MetaFacebook’s influence remains strong worldwide, but younger users are not logged in. According to a 2024 Pew survey, only 32% of teens using Facebook, up to 71% in 2014 use Facebook. However, Facebook’s resale platform marketplace is one of the reasons young people are on the platform.
“I use Facebook only for my marketplace,” said Mirka Arevalo, a student at the University of Buffalo. “Apart from casual browsing, you’ll also learn what you want.”
Released in 2016, Facebook Marketplace has grown into one of the biggest success stories in the meta. According to BusinessDasher, 1.1 billion users in 70 countries compete with eBay and Craigslist.
“The marketplace is an internet flea market,” said Charles Lindsay, an associate professor of marketing at the University of Buffalo. “There’s a huge amount of consumer-to-consumer business.”
Unlike eBay and Etsy, MarketPlace doesn’t charge a listing fee, and local pickups help you avoid shipping costs.
“Sellers love that there is no fee in that market,” said Jasmine Enberg, VP and Principal Analyst. “When you introduce pricing, users may push them elsewhere.”
According to Thredup, the Marketplace is also taking advantage of the booming resale market, and is projected to reach $350 billion by 2027.
“Young buyers are drawn to affordability and sustainability,” said Yoo Kyoun Sok, a professor at the University of Georgia’s College of Family and Consumer Sciences. “The Marketplace offers both.”
The important advantage is trust. According to Seock, users’ Facebook profiles make transactions feel more secure than anonymous platforms like Craigslist.
In January 2025, eBay partnered with Facebook Marketplace to display selected eBay lists in the US, Germany and France Marketplaces. According to Wells Fargo, the analyst project will add $1.6 billion in eBay’s sales by the end of 2025.
“This partnership will increase the number of buyers and sellers,” Enberg said. “It can also solve some of the marketplace trust issues.”
According to Facebook’s Help Center, Facebook does not charge a listing fee, but it will cut sales by 10% through its delivery service.
Marketplace is not a major direct revenue stream, but it maintains user engagement.
“It’s one of the least monetized parts of Facebook,” Enberg said. “But it brings about engagement and advertisers value it.”
Meta relies on advertising for more than 97% of its $164.5 billion revenue in 2024.
“MarketPlace helps Meta prove that younger users are still logged in,” Enberg said. “Even if you buy and sell instead of scrolling.”
By attracting users, MarketPlace plays a key role in Facebook’s long-term strategy, ensuring that the platform is relevant to a changing digital environment.
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