Comments on: Comscore’s Fishy Facebook Numbers http://saunderslog.com/2007/07/06/comscores-fishy-facebook-numbers/ A daily round table on the tech industry with experts and callers from all over the globe. Join us as we pick apart the news and get to the meat of what\'s happening out there. Fri, 04 Jul 2008 15:05:44 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Linkbits 07.10.07 | p2p Capital Group | http://saunderslog.com/2007/07/06/comscores-fishy-facebook-numbers/#comment-324466 Linkbits 07.10.07 | p2p Capital Group | Tue, 10 Jul 2007 20:19:21 +0000 http://saunderslog.com/2007/07/06/comscores-fishy-facebook-numbers/#comment-324466 [...] Facebook continues to grow at a rapid pace. The latest numbers show an increase in traffic of 80+% when comparing last May to this May. Read more here. [...] [...] Facebook continues to grow at a rapid pace. The latest numbers show an increase in traffic of 80+% when comparing last May to this May. Read more here. [...]

]]> By: Linkbits 07.10.07 « p2p Capital http://saunderslog.com/2007/07/06/comscores-fishy-facebook-numbers/#comment-324307 Linkbits 07.10.07 « p2p Capital Tue, 10 Jul 2007 16:36:23 +0000 http://saunderslog.com/2007/07/06/comscores-fishy-facebook-numbers/#comment-324307 [...] Facebook continues to grow at a rapid pace. The latest numbers show an increase in traffic of 80+% when comparing last May to this May. Read more here. [...] [...] Facebook continues to grow at a rapid pace. The latest numbers show an increase in traffic of 80+% when comparing last May to this May. Read more here. [...]

]]> By: ME http://saunderslog.com/2007/07/06/comscores-fishy-facebook-numbers/#comment-323339 ME Mon, 09 Jul 2007 06:54:19 +0000 http://saunderslog.com/2007/07/06/comscores-fishy-facebook-numbers/#comment-323339 how about that web measuring firms are useless? how about that web measuring firms are useless?

]]> By: Colin Smillie http://saunderslog.com/2007/07/06/comscores-fishy-facebook-numbers/#comment-323047 Colin Smillie Sun, 08 Jul 2007 22:57:15 +0000 http://saunderslog.com/2007/07/06/comscores-fishy-facebook-numbers/#comment-323047 The comScore and the whole panel approach is suspect. There has been a number of requests for outside auditing on these reporting services, the last one I can recall was from the IAB. You can see the comScore response here: http://www.comscore.com/press/release.asp?press=1400 The comScore and the whole panel approach is suspect. There has been a number of requests for outside auditing on these reporting services, the last one I can recall was from the IAB. You can see the comScore response here:

http://www.comscore.com/press/release.asp?press=1400

]]> By: Alec http://saunderslog.com/2007/07/06/comscores-fishy-facebook-numbers/#comment-321689 Alec Sat, 07 Jul 2007 11:23:59 +0000 http://saunderslog.com/2007/07/06/comscores-fishy-facebook-numbers/#comment-321689 If they're counting hits on the front page, Darren, then the data is completely worthless. It's hard to believe that they would be that stupid, or that they believe that the people using their data are that stupid. If they’re counting hits on the front page, Darren, then the data is completely worthless. It’s hard to believe that they would be that stupid, or that they believe that the people using their data are that stupid.

]]> By: Darren http://saunderslog.com/2007/07/06/comscores-fishy-facebook-numbers/#comment-321598 Darren Sat, 07 Jul 2007 09:23:20 +0000 http://saunderslog.com/2007/07/06/comscores-fishy-facebook-numbers/#comment-321598 how about its people that hit the front page and don't go any further? how about its people that hit the front page and don’t go any further?

]]> By: Alec http://saunderslog.com/2007/07/06/comscores-fishy-facebook-numbers/#comment-321085 Alec Fri, 06 Jul 2007 20:39:41 +0000 http://saunderslog.com/2007/07/06/comscores-fishy-facebook-numbers/#comment-321085 Thanks for the background Rational. I'm with you in thinking that the demographic info is unreliable, especially when collected via toolbar. Thanks for the background Rational. I’m with you in thinking that the demographic info is unreliable, especially when collected via toolbar.

]]> By: Rational Beaver http://saunderslog.com/2007/07/06/comscores-fishy-facebook-numbers/#comment-321075 Rational Beaver Fri, 06 Jul 2007 20:24:52 +0000 http://saunderslog.com/2007/07/06/comscores-fishy-facebook-numbers/#comment-321075 Great post. I kinda hoped someone would call out those numbers. About the young ones: A. You can visit Facebook without creating an account (you can't do much, but still). B. Facebook is not lie-proof. C. Young kids may sometimes use their older siblings accounts. About the old ones: Comscore uses a variety of means to measure internet use including surveys and some installed software (a toolbar, I believe). The age problem arises when Dad logs in to his Comscore account (a 35+ person) and then Junior (13-18) comes along and, instead of dutifully logging into his own account, he just heads straight to Facebook (or MySpace, which has also been reported to be ridiculously old). Personally, I think this sort of demographic info is completely unreliable no matter what Comscore may claim about their methods. Great post. I kinda hoped someone would call out those numbers.

About the young ones: A. You can visit Facebook without creating an account (you can’t do much, but still). B. Facebook is not lie-proof. C. Young kids may sometimes use their older siblings accounts.

About the old ones: Comscore uses a variety of means to measure internet use including surveys and some installed software (a toolbar, I believe). The age problem arises when Dad logs in to his Comscore account (a 35+ person) and then Junior (13-18) comes along and, instead of dutifully logging into his own account, he just heads straight to Facebook (or MySpace, which has also been reported to be ridiculously old).

Personally, I think this sort of demographic info is completely unreliable no matter what Comscore may claim about their methods.

]]> By: Alec http://saunderslog.com/2007/07/06/comscores-fishy-facebook-numbers/#comment-320976 Alec Fri, 06 Jul 2007 18:07:23 +0000 http://saunderslog.com/2007/07/06/comscores-fishy-facebook-numbers/#comment-320976 Hmmm... one would think that Facebook would police that then. After all, they do know ages when you sign up. Hmmm… one would think that Facebook would police that then. After all, they do know ages when you sign up.

]]> By: Anonymous http://saunderslog.com/2007/07/06/comscores-fishy-facebook-numbers/#comment-320959 Anonymous Fri, 06 Jul 2007 17:45:38 +0000 http://saunderslog.com/2007/07/06/comscores-fishy-facebook-numbers/#comment-320959 A source at comScore alluded to the missing 1.2 million visitors being 'outside the qualifying age range' -- which I took to mean below the age of 12. Aside from the whole concept being ridiculous (9 and 10 year olds on Facebook? why not go to Whyville or Club Penguin), I think there are some strict federal guidelines governing the Internet activity of children below the age of 13. A source at comScore alluded to the missing 1.2 million visitors being ‘outside the qualifying age range’ — which I took to mean below the age of 12.

Aside from the whole concept being ridiculous (9 and 10 year olds on Facebook? why not go to Whyville or Club Penguin), I think there are some strict federal guidelines governing the Internet activity of children below the age of 13.

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