Comments on: The business of friendship http://twopointouch.com/2006/business/the-business-of-friendship/ web 2.0, blogs and social media Fri, 19 Mar 2010 22:12:33 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Timothy Jones http://twopointouch.com/2006/business/the-business-of-friendship/comment-page-1/#comment-11079 Timothy Jones Tue, 05 Jun 2007 05:28:10 +0000 http://twopointouch.com/2006/07/12/the-business-of-friendship/#comment-11079 The business is growing day by day, Bebo is now tying up with lonelygirl15. The business is growing day by day, Bebo is now tying up with lonelygirl15.

]]> By: twopointouch » Think of the children http://twopointouch.com/2006/business/the-business-of-friendship/comment-page-1/#comment-81 twopointouch » Think of the children Thu, 20 Jul 2006 17:34:38 +0000 http://twopointouch.com/2006/07/12/the-business-of-friendship/#comment-81 [...] With a hard revenue model and the danger of your users migrating to the next big thing, the attractions of starting your own social network may seem small. But the issue that has hit the headlines is child safety. High profile rape and assault cases in the US have led to considerable anxiety over MySpace and other social networks. In February 2006, a 14-year-old New Jersey girl was found dead in a dumpster after arranging a meeting with a stranger on MySpace. Connecticut police claim that as many as seven girls from Middletown, were assaulted by MySpace men who lied about their ages. Two further cases, in Issaquah and Snohomish County were dropped after investigation, but still hit national headlines playing up the dangers of the network. Penny Powers told me during my interview with her that her daughter’s school had written to parents saying that any child with a profile on bebo would be suspended. MySpace is banned from dozens of US school districts. The website MySpacewatch has been set up to allow concerned parents to pry into their child’s activity online. A ‘Pro’ account for $6 a month will allow you to watch up to 100 of your child’s friends, as well. I am drawn to wonder what a ‘pro’ amounts to under such circumstances. [...] [...] With a hard revenue model and the danger of your users migrating to the next big thing, the attractions of starting your own social network may seem small. But the issue that has hit the headlines is child safety. High profile rape and assault cases in the US have led to considerable anxiety over MySpace and other social networks. In February 2006, a 14-year-old New Jersey girl was found dead in a dumpster after arranging a meeting with a stranger on MySpace. Connecticut police claim that as many as seven girls from Middletown, were assaulted by MySpace men who lied about their ages. Two further cases, in Issaquah and Snohomish County were dropped after investigation, but still hit national headlines playing up the dangers of the network. Penny Powers told me during my interview with her that her daughter’s school had written to parents saying that any child with a profile on bebo would be suspended. MySpace is banned from dozens of US school districts. The website MySpacewatch has been set up to allow concerned parents to pry into their child’s activity online. A ‘Pro’ account for $6 a month will allow you to watch up to 100 of your child’s friends, as well. I am drawn to wonder what a ‘pro’ amounts to under such circumstances. [...]

]]> By: Ian Delaney http://twopointouch.com/2006/business/the-business-of-friendship/comment-page-1/#comment-49 Ian Delaney Wed, 12 Jul 2006 19:33:02 +0000 http://twopointouch.com/2006/07/12/the-business-of-friendship/#comment-49 Turns out the $1/2bn offer is not true, despite reports on techcrunch and the rest. Spoke to Michael Birch today. Post above. Needless to say, like the rest of us, he wishes it *was* true! Turns out the $1/2bn offer is not true, despite reports on techcrunch and the rest. Spoke to Michael Birch today. Post above.

Needless to say, like the rest of us, he wishes it *was* true!

]]> By: Ian Delaney http://twopointouch.com/2006/business/the-business-of-friendship/comment-page-1/#comment-45 Ian Delaney Wed, 12 Jul 2006 13:30:55 +0000 http://twopointouch.com/2006/07/12/the-business-of-friendship/#comment-45 Must take nerves of steel. Imagine being remembered as "the man who turned down half a billion dollars". I am scheduled for an interview with Birch, the owner of bebo, and will write it up when that happens. Must take nerves of steel. Imagine being remembered as “the man who turned down half a billion dollars”. I am scheduled for an interview with Birch, the owner of bebo, and will write it up when that happens.

]]> By: rang http://twopointouch.com/2006/business/the-business-of-friendship/comment-page-1/#comment-42 rang Wed, 12 Jul 2006 12:41:43 +0000 http://twopointouch.com/2006/07/12/the-business-of-friendship/#comment-42 In my book, Bebo should have taken the offer. As much as social networks have been seen as important, their appeal might possibly die down at some point. In my book, Bebo should have taken the offer. As much as social networks have been seen as important, their appeal might possibly die down at some point.

]]> By: Ian Delaney http://twopointouch.com/2006/business/the-business-of-friendship/comment-page-1/#comment-41 Ian Delaney Wed, 12 Jul 2006 10:12:06 +0000 http://twopointouch.com/2006/07/12/the-business-of-friendship/#comment-41 Hi there David, Good point. But isn't a key ingredient of the successful sites that they are very, very easy to pick up and use, and make it very easy to contact people with a similar profile? Since competitor sites to MySpace and bebo, etc. (if they are any good) will have similar strengths, and hopefully a couple of new USPs, the speed at which people could migrate is high. Hi there David,

Good point. But isn’t a key ingredient of the successful sites that they are very, very easy to pick up and use, and make it very easy to contact people with a similar profile? Since competitor sites to MySpace and bebo, etc. (if they are any good) will have similar strengths, and hopefully a couple of new USPs, the speed at which people could migrate is high.

]]> By: David Cruickshank http://twopointouch.com/2006/business/the-business-of-friendship/comment-page-1/#comment-39 David Cruickshank Wed, 12 Jul 2006 09:08:15 +0000 http://twopointouch.com/2006/07/12/the-business-of-friendship/#comment-39 What will keep members loyal to a particular network? Members invest in networks. It takes time to build a network, learn the tools, build a reputation and an online identity. Perhaps these are less of a concern for kids and I do agree that when something becomes too established for them - it will be time to leave. The cool trailblazing kids will find and support 'the next big thing'. What will keep members loyal to a particular network?

Members invest in networks. It takes time to build a network, learn the tools, build a reputation and an online identity. Perhaps these are less of a concern for kids and I do agree that when something becomes too established for them – it will be time to leave. The cool trailblazing kids will find and support ‘the next big thing’.

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