Ben Gerzfield, right, field software engineer at Facebook, hits a gong as Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, left, holds it to launch the social network site's new localization services called 'Places.' (Tony Avelar/Associated Press)

The internet is abuzz after comments made by Facebook board member Peter Thiel on the Fox Business Network Monday, suggesting the social networking site company will go public in the next couple of years.

"[Facebook] probably will IPO [make an initial public offering] at some point. The lesson from Google seems to be that you don't go public until very late," said Thiel, who also emphasized the offering wouldn't happen until after late 2012.

An IPO from a company valued as highly as Facebook would be widely anticipated, and many people on Twitter are excited at the prospect of investing in the internet giant:

@Ev1lG3nius: #Facebook IPO after 2012. That gives me about approx 1 year to find a million to invest.

@zelker dot_com: Looks like Facebook is planning an IPO in 2012 - Reckon good invest. If got in early - I anticipate a gold rush.

@benjicoll: Facebook board member: IPO likely after late 2012... U.S. economic recovery for 2013?

An earlier version of this story stated that Facebook board member Bob Thiel made comments on a Facebook IPO. In fact, his name is Peter Thiel.