According to the recent US Internet traffic-related statistics revealed by Hitwise, the popular social networking site Facebook overtook the Internet search giant in the country for one full week, ending March 13.

With the Facebook feat toppling Google No. 1 position for the first time in years, the statistics showed that while Facebook reported a 185 percent year-on-year increase, in terms of traffic, for the week; Google witnessed a mere 9 percent year-on-year increase during the same week.

The combined US Internet traffic share of both Google and Facebook stood at over 14 percent for the week – with Facebook accounting for 7.07 percent; and Google accounting for 7.03 percent.

Though Facebook achieved what Hitwise termed “an important milestone” for the week of March 13; the site had earlier too toppled Google, in terms of Website visits, on a few occasion for a day - it was the most visited site on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Day, as well as the March 7 weekend.

The Hitwise statistics dispel whatever, if any, speculations about users supposedly being turned off by Facebook’s recently ‘altered’ privacy controls and repeated design tweaks.

Furthermore, the data also fortifies Facebook’s potential to show future growth in traffic; thereby underlining the possibility of the social networking site sustaining the title of most visited US Web site in the near future.