Facebook said Wednesday that revenue rose 56 percent to $ 29 billion in the three months ending June compared to the same period last year, while profits rose 101 percent up to $ 10.4 billion, as the social network continues to benefit from an increase in users spending more time online during the pandemic.
Advertising revenue, which remains the largest share of Facebook’s revenue, rose 56 percent to $ 28.6 billion, easily exceeding Wall Street expectations. Now, approximately 3.51 million people use one of the Facebook apps each month, 12% more than the previous year.
The results follow the company’s strong performance over the past 18 months, as the pandemic pushed people inside towards their computers and other devices. Facebook recorded maximum user and revenue, while continuing to expand its employee base and reinvest in infrastructure such as data centers. More than 63,000 people now work full-time on Facebook, 21% more than the previous year.
While Facebook’s core properties, including the main Facebook and Instagram app, continue to increase advertising revenue, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg plans to grow the company’s future, including investing in projects like virtual reality and a next-generation computer platform. he calls it “the metaverse.”
“We had a strong quarter as we continue to help grow businesses and keep people connected,” Zuckerberg said. “I’m excited to see our flagship initiatives around creators and the community, commerce and building the next computing platform coming together to start bringing the metaverse vision to life.”
The company is also doing its best to attract more content creators to Facebook and Instagram, a move to offset the success of platforms like YouTube and TikTok in attracting the so-called creator economy.
In recent years, Facebook has seen influencers turn to other platforms and create businesses from their followers. Now, Mr. Zuckerberg wants to build a model similar to his own properties, which could ultimately lead to new revenue streams for the company.
But Facebook executives warned that earnings in future quarters may not be as rosy. In a note to investors, Facebook said changes to privacy in Apple’s mobile operating system could hurt the social network’s advertising business. The company also noted that its rapid growth may not last, especially as more people get vaccinated and start venturing away from home and away from their computers.
Investors seemed to cringe at the indications of Facebook; Facebook shares fell 3.5 percent in out-of-hours trading.
Facebook also announced Wednesday that it would require vaccination of employees working on any of the company’s U.S. campuses, depending on local conditions and regulations. The move follows a similar policy previously announced by Google and an Apple announcement that would delay the return of workers to the company’s offices until the end of the year.