Facebook hits two billion active monthly users amidst call for community building
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced in a post that the social network has hit 2 billion monthly users, and has renewed his call to bring the world closer.
In the Facebook posting, Zuckerberg reiterated remarks he made at an event during a user rally on June 22. In the face of declining participation in community events, Zuckerberg wants users to find “a sense of purpose and support” on his platform.
“We started a project to see if we could get better at suggesting groups that will be meaningful to you. We started building artificial intelligence to do this. And it works. In the first 6 months, we helped 50 percent more people join meaningful communities.” Said Zuckerberg at the event. “If we can do this, it will not only turn around the whole decline in community membership we’ve seen for decades, it will start to strengthen our social fabric and bring the world closer together.”
Zuckerberg wants one billion of his two billion-strong user base to join one of the meaningful communities that are popping up on the site.
“People who go to church are more likely to volunteer and give to charity —not just because they’re religious, but because they’re part of a community,” said Zuckerberg. “A church doesn’t just come together. It has a pastor who cares for the well-being of their congregation, makes sure they have food and shelter. A little league team has a coach who motivates the kids and helps them hit better. Leaders set the culture, inspire us, give us a safety net, and look out for us.”
The move is not entirely devoted to the good of the world. Facebook generated $4.23 per user in the first quarter of 2017. It intends to grow this income generated per user in part by launching high-budget scripted TV shows by late summer, directly competing against services like Amazon Video, Netflix, and Apple Music.