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Facebook founder believes social networking is not a passing fad

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901amDespite the increasing popularity of social networking sites nowadays, Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg believes it will take decades before the inherent advantages of social networking will be very clear to the general online users. Guardian Unlimited has captured the gist of Zuckerberg’s speech at the Web 2.0 Summit in San Francisco.

We’re talking about the set of connections that everyone has in real life. All we’re trying to do is take those connections and map it out. Once we have an accurate model, we can help people to share their information more effectively. But it’s going to take 30 years – or at least tens of years – before this becomes a really mature platform.

But why should we believe the forecast of this 23-year old founder? For one, he is the most influential person in the tech industry today, outranking big shots like Apple’s Steve Jobs and Google CEO Eric Schmidt.

Originally posted on October 19, 2007 @ 4:14 am

Who wants to pay a monthly fee for social networking sites?

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Few U.S. consumers are willing to pay a monthly fee to use social networking sites, according to Digital Media Habits II, a new survey from market research firm Parks Associates.

This online survey of Internet users found 72% of social networking users would stop using a site if required to pay a $2 monthly fee. Likewise, nearly 40% would stop if a site contains too many advertisements.

These findings present a challenge to the companies competing in the social networking space. Parks Associates found 80% of broadband users ages 18-25 use these sites on a monthly basis; however, monetizing these users is proving to be difficult, with even category leaders such as MySpace struggling to turn big profits.

Originally posted on October 19, 2007 @ 5:37 am

comScore releases Web analysis for September

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comScore, Inc., a leader in measuring the digital world, today released its monthly analysis of U.S. consumer activity at top online properties for September 2007 from its comScore Media Metrix service. Here are some highlights from this report:

The politics category surged 17 percent in September, attracting 8.4 million visitors and ranking as the top-gaining category for the month. Two political controversies also helped fuel interest in the category – Idaho Sen. Larry Craig’s airport sex scandal and MoveOn.org’s controversial “General Betray Us” ad in the New York Times.

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With September marking the beginning of football season in the United States, the sports category experienced an 8-percent increase to nearly 80 million visitors.

Retail food jumped 14 percent to 13.7 million visitors, led by Papajohnsonline.com with 1.6 million visitors (up 4 percent), which likely saw a boost from football season.

In terms of top 50 properties, Wikipedia Sites and New York Times Digital each gain one spot in the rankings, capturing positions eight and 10, respectively.

[Read more]

Originally posted on October 19, 2007 @ 5:06 am

Win a trip to BlogWorld with Southwest Airlines

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901amAre you nuts about Southwest Airlines?

Visit Southwest Airline’s blog, Nuts About Southwest, and you may have a crack at winning a free trip to Las Vegas, including complimentary airfare on Southwest Airlines, a three-night hotel stay at the MGM Grand, and registration to the BlogWorld & New Media Expo, the world’s biggest blogging conference, scheduled at the Las Vegas Convention Center Wednesday
– Friday, Nov. 7 – 9, 2007.

Southwest Airlines, the Official Airline of BlogWorld Expo is offering a full travel package to the lucky blogger who submits the most popular caption for a photo, provided by the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority.

“This contest is just a way for us to have a little FUN with our bloggers, and, really, to celebrate the relationships we’ve built with them over the past year,” says Paula Berg, Southwest Airlines spokesperson and official “Blog Girl” for the airline.

Originally posted on October 20, 2007 @ 4:04 am

BadOnlineDates.com combines online dating and social networking

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baddates.gifDesigned to serve as an alternative for those who are tired of filling out generic forms with the cookie cutter answers of who they are and who they are looking for, BadOnlineDates.com is new site which goes right to heart of the matter by encouraging people to communicate by sharing personal experiences. Official launch is on October 18, 2007

It is built upon the foundation that our experiences are powerful reflections of not only who we are but how we interface with others….key in the never-ending quest for finding Mr. or Ms. Right. It is a safe place for people to learn, laugh, grow and, through sharing personal experiences, know, what they do and do not want in a partner.

“I am so excited with the overwhelming response to BadOnlineDates.com but not surprised. Dating is the one topic that everyone can relate to regardless of race, religion, nationality, economics or even sexual orientation,” said Kelton, who conceived the idea for BadOnlineDates.com while writing her reality-based dating and mating book Don’t Use My Sweater Like A Towel.

Originally posted on October 17, 2007 @ 11:48 am