Twitter is on the acquisition block. At least that’s what the rumor mill is reporting. The Wall Street Journal said Silicon Valley giants are estimating Twitter is worth between $8 billion and $10 billion, and an acquisition may be looming.
Specifically, the Journal reported that executives from both Facebook and Google, among other potential suitors, have engaged in low-level discussions with Twitter in the past few months. The discussions reportedly revolve around buying the micro-blogging site that has taken the social-media world by storm. The Journal cited “people familiar with the matter.”
Google, Facebook and Twitter could not immediately be reached for comment, and previously declined to speak with the Journal.
Another Twitter Rumor, Really?
Of course, this isn’t the first time there have been Twitter acquisition rumors — or even attempts to acquire Twitter, for that matter.
Facebook reportedly tried to buy Twitter for $200 million in 2009, but was rejected. Google didn’t buy Twitter, but acquisition plans were rumored. Nearly two years ago, the rumor mills churned out the notion that Apple would acquire Twitter for $700 million.
Last June, nearly 93 million Internet users visited Twitter.com, an increase of 109 percent from the previous year, according to comScore. Twitter’s growth comes as first-generation social networks like MySpace are struggling to survive.
Although most analysts are skeptical that Twitter’s value is upward of $8 billion — the company is still working to drive profitability with its fledgling ad-revenue models — the user data that Twitter houses could be driving those numbers. Twitter was valued at just $3.7 billion when it received $200 million in venture capital in December.
Still, despite Twitter only generating a mere $45 million in 2010 — and losing money on data centers and hiring required to continue scaling the company — venture-capital firm Andreessen Horowitz just invested $80 million this…