China: Facebook’s Dark Continent

Facebook included the above image in its IPO filing, noting that if you simply map the connections between users you “form a picture that approximates a global map.” In general, this looks a lot like a map of light use or economic activity—large population centers and rich areas shine bright, while lots of Africa stays dark. But this map also starkly illustrates Facebook’s absence from China, potentially the largest market in the world but someplace the company hasn’t yet entered.