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Viral Loop: What Are Your Facebook Friends Worth?

September 18, 2009
by Adam Penenberg
Contributing Writer, Fast Company

Adam Penenberg

Feel guilty whiling away hours on Facebook? Now you can tell yourself it’s worth something–to Facebook.

If Facebook counted 3 million users instead of 300 million, it wouldn’t have its stratospheric valuation. The truth is, users have value. But how much is each person worth to Facebook?

It’s a question worth asking, because viral companies like Facebook, MySpace, and Twitter derive their value from their users. That’s because unlike conventional audience members, users of social networks tend to be committed participants and contributors.

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This is a section of the All Things Digital Web site featuring posts from around the Web, from other Dow Jones properties and also original pieces we solicit. The section is now explicitly labeled that it comes "from other Web sites."

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