus, Israel, and USA. Very similar to Facebook.

Pengyou, similar to Renren, is a Chinese real-name social platform.



So if someone is to beat Facebook that someone will have to be the Chinese. Watch out Mr. Zuckerberg, the attack has only just started!