Social Networking Explodes Worldwide as Sites Increase their Focus on Cultural Relevance

Facebook and Hi5 More than Double Global Visitor Bases During Past Year

RESTON, VA, August 12, 2008 – Comscore, Inc. (NASDAQ: SCOR), a leader in measuring the digital world, today released a study of worldwide usage of social networking sites, indicating that while the growth in new users in North America is beginning to level off, it is burgeoning in other regions around the world. During the past year, the total North American audience of social networkers has grown 9 percent compared to a much larger 25 percent growth for the world at large. The Middle East-Africa region (up 66 percent), Europe (up 35 percent), and Latin America (up 33 percent) have each grown at well-above average rates.

Social Networking Growth by Worldwide Region
June 2008 vs. June 2007
Total Worldwide Audience, Age 15+ - Home and Work Locations
Source: Comscore World Metrix

Unique Visitors (000)

Jun-07

Jun-08

Percent Change

Worldwide

464,437

580,510

25%

Asia Pacific

162,738

200,555

23%

Europe

122,527

165,256

35%

North America

120,848

131,255

9%

Latin America

40,098

53,248

33%

Middle East - Africa

18,226

30,197

66%

“While the social networking trend first took off in North America, it is beginning to reach a point of maturity in the region,” said Jack Flanagan, Comscore executive vice president. “However, the phenomenon is still growing rapidly in other regions around the world – especially as the established American brands turn their focus to developing markets.”

Facebook and Hi5 Lead Global Growth among Top Social Networking Sites

During the past year, many of the top social networking sites have demonstrated rapid growth in their global user bases. Facebook.com, which took over the global lead among social networking sites in April 2008, has made a concerted effort to become more culturally relevant in markets outside the U.S. Its introduction of natural language interfaces in several markets has helped propel the site to 153-percent growth during the past year. Meanwhile, the emphasis Hi5.com has put on its full-scale localization strategy has helped the site double its visitor base to more than 56 million. Other social networking sites, including Friendster.com (up 50 percent), Orkut (up 41 percent), and Bebo.com (up 32 percent) have demonstrated particularly strong growth on a global basis.

Worldwide Growth among Selected Social Networking Sites
June 2008 vs. June 2007
Total Worldwide Audience, Age 15+
Home and Work Locations
Source: Comscore World Metrix

Total Unique Visitors (000)

Jun-2007

Jun-2008

% Change

Total Internet : Total Audience

778,310

860,514

11%

Social Networking

464,437

580,510

25%

FACEBOOK.COM

52,167

132,105

153%

MYSPACE.COM

114,147

117,582

3%

HI5.COM

28,174

56,367

100%

FRIENDSTER.COM

24,675

37,080

50%

Orkut

24,120

34,028

41%

BEBO.COM

18,200

24,017

32%

Skyrock Network

17,638

21,041

19%

Facebook Gains Traction in Europe and Other Regions

Facebook’s recent ascension to become the top global social networking site has been spurred by its substantial growth across worldwide regions. Though its largest visitor base is still in North America (49 million), Facebook’s growth in the region is a relatively modest 38-percent. In every other worldwide region, Facebook’s audience has more than quadrupled. Europe is quickly catching up with North America as Facebook’s largest visitor base with 35 million visitors in June, a 303-percent increase and a net addition of nearly 27 million monthly visitors versus year ago. Other worldwide regions have seen even more dramatic growth on a percentage basis.

Worldwide Growth for Facebook.com
June 2008 vs. June 2007
Total Worldwide Audience, Age 15+
Home and Work Locations
Source: Comscore World Metrix

Total Unique Visitors (000)

Jun-2007

Jun-2008

% Change

FACEBOOK.COM

52,167

132,105

153%

North America

35,698

49,248

38%

Europe

8,751

35,263

303%

Asia Pacific

3,712

20,712

458%

Middle East - Africa

2,974

14,951

403%

Latin America

1,033

11,931

1055%

“Facebook has done an exceptional job of leveraging its brand internationally during the past year,” added Mr. Flanagan. “By increasing the site’s relevance to local markets through local language interface translation, the site is now competing strongly or even capturing the lead in several markets where it had a relatively minor presence just a year ago.”

About Comscore
Comscore, Inc. (NASDAQ: SCOR) is a global leader in measuring the digital world. For more information, please visit www.comscore.com/boilerplate.

Press
Bill Daddi
Daddi Brand Communications
646-370-1341
press@comscore.com

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