Is Facebook Social Media’s Google?

It’s not about search. It’s about you. “All things Internet to all Internet people.” It’s the Google way. Facebook seems poised to take the same approach in the online social media world.

Andy Beal’s Marketing Pilgrim points out that comScore’s recent report (via Mashable) says Facebook has 40% of social media traffic. In a system that’s now over 300 million users worldwide, it’s not difficult to believe these numbers, shown best in a snapshot of growth in market use over two years.

Even more telling is the growth over the year:

Today, Mark Zukerberg, CEO of Facebook, is expected to explain anticipated moves to the f8 Conference in San Francisco, according to the New York Times. Apparently, plans include the deployment of a universal “Like” button that would be available to Web sites much like the “share” and “bookmark” functions are. Unlike the “share” button, though, the “like” function would allow Facebook to aggregate approval metrics and user preferences and gain significant data that it then might sell or make available to advertisers and other revenue sources. You can follow a live stream of the conference here.

Of course, Facebook denies this. So, do you believe the denial? Tooth fairy, anyone?