However, the platform has gradually declined, losing its lead to Instagram, another service owned by the same company, now known as Meta. (Image: Kobiz Media)
SEOUL, Feb. 9 (Korea Bizwire) –With Facebook recently marking 20 years since its launch, the once-dominant social media platform has seen its monthly active users on the mobile app in South Korea dip below the 10 million mark for the first time since May 2020, when mobile big data company IGAWorks began its combined app market analysis.
According to Mobile Index data from IGAWorks, Facebook’s January Monthly Active Users (MAU) in South Korea was recorded at 9,913,855, a significant drop from the 11,552,420 users reported in January 2023, reflecting a decline of approximately 1.64 million users over the year.
The drop to under 10 million users is a first since the comprehensive analysis started, signaling a notable shift in the platform’s engagement within the country. Although Facebook’s MAU had already fallen below 10 million by the end of last year, recent updates in Mobile Index’s iOS data estimation methods have led to adjustments in these figures.
Launched on February 4, 2004 by founder Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook was envisioned to make the world more open and connected. Its convenience, openness, and scalability made it the leading social networking service (SNS) until the mid-2010s.
However, the platform has gradually declined, losing its lead to Instagram, another service owned by the same company, now known as Meta.
The decline has been particularly marked among Generation Z users, born from the mid-1990s to the early 2000s, who have gravitated towards platforms that allow for the creation and sharing of short videos, diminishing Facebook’s former glory.
Professor Lee Seung-hoon from the Department of Business Administration at Gachon University commented, “In South Korea, Facebook once replaced Cyworld as the go-to SNS platform, but its user base is now predominantly middle-aged and older. However, it’s premature to say that its global growth has slowed.”
Ashley Song (ashley@koreabizwire.com)
