Facebook Hits 1 Billion Active Users: Hot Trends

NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- Popular searches on the Internet include Facebook (FB) after the social networking Web site crossed a major milestone -- passing 1 billion active users.

With more than 7 billion people in the world, it means about one in every seven people on the planet uses Facebook. CEO and founder Mark Zuckerberg confirmed the news Friday morning. The site officially hit the 1 billion mark on Sept. 14.

Of its 1 billion active users, 600 million of them are mobile users. The average age of a Facebook user has fallen to 22 years old from 23. The site has seen more than 1.13 trillion "Likes" since the feature was launched in February 2009.

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3M (MMM) is trending as the manufacturer has scrapped plans to buy Avery-Dennison's (AVY) office and consumer products business.

U.S. regulators raised objections over the potential deal a month ago, even threatening a lawsuit to block the $550 million deal due to antitrust concerns. Regulators were concerned the deal would have resulted in a substantial decline in competition, as well as higher prices for consumers and less innovation. 3M had initially intended to fight to get the deal done.

Avery Dennison said it will continue to pursue selling the business.

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Food prices is another popular search. The United Nations' food agency said on Thursday that world food prices rose in September to the highest in six months.

The United Nations' Food & Agriculture Organization said livestock breeders and dairy farmers are passing the higher costs of feed on to consumers, after grain prices rose in prior months. The organization said dairy costs alone climbed the most in over two years. The FAO said an index of 55 food items rose to 215.8 points from 212.8 points in August.

The FAO said it does not expect a food crisis.

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The chatter on Main Street (a.k.a. Google, Yahoo! and other search sites) is always of interest to investors on Wall Street. Thus, each day, TheStreet compiles the stories that are trending on the Web, and highlights the news that could make stocks move.

-- Written by Brittany Umar.

Brittany joined TheStreet.com TV in November 2006 after completing a degree in Journalism and Media Studies at Rutgers College. Previously, Brittany interned at the local ABC affiliate in New York City WABC-TV 7 where she helped research and produce On Your Side, a popular consumer advocacy segment.