NEW YORK—Online social-networking company Facebook Inc. achieved another superlative on Thursday, as it was named the Internet’s most-visited website in 2010 by an industry research firm.
Facebook.com was determined to be the most-visited website in the United States, according to a report by Experian Hitwise, an industry research firm.
Between January and November, Facebook was the destination of 8.9 percent of all Internet visits, according to the firm, the first year it has garnered the top spot, surpassing search giants Google Inc. and Yahoo Inc.
In just six years, Facebook has evolved from a social-networking latecomer to a Web behemoth with more than 500 million members worldwide. In 2008 and 2009, Google was ranked first by Hitwise, while social-networking site MySpace, which is owned by News Corp., came in first in 2007. In the 2010 report, Google was second, while MySpace has dropped to seventh overall.
Including Google’s other properties such as YouTube and Gmail, Google still was the most-visited Web company, with 9.9 percent of all Web visits.
Hitwise also found Facebook to be the most-searched term in cyberspace, with “facebook” and “facebook login” the two most popular terms queried in search engines.
There are other notable search terms that are gaining in popularity this year. Among them are Netflix, ESPN, Hulu, and Wells Fargo. Most of the top search terms are related to Web-based entertainment and video content.
Facebook is headquartered in Palo Alto, Calif.
Facebook.com was determined to be the most-visited website in the United States, according to a report by Experian Hitwise, an industry research firm.
Between January and November, Facebook was the destination of 8.9 percent of all Internet visits, according to the firm, the first year it has garnered the top spot, surpassing search giants Google Inc. and Yahoo Inc.
In just six years, Facebook has evolved from a social-networking latecomer to a Web behemoth with more than 500 million members worldwide. In 2008 and 2009, Google was ranked first by Hitwise, while social-networking site MySpace, which is owned by News Corp., came in first in 2007. In the 2010 report, Google was second, while MySpace has dropped to seventh overall.
Including Google’s other properties such as YouTube and Gmail, Google still was the most-visited Web company, with 9.9 percent of all Web visits.
Hitwise also found Facebook to be the most-searched term in cyberspace, with “facebook” and “facebook login” the two most popular terms queried in search engines.
There are other notable search terms that are gaining in popularity this year. Among them are Netflix, ESPN, Hulu, and Wells Fargo. Most of the top search terms are related to Web-based entertainment and video content.
Facebook is headquartered in Palo Alto, Calif.
