Here’s some perspective on Facebook’s growth with estimated data from Quantcast and Compete. The numbers are significantly different between the sources but the basic trend and relative traffic difference between Facebook and Google is evident: Facebook is a rocket, or, rather a full-blown planet with enough gravity to start a galaxy—the data shows it surpassed Google in traffic in late 2009.

Facebook’s new social plugins should continue the boost. It makes me wonder if an IPO is coming, but I don’t think it will right away at least. Facebook has so much data. They know it. Like Google, they’re becoming more open with their data and platform. Personally I depend on Google more than Facebook. How ’bout you?

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