There is a huge problem at Facebook, and it’s not the 87 million fake accounts. Though that is a symptom of the problem it’s not the problem itself.
With roughly 900 million accounts, the problem is that there is no where else to grow.
Lets start with some math, at lets assume that the 900 million (when you subtract the admitted 87 million bogus accounts there) is a fairly accurate number.
You have a world population of about 7 billion. (source Wikipedia) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_population
Of those 7 billion, 25% of the global population is aged under 13 which means they can’t technically register an account at Facebook (source: Wikipedia) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_population
That leaves a total of roughly 5.25 billion people left.
Out of those 5.25 billion this is the breakdown.
2.2 billion of them don’t have internet access. They mostly live in poorer areas where it’s difficult or impossible to obtain access. Source : http://www.internetworldstats.com/stats.htm
So this leaves a total of 3 billion people left.
Out of those 3 billion people left, 718 million of them live in China, a country that has virtually banned Facebook. Source : Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_in_China
This leaves about 2.25 billion people left, of which nearly 1/2 already have a Facebook account.
Facebook… I hate to say this… but there is no where else to grow.
There are 2 options left… 1 – Open China…. or 2 — find a way to make money from everyone that logs into facebook… good luck with both options.
Oh there is a third option… find space aliens to become members of facebook, I would enjoy reading their updates.