India towards Facebook

From the past 10 years we are witnessing the growth of internet which has revolutionized the world, it changed the point of view of business people, and it also changed the social point of view like how can you approach different unknown people across the globe? Social networking is a term that provides us the new meaning like how we can interact between groups or person through which they can share video, audio and other information and sometimes discussion led to some amazing ideas over the internet and in virtual communities. In India social networking users are increasing drastically. In the year 2010 Facebook has ranked number one in India in social networking websites visited by approx. 20.9 million visitors in July 2010. 

In today’s era every group of people are trying to connect with online social network with different purposes but the impact of social networks on young people is significant. However, one of the major concerns that observed by the researcher is the changing mind-set or approach of the youth due to the social networking sites. When using these sites such as Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn, there is both positive and negative impact on the youth. After invention of Facebook it has received the amazing user response and after 13 years Facebook is still increasing the number of Facebook user drastically. The main reason of having the billions of user and still counting across the world could be an option provided by Facebook like it provides the security for every user profile, comment on post,  online chatting , audio/video calling , Etc. and the most appreciable thing offer by Facebook is the facility for customization of our profile and controls.

In India the number of Facebook users are increasing at a very high rate like according to a Facebook's statement as on December 31, 2012, it has 1.06 billion monthly active users (MAUs) worldwide including 71 million in India and in the next year Facebook has 82 million monthly active users (MAUs) in India for the quarter ending June 31, 2013, reports PTI (via The Times Of India) citing Facebook India’s Country Growth Manager Kevin D’Souza.In 2014 the increasing rate was too high, according to WASHINGTON, DC: Facebook has hit a remarkable growth by registering 100 million active users in India, with this India become the second largest user base after the US.“In India, Facebook has 125 million average users (MAU). On a daily basis, 59 million users in India are accessing Facebook and 53 million are accessing us from their mobile phones,” Facebook head of Products (Facebook Lite) Vijay Shankar told PTI.

Further various companies are guessing that Facebook has greatest number of users till 2017. If we consider the growth of Facebook users in India according to age group, in 2014 approx. 71% Facebook user covered under 19 to 35 years age group but most surprisingly the people having age more than 35 years are also increasing at very rapid rate. Why this drastic growth is on in India towards Facebook? Firstly according to age group greatest Facebook users are youth and in India mobile users are increasing drastically and as a result they are accessing Facebook or creating new Facebook accounts.India will have the largest mobile phone userbase till the year 2017 that will be 145.9 million user and on the other side US will have 138.8 million till year 2017. Secondly Facebook is amazing platform for new business startups and for existing business expansion since India is a developing country so such type of practice is very high. Now a day’s everyone wants to add popularity to his/her business and digital marketing on Facebook provides that chance. Thirdly social networking websites like Facebook provides the opportunities for users their career irrespective of user’s experience and seniority, they can also create common discipline groups and having the fruitful discussions. Social networking becomes the essential part of today’s youth and it makes their lives easier and efficient. Fourthly other than youth every age group is trying to learn Facebook access and take the advantage of this platform.

Mr. Pramod Kumar Pandey

Assistant Professor

Dept. of Management Studies