Just reading a couple of news reports today about the future of a few of the main social networking sites.
First up PC World reports – via the Sunday Telegraph [sorry, no link] – that Yahoo is looking to acquire Bebo to boost it’s own dismal networking portfolio.
Acording to the article:
“Yahoo executives have publicly acknowledged that the company’s Yahoo 360 social networking site has failed to achieve expected levels of popularity. Last year, it was rumored that Yahoo tried unsuccessfully to buy social networking site Facebook for US$1 billion, the same figure Yahoo is reportedly willing to pay for Bebo, the U.K. newspaper reported Sunday.”
Meanwhile, the Telegraph also reports on MySpace plans tactics to take over the world.
While the title might use a tiny bit of journalistic license the paper reports that MySpace is looking to offer users an e-commerce function within their profiles not dissimilar to ebay.
In fact, so un-dissimilar to ebay that rumours have been circulating since February that the two sites would be tying up to create a kind of MySpace marketplace.
According the article’s author, Josephine Moulds:
“The service would let MySpace reach that bit further into its users’ lives online. MySpace is first and foremost a social networking site, where users can upload photos, music and videos to share with friends. But it is constantly adding features and there is now a classifieds section and instant messenger tool, and users can buy and sell music via the site. For many teenagers MySpace is their entire internet experience.”
It’s a nice effort but the elephant in the room has to be Facebook which experienced 89% growth last year compared to 34% by MySpace.
In fact, having already added a marketplace function a few months ago it does look like MySpace and Bebo are desparately trying to outplay Facebook.
See also, Nick Carr’s post, Facebookipedia for an informed take on the three main online spaces for the average US student.
Update: The Yahoo buying Bebo article is in fact as old as 21 May 2007 – but I hadn’t heard that story till today.
Check out this new social networking site called http://facebuddies.com , It seems pretty good, Users can upload their own movies and mp3’s . Not many constraints on this site which is good as it gives the user total freedom, Oh and the games are good also!!