Facebook is halfway to its goal of 1 billion global users. But to get there, the social network knows it has to crack four key markets in Asia where it's not currently the leader, founder-CEO Mark Zuckerberg said in an interview with Ad Age editor Abbey Klaassen today during the 57th annual Cannes Lions International Advertising Festival. The company plans to double down efforts in China, Japan, Korea and Russia. In most of those nations, the site only has 1 million users, Mr. Zuckerberg said, although he noted that Russia is doubling sign-ups about every six months right now. The Palo Alto, Calif.-based company has "no chance" of hitting that magic billion mark this year, Mr. Zuckerberg indicated, and while he's optimistic that Facebook has the potential to be the first social network to get there.
Mr. Zuckerberg said he's observed that usage trends on the site around the globe don't vary all that much. "By and large, people are using the service for the same thing," he said, which is engaging with a community of selected family and friends.
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