Facebook Inc (FB) Drops 10 Million Users In Last Year [UPDATE]

Facebook Inc (NASDAQ:FB) released its earnings report for the first three months of 2013 right after the market closes, and the firm’s stock has fallen evenly through the day.

Facebook Inc (NASDAQ:FB) Loss & Move Of Users

According to a report in the Guardian, the number of users that accessed Facebook from a PC in the last twelve months in the United States has fallen by 10 million. There has been a corresponding move to mobile, but Facebook Inc (NASDAQ:FB) appears to be losing some users along the way, as other social networks take over.

On mobile there are many different applications that users can swap for Facebook Inc (NASDAQ:FB) if all they want to do is get in touch with friends. Restricted screen space means the amount and quality of information on mobile versions of the site is lessened, taking away from some of the social network’s allure.

The fact that the Guardian was the site reporting this news gives pause. The paper has a reputation for jumping the gun and printing news based on picking and choosing which parts of a report to use. Just days ago the paper printed an article almost identical to the Nielsen piece. The research firm that the Guardian cited in that report later stated that the paper had gotten its facts completely wrong.

Facebook Inc (NASDAQ:FB) results are being waited for anxiously by investors across the market, and the news that the social networking site might have lost 10 million of its most valuable customers will surely shake proceedings. Heading toward close, traders will have to decide whether or not to exit their positions, in case the stock plummets after market and tomorrow morning.

Facebook Inc (NASDAQ:FB) analysts will not be all that worried about this information. The move from PC to mobile is anticipated, Facebook is planning for it and everybody knows the story. The Guardian report fails to reflect that subtlety.

Update 15:32 EST: A Nielsen source has confirmed that the way in which the Guardian presented the data provided to them was erroneous. Nielsen does not measure Facebook users, just unique visitors. Facebook.com had 142.1 million unique visitors during March 2013 on the web in the US.  In March 2012 Facebook.com had 152.8 million Americans visiting their website using a browser. The data shows a drop of 10 million in the numbers of unique visitors to the site on a desktop in the twelve months. That point does not include mobile visitors, nor does it say anything about users.