Facebook Passes 500 Million Users

As widely expected, Facebook has announced that it has passed the 500 million member mark.

In a blog post, CEO Mark Zuckerberg writes that, “I could have never imagined all of the ways people would use Facebook (Facebook) when we were getting started 6 years ago. I want to thank you for being part of making Facebook what it is today and for spreading it around the world.”

Zuckerberg has also announced the launch of Facebook Stories, showcasing interesting ways that people have used the social network around the world. News (news) of the feature leaked over the weekend.

Later today, Zuckerberg is expected to make a rare television appearance on ABC’s World News, where he’ll be interviewed by Diane Sawyer. Presumably, the interview will focus on what the 500 million milestone means for the company, but we also expect a number of questions about recent privacy gaffes and other controversial subjects, including the soon to be released movie based on Facebook’s beginnings.

The question a lot of people also want to know is how big Zuckerberg thinks Facebook can get. Is one billion users possible? With revenue approaching $1 billion and extensive efforts underway in mobile that can help Facebook extend its reach in the developing world, it certainly can’t be ruled out.