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I wonder how many active Facebook users aren't actually actively using Facebook. Per that link, Facebook defines an active user as anyone who logs into a Facebo

I wonder how many active Facebook users aren't actually actively using Facebook. Per that link, Facebook defines an active user as anyone who logs into a Facebook account, but that includes using a Facebook account to log into a third-party service. An enormous number of apps and services now use Facebook OAuth rather than their own user registration system and, anecdotally, I know a surprising number of people who have zero-friend zero-post Facebook profiles solely because of that. As far as I can see Facebook doesn't publish information on how many of their active users are actively using Facebook itself.

yomly 10y ago
But Facebook has sort of outgrown Facebook itself. The value to outsiders is now about the untangleable web they've built: so whether you're using a dating app, OAuth, Messenger, Instagram or Whatsapp (last one is a bit of a tricky one right now) you're still a user of Facebook. Maybe you're no longer addicted to the feed - cuz fake news - but Facebook is still deriving some value from you as you're still a part of their platform.
h_avinash 10y ago
recently i have read somewhere that, capturing the user details within the our own system(using gmail & other details) is much more useful than facebook integration..
bkanber 10y ago
Facebook is an ad platform on top of a social media network. It's correct to measure those OAuth users as active, because they're still being followed around the web (any site that uses the FB platform, which practically is most), they're still part of the monetization platform, they can be targeted in ads, etc. That's what's really relevant to their business, not how many people post content on their FB wall or send messages.
mcintyre1994 10y ago
This is no longer true as of late 2015. The new definition is "We define a monthly active user as a registered Facebook user who logged in and visited Facebook through our website or a mobile device, or used our Messenger app (and is also a registered Facebook user), in the last 30 days as of the date of measurement." So if they don't use Facebook's website or app, or Messenger as a Facebook user, they don't count. http://www.adweek.com/socialtimes/monthly-active-users-definition-revised/629624 http://www.adweek.com/socialtimes/monthly-active-users-defin...

yomly 10y ago

But Facebook has sort of outgrown Facebook itself. The value to outsiders is now about the untangleable web they've built: so whether you're using a dating app, OAuth, Messenger, Instagram or Whatsapp (last one is a bit of a tricky one right now) you're still a user of Facebook. Maybe you're no longer addicted to the feed - cuz fake news - but Facebook is still deriving some value from you as you're still a part of their platform.

h_avinash 10y ago

recently i have read somewhere that, capturing the user details within the our own system(using gmail & other details) is much more useful than facebook integration..

bkanber 10y ago

Facebook is an ad platform on top of a social media network. It's correct to measure those OAuth users as active, because they're still being followed around the web (any site that uses the FB platform, which practically is most), they're still part of the monetization platform, they can be targeted in ads, etc. That's what's really relevant to their business, not how many people post content on their FB wall or send messages.

mcintyre1994 10y ago

This is no longer true as of late 2015. The new definition is "We define a monthly active user as a registered Facebook user who logged in and visited Facebook through our website or a mobile device, or used our Messenger app (and is also a registered Facebook user), in the last 30 days as of the date of measurement." So if they don't use Facebook's website or app, or Messenger as a Facebook user, they don't count. http://www.adweek.com/socialtimes/monthly-active-users-definition-revised/629624 http://www.adweek.com/socialtimes/monthly-active-users-defin...