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Facebook Alternatives

February 2nd 2024

Facebook alternatives comprise general social networks like Twitter and Instagram, privacy-focused platforms such as Signal and MeWe, and niche communities like Reddit and TikTok.

Alternative	Key Features	Core Strengths	Weaknesses
Mastodon	1. Federated Social Network: Decentralized, open-source platform. 2. Customizable Instances: Users can join or create instances with specific rules. 3. Privacy: Provides granular control over data sharing.	– Decentralized network with user-controlled instances for tailored experiences. – Strong focus on user privacy and data control. – Open-source nature allows for customization and community-driven development.	– Smaller user base compared to mainstream social media platforms. – Requires some technical knowledge for instance setup and management. – May lack the same level of third-party app support as Facebook.
Diaspora	1. Decentralized Social Network: Offers a decentralized and user-owned platform. 2. Privacy Controls: Provides granular privacy settings. 3. Community Pods: Users can join or create community pods.	– Decentralized and user-owned network for enhanced privacy and control. – Extensive privacy controls allow users to manage data sharing. – Community pods foster niche communities and customization options.	– Smaller user base compared to mainstream platforms. – Interface and user experience may vary between different pods. – May require some technical knowledge to set up or join pods.
Ello	1. Ad-Free Platform: Ad-free social network with a focus on user experience. 2. Creative Community: Attracts artists and creators. 3. Privacy Features: Offers private profiles and data protection.	– Ad-free experience without intrusive advertisements. – Welcoming community for artists and creative individuals. – Emphasizes user privacy with private profiles and data protection.	– Smaller user base compared to major social media platforms. – May not have the same level of feature diversity as Facebook. – Limited monetization options for content creators.
MeWe	1. Privacy-Centric: Focuses on user privacy and data protection. 2. Customizable Feeds: Users can control their news feeds. 3. Encrypted Chat: Offers end-to-end encrypted messaging.	– Strong emphasis on user privacy and data control. – Customizable news feeds allow users to curate their content. – Secure end-to-end encrypted messaging for private communication.	– Smaller user base compared to major social media platforms. – Some features may require a paid subscription. – User interface and design may differ from mainstream platforms.
Friendica	1. Federated Social Network: Part of the Fediverse, allowing connections with various platforms. 2. Privacy Controls: Offers extensive privacy settings. 3. Community Support: Active community and support.	– Part of the Fediverse, enabling connections with different federated platforms. – Granular privacy controls for user data management. – Active community and support for newcomers.	– Smaller user base compared to mainstream social media networks. – May have a learning curve for those unfamiliar with the Fediverse concept. – Interface and user experience may vary between different servers.

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General Social Networks:

Twitter: A popular microblogging platform for real-time updates and conversations.
Instagram: A visual-centric platform for sharing photos and videos with a large user base.
LinkedIn: A professional networking site connecting individuals and businesses.
Snapchat: A multimedia messaging app known for its disappearing content and augmented reality features.

Privacy-Focused Social Networks:

Signal: A secure messaging app with a focus on privacy and end-to-end encryption.
Mastodon: A decentralized social network allowing users to create their own communities.
MeWe: A privacy-focused platform emphasizing data ownership and control.
Diaspora: A decentralized social network prioritizing user privacy and data autonomy.

Niche Social Networks:

Reddit: A platform of communities based on shared interests, with discussions and content sharing.
Pinterest: A visual discovery platform for finding and organizing inspiration and ideas.
TikTok: A video-sharing app featuring short-form creative content and viral trends.
Nextdoor: A neighborhood-based social network connecting neighbors and fostering local interactions.

Read Also: Facebook Business Model

Read Also: Facebook Business Model

Related Visual Stories

Who Owns Facebook

Facebook, rebranded as Meta in 2021, is primarily owned by Mark Zuckerberg, founder, and CEO. Zuckerberg keeps tight control over the ownership and decision-making of the company. Other large individual shareholders comprise former COO Sheryl Sandberg and co-founder Eduardo Saverin. Large institutional investors include BlackRock, Vanguard, and Fidelity.

