Xbox Gamers Soon to Get Their Own Social Network

Microsoft has created a new feature for the Xbox 360 update, available on December 4th. Xbox Live users will soon have their very own social network service.

Currently, Xbox Live allows users to play games online with other people. The gaming system has always had a buddy list type of feature, but new changes reflect the feel of a social network. Ars Technica says that Microsoft is headed in a MySpace direction, but with a slightly different twist. Xbox Online game collaboration already includes voice chat, so profile pages and the other typical social networking features will not be used. However, Microsoft hopes that the addition of a network to make friends and share insights will open up new gaming opportunities.

Although I am not exactly sure how a social network will be successfully incorporated into a gaming system, I am still anxious to learn more about it. I think the concept has a lot of potential, and could open many doors for Xbox Live users. I think this is a new, trendy way to encourage gamers to make friends and work with other people. But I do wonder if Xbox Live members see the benefits in this so-called social network, and if they will actually take advantage of the new feature.

This post is in response to an article found at http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/11/26/microsoft-brings-social-networking-style-feature-to-the-xbox-360/

Bebo Takes a Step to Stay in the Game

Bebo, currently the third most popular social networking site is trying to stay in the game with industry leaders like MySpace and Facebook. The plan? Partnering with major media companies, who will add music and videos to the site for free, and keep any generated revenue.

Revealed this past Tuesday, Bebo says that by adding popular entertainment, users can share their favorites with network friends, which will hopefully encourage audience growth, as well as keep audience’s attention for longer. And, with numerous partnerships with multimillion dollar media corporations already in the works, Bebo has high hopes. Launch partners include Viacom Inc.’s MTV, CBS Corp., Walt Disney Co.’s ESPN, Yahoo! Inc., Sony Pictures Entertainment Co.’s Crackle, and JibJab Media Inc.

Bebo is the leading social networking site in Britain, but has not yet distinguished itself as the top network in the US. Recent figures show MySpace still dominating the market with 107 million worldwide visitors in September, followed by Facebook with 73.5 million and Bebo at 19.7 million. (ComScore Inc.)

Steps have already been taken to introduce media to Bebo users with the online drama series called “KateModern” launched this year. This original programming was to help users make connections through entertainment, and is proving to be successful move, as an estimated 25 million people have tuned in to the daily four-minute episodes. More shows are to follow, including “Sofia’s Diary,” and reality series “The Gap Year”.

Bebo President Joanna Shields says, “Social networking for us was act one. Act two is using user-generated content, dramas created for Bebo and content from the majors to engage users. Forging strong ties with major media players was the logical next step.


Users will be able to post their favorite music and video clips to their profile page and share them with network friends. However, is Bebo actually the first to come up with this idea? I know from personal experience that Facebook already has music and video sharing applications. I think the difference may be found in the partnerships that Bebo is making, and in the agreements made between Bebo and media companies.

Taking part in Bebo’s media outreach plan is a good move for entertainment companies. These large corporations are always trying to think of new tactics, enter new markets, and take advantage of new opportunities. This is a way for them to tap into a new audience, and still stay in complete control of their materials, while still keeping100% of the profit.

This post is in response to the article found at http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-bebo14nov14,1,6593801.story?coll=la-headlines-business

Social Networking in a Box

Six Apart has just revealed a solution to implement a social network for any company that is looking for a way to jump on the social networking bandwagon. Movable Type Community Solution (MTCS) is a standardized networking site for individual companies that are looking for a quick way to set up a social networking site for employees as well as customers.

Six Apart, also the creator of Movable Type and Typepad, says that MTCS is “a complete, out-of-the-box social media solution that enables the quick and easy deployment of online communities.” Though it is not free, I’m sure commercial users will be more than willing to pay the price if it means they can finally participate in the social networking craze.

There have been previous attempts at selling a pre-packaged social network, including Ning, a program that allows you to build a custom social network by first picking from a selection of pre-built pages.


The development of MTCS is a good way for companies to install simple, community applications to encourage relationship building and feedback. However, the idea that one size fits all is questionable. Most social networkers choose the sites that they belong to based on a few unique attributes. Maybe one member really likes the game applications, while another user likes the ebay-like feature. There are things about each social network that make it original, and therefore ensue the feeling of uniqueness and exclusiveness in its members. With a solution like MTCS, users probably won’t receive anything special in the network. They will only receive standard options and applications.

This post is in response to the article found at http://blog.wired.com/monkeybites/2007/11/six-apart-revea.html

If at first you don’t succeed, try, try…and try, again

Yahoo! launches yet another social networking site, this time for college students who are trying to get a start in the professional world. Kickstart promises users a happy medium between more lax networks like Facebook and uptight, professional networks like LinkedIn. The launch comes after two previous attempts at a social networking site including Yahoo!360 and Mash, which is still in beta testing.

