How Many Facebook Users Actually Read the Wall Street Journal?

Wednesday, January 30th, 2008 by Andy Beal

How Many Facebook Users Actually Read the Wall Street Journal?

The fact that the WSJ and Facebook have just partnered on a new initiative to let Facebook users share their favorite news stories, surely demonstrates one of the following:

Facebook is now dominated by 30+ -year old WSJ reading types.
The WSJ is just desperate to attract some hip under 30-year old readers.
Facebook is just completely selling out.
Both companies are just desperate.

OK, so I’m teasing, but it really does just come across as a strange partnership. It’s almost as if both companies figured it would give each of them some buzz, so struck the deal without actually worrying if anyone would care to use it or not.

Anyway, if you’re simply salivating at the chance to share your favorite WSJ article with your Facebook friends, here’s what you’re getting:

A “SeenThis” widget on the WSJ showing shared items.
It’s thankfully “opt in” so you’ll only see it, if you request to.
A Facebook version of the application which can be added to your profile.
SeenThis will show you the stories your Facebook friends are interested in.

I’m taking bets one when the WSJ will allow you throw sheep at other readers.

UPDATE: The SeenThis widget and partnership is with Loomia and not Facebook directly, according to David Marks.

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13 comments on “How Many Facebook Users Actually Read the Wall Street Journal?”

Alison Says:

January 30th, 2008 at 12:29 pm

I’m going to guess some combination of 2, 3 and 4. When I was in college (a whole 2 years ago) the WSJ was “required reading” for many Communications courses. Since I’d agree that most college student’s don’t read the WSJ, we modified the assignment to who could read the least and bluff the most.

Thinking along those lines, it could be a sensible and valuable partnership if the WSJ realizes what most Facebook users want-CliffsNotes news-and aren’t afraid to give it to them.
allen Says:

January 30th, 2008 at 1:12 pm

here’s my take andy:
http://www.centernetworks.com/wsj-widgets-with-facebook

i agree with you and think its more about 2,3,4 and also 5 which is “wsj wants to sell more ads and looking hip will help them do that”
Yaacov Says:

January 30th, 2008 at 1:45 pm

I’ve been reading the WSJ since high school. Can think of only 3 friends who have subscriptions with only one reading it on a regular basis.

The second I see my data being shared between the two sites, one will have to go…
VentureBeat » Roundup: Return of the Gphone rumor, Current TV not so profitable after all, and more Says:

January 30th, 2008 at 4:54 pm

[...] friends that day, powered by a company called Loomia. Not the most likely-sounding partnership, but Andy Beal has some explanations in mind. The most likely: “The WSJ is just desperate to attract some hip under 30-year old [...]
David Marks Says:

January 30th, 2008 at 6:37 pm

Andy,

Thanks for the write up. I’m one of the developers of SeenThis? at Loomia and want to make a quick correction. The Wall Street Journal, CNET, and NBC all partnered with Loomia to provide the SeenThis service, not Facebook as is how your article reads.

Here’s a link to a press release that explains the details:
http://seenthis.loomia.com/press/view/pr_20080130_launch

Hope this is helpful!
Andy Beal Says:

January 30th, 2008 at 7:20 pm

@David – thanks for the clarification, I updated the post.
Daryl Tay Says:

January 31st, 2008 at 12:15 am

Regardless of who initiated the service, I definitely agree that it’s a sign, if not of desperation then of something close. At least here in Singapore, there’s certainly been a decline in activity over the last 3-6 months.
Facebook Fatigue? « Unique-Frequency Says:

January 31st, 2008 at 12:21 am

[...] have been criticisms of Facebook in recent weeks (Marketing Pilgrim discusses a partnership between Facebook and the Wall Street Journal signalling desperation from [...]
Nicole Says:

January 31st, 2008 at 2:07 am

Seems a lot less inappropriate and funny after the clarification.
proxy-maker Says:

January 31st, 2008 at 9:48 am

Nice link! Thanks for post.
Darren Herman - Marketing, Advertising, Media and Technology Blog » Blog Archive » links for 2008-01-31 Says:

January 31st, 2008 at 1:22 pm

[...] How Many Facebook Users Actually Read the Wall Street Journal? (tags: facebook media wsj) [...]
rcjordan Says:

January 31st, 2008 at 5:19 pm

‘Facebook fatigue’ kicks in as people tire of social networks
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/01/31/myspace_fb_comscore_drop/

Seems reasonable, I know I’m tired of hearing about Facebook, MySpace, Linkedin…

Supposedly supporting stats here (but stats are, after all, stats and therefore highly suspect).
http://creativecapital.wordpress.com/2008/01/29/its-official-us-social -networking-sites-see-slow-down/
Geoff Livingston Says:

January 31st, 2008 at 6:42 pm

Perhaps Murdoch is suffering from a vampire bite.

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