Facebook advertising reach in Dhaka hits 2.99cr, leading global cities

Dhaka has the highest number of active Facebook users available for advertisers, making it the largest city with Facebook advertising audience beating major global cities.

In February, 2.99 crore users within city limits were reached by Facebook advertisements, according to DataReportal.

DataReportal is a digital insights platform that provides in-depth reports on social media, internet usage, and digital trends worldwide. It uses Facebook's advertising tools to estimate the platform's audience size.

While not Meta's official data, it is widely used for marketing, research, and digital strategy planning.

The data highlights the dominance of the Bangladeshi capital in social media engagement, surpassing cities like Delhi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Bangkok.

Delhi follows closely, with 2.65 crore users within city limits. Other cities with significant Facebook ad audiences include Ho Chi Minh City (1.77 crore), Bangkok (1.46 crore), and Cairo (1.35 crore).

However, audience figures may not represent unique individuals and may not match equivalent figures for the total active user base. This means fake accounts or multiple accounts of a single individual will also be counted.

In terms of country-specific data, India tops the list, with Facebook ads reaching an audience of 38.3 crore, followed by the United States with 19.6 crore. Bangladesh ranked 8th, with Facebook ads reaching 6 crore users.

Experts said this astronomical figure reflected a booming attention economy, where businesses, media, and advertisers vie for users' limited attention in Bangladesh.

In a digital world flooded with content, platforms like Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube monetize engagement by keeping users hooked. Algorithms, notifications, and personalized feeds shape user behavior, driving ad revenue and influence.

Mustafa Mahmud Hussain, a technology policy expert, said the attention economy in Bangladesh is causing productivity loss, mental health issues, and misinformation, especially among youth.

"This data reflects that internet addiction has reached severe levels in Bangladesh, affecting student progress, while anxiety and depression are rising," he said.

"Fake news fuels violence, online betting ads, and political manipulation, worsening social divisions. To counter this, digital literacy, healthy screen habits, misinformation control, and policy reforms are essential for a safer digital future," he added.