Facebook Business Model

Facebook, the main product of Meta is an attention merchant. As such, its algorithms condense the attention of over 2.91 billion monthly active users as of June 2021. Meta generated $117.9 billion in revenues, in 2021, of which $114.9 billion from advertising (97.4% of the total revenues) and over $2.2 billion from Reality Labs (the augmented and virtual reality products arm).

Facebook Revenue Breakdown

Facebook Revenues

Facebook generated most of its revenue from advertising in 2023. Indeed, the company generated $131.95B from advertising, $1.89B billion from its reality labs segment, and over a billion in other revenue.

Facebook Employees

By September 2022, Facebook’s (Meta) employee count had peaked at 87,314. Yet, as revenue slew down for the first time in years, the company announced a layoff of 13% of its workforce, bringing the headcount to 75,964. By March 2023, Meta announced another round of layoffs, dubbed “The Year of Efficiency,” which brought the headcount down to less than 66 thousand employees. By the end of 2023, Facebook reported 67,317 employees.

Facebook Revenue Per Employee

In 2022, post layoffs, Facebook generated $1,535,056 per employee, compared to $1,638,586 in 2021. In 2023, as Facebook (now Meta) completed its mass layoffs, the company reported nearly $135 billion in revenue and 67,317 employees, with a $2,003,981 revenue per employee.

Facebook MAU

Facebook (Meta) gained users in 2023. In fact, in 2023, Facebook had over three billion users worldwide, of which 272 million were in Canada, 408 million were in Europe, over 1.3 billion were in Asia, and over a billion were in the rest of the world.

Facebook ARPU

ARPU, or average revenue per user, is a crucial metric for attention merchants like Facebook. It assesses the ability of the platform to monetize its users. For instance, by the end of 2023, Meta’s ARPU worldwide was $13.12. In the US & Canada, it was $68.44; in Europe, it was $23.14; in Asia-Pacific, $5.52; and in the rest of the world, it was $4.50.

Facebook ARPU 2010-2023

ARPU, or average revenue per user, is a crucial metric for attention merchants like Facebook. It assesses the ability of the platform to monetize its users. For instance, by the end of 2023, Meta’s ARPU worldwide was $13.12. In the US & Canada, it was $68.44; in Europe, it was $23.14; in Asia-Pacific, $5.52; and in the rest of the world, it was $4.50.

Facebook Profitability

Facebook (Meta) revenue in 2023 increased to $134.9B, compared to $116.6B in 2022. Its profitability increased to $39.1B in 2023, compared to $23.2B in 2022 and $39.37B in 2021.

Reality Labs

As of September 2022, Facebook, rebranded as Meta, is a profitable company, generating $18.54B in net profits. Yet, if we look at its Reality Labs segment, which is in charge of building the Metaverse, it recorded a net loss of $9.44 billion in the first nine months of 2022.

Instagram Business Model

Instagram makes money via visual advertising. Acquired by Facebook for a billion-dollar in 2012, today, Instagram is integrated into the overall Facebook (now rebranded as Meta) business strategy. In 2018, Instagram founders Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger left the company as Facebook pushed toward tighter integration of the two platforms. In 2022, Instagram is the most successful product still, in Meta’s portfolio.

WhatsApp Business Model

Founded in 2009 by Brian Acton, Jan Koum WhatsApp is a messaging app acquired by Facebook in 2014 for $19B. In 2018 WhatsApp rolled out customers’ interaction services, starting to make money on slow responses from companies. And Facebook also announced conversations on WhatsApp prompted by Facebook Ads.

Facebook Organizational Structure

Facebook is characterized by a multi-faceted matrix organizational structure. The company utilizes a flat organizational structure in combination with corporate function-based teams and product-based or geographic divisions. The flat organizational structure is organized around the leadership of Mark Zuckerberg and the key executives around him. On the other hand, the function-based teams are based on the main corporate functions (like HR, product management, investor relations, and so on).

Metaverse Supply Chain

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