Friendster's Profile

Friendster.com is an online Social Network Service. It was created by Jonathan Abrams in Mountain View, California United States in March 2002. Its concept was about Circle of Friends and Web of Friends, a technique for networking individuals in a virtual community. It was funded by Kleiner Perkins & Byers and Benchmark Capital in October 2003 with valuation of $53 million.

Jonathan Abrams was removed as Chief Executive Officer in 2004. Tim Koogle took over as temporary CEO. In June 2004, Scott Sassa replaced him. Then in May 2005, Sassa left and was replaced by Taek Kwon. Taek Kwon was succeeded by Kent Lindstorm.

In 2006, Friendster was awarded a patent for acting upon relationships in a social network because of its concept Circle of Friends with the Web of Contacts. It also has a growing portfolio of patents on social networking.

Friendster is the leading global online social network. It is focused on helping people to keep in touch with their friends and discover new people and share same interests with them. Its target market is 16 years old and above. There are 65 million registered users and still growing. Friendster is mostly used in Asia, ranked first in Philippines.

There are lot of features that Friendster offers and is recently launched new features for its members to connect and share with their online friends. These features are called Apps on Friendster. These Apps are: Multiple languages, users now have a choice of English, Chinese, Japanese, Korean and Spanish to navigate the site; Fan Profiles, enable bands, musicians, artists, models, athletes, and the like to build a fan base; Open Platform, developers can now build and deploy widgets on Friendster global social networking platform; and Classifieds, lets users search and post listings for free and access locally targeted classifieds.

Friendster has launched a free global mobile site called m.friendster.com. It can be accessed from any Web-enabled mobile device, users of m.friendster.com can get updates on friends, check messages, review requests, post shoutouts, browse photos, browse profiles, search for users by name or e-mail, post bulletins and more. The service is free for users but data charges still apply.

Source: http://www.friendster.com/info/index.php

Friendster Goes Mobile

Social networking site Friendster has launched a free global mobile site, m.friendster.com. Accessible from any Web-enabled mobile device, users of m.friendster.com can get updates on friends, check messages, review requests, post shoutouts, browse photos, browse profiles, search for users by name or e-mail, post bulletins and more.

The company says it has more than 70 million users around the globe, and is the top social network in Asia. Friendster said that its mobile site is the first in a suite of soon-to-come mobile offerings. Though the service is free for users, data charges still apply.

“Our users have asked for a mobile site that makes staying in touch with friends while on the go even easier. We've taken our most popular core social networking features and made them easy to use via mobile devices at m.friendster.com,” said David Jones, vice president of global marketing for Friendster, in a statement.

Source: Wireless Week StaffWirelessWeek - May 22, 2008
http://www.wirelessweek.com/article.aspx?id=160156

Friendster Press Release June 2008

http://images.friendster.com/images/Friendster_At_A_Glance_June_2008.pdf

Filipinos Psyche on Joining Social Networking Sites

For my reference on my thesis, I conducted an interview with Mrs. Michelle Santos-Alignay, Guidance Councilor at Miriam College and Ms. Joanne Valle, Guidance Councilor at Ateneo de Manila University. Questions are provided that will help me understand the psyche behind Filipinos joining and using social networking sites especially Friendster. Interview was conducted through e-mail.

1. Why is it important for Filipinos to be sociable? Is this a character trait distinct to Filipinos or Asians?

Mrs. Michelle Santos-Alignay:
Filipinos are known to be sociable/ hospitable people. It is inherent to the culture and we grew up valuing our big families or clans. We regard our kinship or affiliation, (either blood relations or through rituals , e.g. kumpare, ninong sa kasal) with relatives important to the society or people in authority. It is not being important to Filipinos per se, but it is a trait that existent in our families and societies we are raised, thus our tendency to be sociable becomes important to us as well.

Being sociable appears to be a trait inherent to Filipinos, as we are regarded to be the most hospitable Asian people. Our heritage of being a colony may have contributed to this.

