Hitwise: Google+ users in the U.S. reached 49 million in December 2011, up 55% from the previous month

Google+ user growth curve

Data released by research firm Hitwise on Monday, January 3, 2012 showed that the number of Google+ users in the United States reached 49 million in December last year, a 55% increase from the previous month.

Google has not disclosed the official number of Google+ users, but Paul Allen, founder of the American genealogy search website FamilyLink, estimated that the number of Google+ users in the United States was 62 million in December last year, and would reach 85 million by February 1, 2012. According to data from another research company ComScore, the number of Google+ users in November last year was 65 million.

As the biggest competitor of Google+, Facebook currently has about 800 million users. More importantly, users visit Facebook more frequently. Joanna Shields, managing director of Facebook EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa), said in December last year: "500 million users visit Facebook every day."

Currently, the role of social networking sites is increasing. ComScore said in December last year: "Social networking is the most popular online activity in the world. Among Internet users aged 15 and above, 82% use social networking. The time these users spend on social networking sites accounts for one-fifth of their total online time."