Online Social Networks and Virtual Worlds
Joff Manning and Matthew D’Arcy Friends Reunited • 6.6m unique users across the group in July 2008 • Since re-launch May 2008 the number of unique users more than doubled - over 1.8 million messages sent per month - 450% increase in content sharing through photo uploads • 5.5 million people visited the recently re-launched Friends Reunited site according to new Nielsen figures. • Over 200,000 events added to the Friends Reunited Timeline since the site re-launch • 19 million registered members - over 11 million over 35 with an average use age of 42 • “Friends Reunited is now firmly placed as the nation's favourite social networking site for grown-ups”
Myspace
• Maintains a dominant position as media site, primarily aimed at youth, giving them the opportunity to relate to brands and bands, as well as self-express • More commercial – better adapted for advertisers and marketers • More TV and video networks will integrate and work with MySpace, who has the new generation that Generation X was to MTV • MySpace has more than 110 million monthly active users around the globe • 85% of MySpace users are 18 or older • 1 in 4 Americans is on MySpace, in the UK it’s as common to have a MySpace as it is to own a dog • On average 300,000 new people sign up to MySpace every day • Localized and translated in more than 20 international territories: U.S., UK, Japan, Australia, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Spain, Mexico, Canada, Netherlands, New Zealand, Spain, Latin America, Austria, Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Finland
Hi5
• Predominantly European • Very Young Alumni • Poor Security • False profile/Spamming concerns • Limited Search Tools
Bebo
• “Blog Early, Blog Often” • Founded in 2005 • Bebo is ranked No. 1 in Ireland and New Zealand, and No. 3 in the U.S. in terms of engagement • Bebo's 45 million worldwide users spend an average of 29 minutes a day on the site • In March 2008, Bebo was acquired by AOL - now forms part of “People Networks” business unit reaching 80 million unduplicated users worldwide
• Mini-Blog • Straight to mobile, computer desktop, iphone etc • Fast-growing • No need for personal profile • Excellent for brief, informative updates
Orkut
• Run by Google • Over 50% Brazilian • 15% Indian • Pseudonyms and false profiles • Limited search facility
Cyworld
• Predominantly Asia • Limited ‘2nd Life’ • Pseudonyms • Lack of Power Search
Saga Zone • 2007 survey finds Internet usage has edged ahead of DIY and gardening as OAPs’ favourite hobby: • Using the internet is the preferred hobby of pensioners • Four in ten retired people are regular e-shoppers • 88% of silver surfers chat regularly with friends and family over the internet • Which? magazine tested 10 of the most popular social networking sites where like-minded internet users can chat online, share photos and gossip. • “While Bebo, Flickr and Facebook are the top three, Saga Zone is fourth and gets top marks for performance and is rated the best site for discussion groups.” (www.telegraph.co.uk, 7 January 2008) • Loyal following, oldest user is a 93-year-old man, the average age of members is in the low 60s. • "The site is expanding the social horizons enormously for many." • "Where are all the older single men when us girls are out there enjoying life?"
• 5th most popular website in the world • Critical Mass- 70 Million+ • Simple registration process • Easy-to-use • University and beyond • Constantly redeveloped LinkedIn
• Professional/Business network • Young Pros------Senior Executives • Specific Alumni Groups • Powerful Search by School/Uni • Search by Profession/Professional Status • Discrimating users- opportunity Xing • Over 6.5 million business professionals use XING in 16 languages • Makes networking and professional contact management simple, with made-to-measure networking functions and services. • Allows members to see how people are connected • • Features include XING Marketplace and over 22,000 groups and networking events from London to Beijing • XING went public in 2006, the first Web 2.0 company to do so, in the first nine months of the financial year 2008, the XING AG generated revenues of 25.09 million Euros • XING aims to become a “truly indispensible part of daily business life for our members”