Ms. Joanne Valle:
We are a culture that gives utmost importance to interaction which is also very much evident in our basic values such as “hiya”, “pakikipagkapwa-tao” “pakikisama”, and “utang na loob”. We always generally want to be in good terms with other people. Filipinos also exhibit strong kinship ties. We are always never alone, especially during momentous occasions from birth to our burials. This is partly why we are so used to not being alone. Our well-being seems to be very much anchored in our relationships (smooth interpersonal relationships).

Since this phenomenon seems to be culture-bound, I would say that it would depend on the culture that is prevalent among a certain race or country. From experience, people in the Northern parts of Asia, where it tends to be colder, are not known to be friendly as compared to those living in more sunny and tropical locations. A more specific example would be Vietnamese people from Ho Chi Min (South) as compared to those from Hanoi (North).

2. It is important for an individual to be part of a group because they want to feel accepted or wanted. What other factors can you contribute to this statement?

Mrs. Michelle Santos-Alignay:
It is not just that individuals wanted to feel accepted or wanted, it is a natural human need to belong and be accepted by others. According to Maslow’s hierarchy of needs (check out Abraham Maslow’s hierarchy of needs), belongingness needs is one of the basic need of people, following the need for food, water, and security. A person’s sense of individuality is only affirmed upon belonging to a group wherein he/she feels accepted and belonged (such as families, peers, clubs/ organizations).

Ms. Joanne Valle:
It is a basic need to belong and one has to experience the dynamics of being in a group since this experience is imperative for growth and development (self-insight and learnings from others).


3. Aside from connecting to old and new people or friends, what other values or benefits can people get in joining social networking sites?

Mrs. Michelle Santos-Alignay:
There are some benefits of joining social networking sites, to name a few. First, above from maintaining the connection with family and friends, it boosts an individual’s self-esteem to know that there are people who are interested to connect or affiliate with them. It means that they have people who accepted their invitations to be affiliates, acquaintances or even as friends. Second, persons’ social networks become the ground for building deeper relationships, either romantic relationships or deeper friendships. Many relationships are rekindled through such networks. Third, it becomes a means for an individual to share bits and pieces a person’s life events (blogs, shutouts, profile) to more people without the fear of being censored through personal interactions. Sharing about oneself to other people is a means of growth in a person’s socio-emotional well-being. Lastly, being part of the social network is also a means of belonging “in” a group or being “updated” with the latest trend in the society wherein some people see as a means of fulfillment.

Ms. Joanne Valle:
Feeling of belongingness, of connecting with others (new and old), and possibly a continuity and even deepening of relationships in some cases (i.e. families, OFWs)
Broader knowledge base (sharing of info)
Perspectives also widen (learning about other cultures)

4. Most of the users of friendsters are teens, young adults and yuppies. Can you please describe the social needs of these age segments?

Mrs. Michelle Santos-Alignay:
The teens, ranging from the high school to the college years, are considered in the developmental stage of Adolescence. While the young adults or yuppies, actually belong to the stage of Early Adulthood.

According to Erik Erikson’s theory on the socio-emotional tasks of this life stages, the central task of Adolescence is building a person’s identity. Part of the identity of the person is grounded on his or her belongingness to a group or the fulfillment teens attain in being part of a peer group. During adolescence, the peer group is the most influential network in helping build the person’s identity. Thus, it follows that teenagers seek this cyber social circles as a source of satisfying their need for people, being able to identify with a particular group and building their identity through affiliations and peer influences.

With the early adults, the central task of this stage is establishing intimacy. Intimacy, meaning establishing deeper relationships with good friends, particularly romantic relationships that may lead to marriage. Thus, the individual’s social connections, either personal or through networking sites, serve as the pool of people wherein he or she completes the task. As mentioned earlier, the stage of early adulthood is when people search for someone who can be possible future partners. Thus, the social networking sites serve the needs of people who wants to find eligible people whom they can get to know better as well.

