Facebook plans to launch overseas; gain new members

STANFORD, Calif. – With more than 45 million active members, social networking giant Facebook.com does not appear to be in need of new users. However, the Web site will soon be gathering even more members with its foreign language translation, part of what developers call “an ambitious overseas \nexpansion.” \nFacebook recently reached sixth place on the U.S. list of most trafficked Web sites – and third place on the global list. The current translation project could potentially bring the company its largest increase in users since its inception three-and-a-half years ago. \n“International growth is one of a few things that we are very focused on right now,” Facebook told the Financial Times in a recent article. \nThe Palo Alto, Calif., company has imposed stringent security around its project to go global. \n“While Facebook is committed to the internationalization of the site by late 2007 [or] early 2008, we have no further plans to share on this topic at this time,” a Facebook spokesperson wrote in an e-mail to The Daily at Stanford. \nAdding to the atmosphere of secrecy around Facebook’s current project are rumors, according to technology news Web site CNET.com, that the company has quietly plastered fliers around campus searching for students to help with translation efforts. However, most language students and professors are still in the dark. \n“I have not heard anything about this project,” said Elizabeth Bernhardt, director of the Stanford University Language Center.\nAccording to Compete.com, which collects data on Web site traffic, Facebook trails social networking rival MySpace.com in unique visitors, total page views, average stay and attention. However, Facebook’s growth in unique visitors from July to August of this year was 10 percent, while MySpace’s growth was only one percent. \nFurthermore, over those two months MySpace declined in average stay and attention rates, including a negative 20 percent growth in total page views, while Facebook’s numbers were up. \nMySpace has already introduced non-English sites, including local features in many foreign markets, but Facebook leads in users in both Canada and the United Kingdom, where it will soon open an office, according to the Financial Times. \nIn addition to new English-speaking offices, Facebook, Inc. is forging ahead with translation efforts. At a conference in New York last month, Mike Murphy, vice-president of media sales, said the company’s largest current challenge is “global expansion and being able to handle it.”