Kickstart is coming into the already saturated field of social networking, claiming that other sites like Facebook and MySpace don’t give recent college alums any help in entering the work force. Yahoo! says that Kickstart “is a professional network with a distinct purpose, as current college students and recent grads can use the service to find internships or jobs, or even garner career advice if they need it”.

Setting up a profile is pretty straightforward, but when it is completed, it looks more like a resume than a profile. Users are advised to keep their profile strictly professional, which means no posting drunken pictures of yourself and friends. Take a look at an example of a profile.

Right now Kickstart is only in “preview mode”, but judging so far, many are saying it needs a few fix ups. For starters, when adding a job, current or previous, to your profile, the length of time at which you worked is designated only in years. Most college students have only had serious jobs for a few months at a time.

But will college students and alum even join the network? Currently, Yahoo! is trying to lure professionals to sign up, because without them, joining the network is completely pointless. Students are looking to meet professionals, not other students in the same position they are. Yahoo! says that they will donate $25,000 to the university or college that has the most alumni sign up.

Personally, I think at this point Yahoo! is just trying to do whatever it takes to get a piece of the market. Why would college alumni need three different networks? They need one for their friends and family, and one for their professional life. Sounds to me like using Facebook and TEXTLinkedIn should be just fine. It’s a good thing that Yahoo! isn’t afraid to fail, because the introduction of Kickstart could very well be their third.

This post is in response to the article found at http://blogs.pcworld.com/staffblog/archives/005867.html

Personalized Advertising Hits Social Networks

Facebook has announced today that they have created a new advertising campaign called FacebookAds. Among the 60 advertisers already signed up, include global brand giants like Microsoft, Coca-Cola, Sony and Blockbuster. FacebookAds is a new, strategic way to target the interests of users on a more personal level.

Founder and CEO of Facebook, Mark Zuckerberg, says that "Social actions are powerful because they act as trusted referrals and reinforce the fact that people influence people”. He continued, "It's no longer just about messages that are broadcasted out by companies, but increasingly about information that is shared between friends. So we set out to use these social actions to build a new kind of ad system."

FacebookAds will allow companies to create their own Facebook profile page and use it as a spring board to launch brand stamped viral apps like games and e-commerce apps. Users will only be exposed to ads that come from the applications their friends are using. The most important feature of FacebookAds for participating companies is that users cannot avoid the ads, which will appear the in their news feed.



There is controversy surrounding the introduction of this new campaign. Some are saying that tailoring ads specifically to users based on their interests is a betrayal of trust. Furthermore, the Federal Trade Commission is concerned that advertisers may have access to too much information about people’s activities.

I think that Facebook has come up with an amazing opportunity for interested companies. Unlike television, radio, and print ads today, advertising on social networks disables the option of skipping advertisements. Users will be forced to see the ads because they will show up as soon as users log in, and, until they click to go to another page, they will see it continually.

For users, I think this is a campaign of only minimal concern. There is no hurt in seeing an ad every once in a while showing up in your newsfeed. However, there is a potential problem that in the future, users will not see an ad every once in a while, but instead they will be bombarded with ads whenever they logon. Facebook needs to ensure users that they will keep a watchful eye on the amount of advertisements we are seeing. If too may ads start appearing, people may get frustrated with the network, and discontinue their membership all together.

This post is in response to an article found at http://www.bigmouthmedia.com/live/articles/social-networking-dont-you-mean-social-advertisi.asp/4215/

Just For Kids? Not Any More…

A new social networking Web site, Saga Zone, has just been launched today. However, the targeted demographic for the site is adults, 50 years of age or older, unlike most social networking sites currently.

Most of us today have the perception that social networking sites are for young adults and kids. But, with the introduction of Saga Zone, the creators have proved that social networking isn’t just for kids.

The site was created by Saga Group, an organization that focuses on developing services specifically for adults over 50, and provides this audience with numerous specialist forums, personal profiles, online groups and contact possibilies.

So far, the site has developed a following of about 13,000 users during its four month trial period. According to Andrew Goodsell, CEO of Saga Group, “The Internet is a place where the over-50s are thriving.”

UK communications company, Ofcom, agrees, and has presented data that shows almost 30% of all time spent online is coming from the over-50 demographic.

I think the creation of this site is long overdue. The over-50 demographic has been calling for their own community that doesn’t include younger (and what some may call the “less mature”) demographics. The addition of this website means older adults can now communicate with their friends, family and co-workers quickly and easily. It will also help adults start to become more familiar with the newer technologies that are rapidly advancing, and becoming more foreign to these people. It is a chance to become more comfortable with the internet, and take part in the technological age.

This post is in response to the article found at http://tech.monstersandcritics.com/news/article_1370760.php/Internet_users_over_50_receive_Saga_Zone_social_network_