The indicator “Broader Metro Areas with the Largest Facebook Ad Audiences” reflects the estimated number of Facebook users within major metropolitan regions who can be reached through paid advertising. Unlike indicators limited to strict city boundaries, this measure encompasses users located in the city and its surrounding suburban or peri-urban zones. The broader geographic scope allows for a more inclusive understanding of digital engagement across an entire metro ecosystem, where economic, social, and technological activities often extend beyond municipal borders.

This indicator is particularly valuable for advertisers, marketers, and urban planners seeking to understand and target larger consumer bases. By analysing digital audience size in these extended regions, businesses can tailor advertising strategies to reach both core urban populations and peripheral consumers who actively engage online. For policymakers and researchers, this data can offer insights into the spread of digital connectivity, regional disparities in tech access, and urban sprawl’s impact on digital behaviour. It also helps in identifying digitally active economic hubs and emerging zones of engagement around core cities. In a broader context, the indicator supports data-driven decision-making in sectors such as transport, infrastructure, retail, and e-governance, where reach and digital visibility are key.