Out of the approximate 845 million users of Facebook, India has now pipped Indonesia to emerge as its second largest user base.

In 2011, India was number 6 on the list. As of February 1, India had as many as 43,497,980 registered users, following a 144 per cent growth in 2011 alone.
Although only less than four per cent of India is active on social networks, this is a sign of things to come. Because not only is the country’s social networking growing a never-seen-before pace, it has also been revealed by a study that Facebook users worldwide do not have any major ‘fatigue’ because of continued usage. The Pew Research Report said Facebook helps the ‘basic human need of being in touch with loved ones and in getting the much needed support when need arises’.
Its easy reach and the ‘sharing’ ecosystem has been a big reason behind the success, added the study.
But is this all really true? Will India, one day, become Mark Zuckerberg’s treasure chest?
“Facebook has helped people find long lost friends, help improve commerce, link different kinds of people on all realms and enable people to explore new tourism spots, all with a personal touch,” says Aswin, a management student.
Taking a tougher stance, K. Subramanian, an engineering graduate argued: “Privacy has gone for a toss. It is nothing but self-obsession and heights of narcicissm that is on display through channels as Facebook. It is largely a consumer-driven society that we live in, and the growth and consolidation of Facebook is just a reflection of that.”
There are voices on both sides but business-talk reveals the collosus that’s Facebook is trudging on.
The initial public offering filed this week seeking to raise 5 billion USD bas triggered online debates on how it would affect the Internet landscape and, maybe, fuel another wealth rise in Silicon valley
Founder Mark Zuckerberg even claims to bring in a connect between governments and people by ‘changing how people relate to government by enabling better flow of information’.
But some of us in India are largely worrying about more immediate issues.
“I would like Facebook to bolster up their privacy options and make the whole ecosystem friendly and conducive for children and adults alike. With all the funding. I see Facebook evolving to open up new arenas that were never imagined before,” said Latha, a software application developer.
So yes, the argument continues. India’s now second and growing furiously. Time to ‘like’ this?