Ms. Joanne Valle:
We like to expand our social circles and we also like to know what is happening with other people, as well as letting them know what is happening with us. Friendster provides this and more. We also like to be creative and Friendster gives us the chance to showcase this.

5. Filipinos are the biggest users of Friendster in the world. Please share some thoughts on why do you think Filipinos like joining Social Networking Sites like Friendster?

Ms. Joanne Valle:
According to Erikson, it is in these ages that people develop their identities and eventually form deeper relationships with others (identity vs. role confusion and intimacy vs. isolation). They have a need to fit in, to feel that they belong, to establish relationships that may or may not lead to deeper commitment and Friendster can be a vehicle for these.

6. What kind of programs or activities would you recommend that would help participants maximize their participation in events that promote social interaction?

Mrs. Michelle Santos-Alignay:
(I’m not particularly sure about what you mean on participants , and events…)

Programs and activities that individuals can join that can promote social interactions:

First, join social religious groups like Singles for Christ and Youth for Christ to build a network of people who have a common religious foundation. (This is where I met my husband!)

Second, youth and yuppies may also join organizations on advocacy, groups regarding their interests (hobby groups).

Third, participating in classes, sports or other interests that can help them to meet new people.

Fourth, get together with old classmates and friends. Go to reunions and other social gatherings.

Ms. Joanne Valle:
Engage in new experiences like learning a new skill, hobby, craft.

Social Media... are u familiar with this?

For most people, the term social media is unfamiliar to them. But the truth is its what people use when they are online.

DESCRIPTION
These are the different activities that incorporate technology and social interaction for online users. It is presented in different forms like internet forums, message boards, web blogs, wikis, podcasts, pictures and videos. The technologies included are blogs, picture-sharing, wall-postings, email, instant messaging, music-sharing, voice over.

APPLICATIONS OF SOCIAL MEDIA
Communication
Microblogs – allows user to write a brief text update and publish them right away
Examples: Twitter and Jaiku

Social Networking – build online social networks who share interests and activities
Examples: Facebook and MySpace

Events – Sharing event and party info with your friends
Example: Socializr

Collaboration
Wikis – collection of web pages that enable anyone to contribute and modify content
Example: Wikipedia (Wiki = collaborative websites + encyclopedia)

Social Bookmarking – to store, organize, search, manage bookmarks of web pages
Example: Digg is a website made for people to discover and share content from anywhere on the Internet


Multimedia
Photo sharing – transfer of a user's digital photos online, thus enabling the user to share them with others
Example: Flickr

Video sharing – Youtube, video sharing website where users can upload, view and share video clips.
It was created in mid-February 2005. In January 2008 alone, nearly 79 million users watched
over 3 billion videos on YouTube.


Entertainment
Virtual Community – group of people that primarily interact via online communication media for social,
professional, educational or other purposes

Example: Second Life – Internet-based virtual world launched in 2003
Its users, called "Residents", can interact with each other through motional avatars (representational of his self). Residents can explore, meet other Residents, socialize, participate in individual and group activities.

Online Gaming
Example: World of Warcraft – It’s a massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG), genre of computer role-playing games (CRPGs) in which a large number of players interact with one another in a virtual world.

History of Internet

Ever wonder how internet began? Here's an overview on how Internet started.

1957: Development of Internet during the Cold War
Internet was developed in 1957 when the US Defense Department was looking for a solution to protect their data in case of a nuclear war.

1958: ARPA (Advance Research Projects Agency)
In 1958, The US Defense Department founded a research organization called Advance Research Agency (ARPA). It’s an agency responsible for the development of new technology for the military.

1962: Information Processing Techniques Office (IPTO)
ARPA created Information Processing Techniques Office in 1962. This department developed new commands and control techniques that funded the research and developed ARPANET.

1966: ARPANET was developed
It is the precursor of the Internet initiated by Larry Roberts, a scientist at IPTO, as a way to share information across the country.

1969: Linked university research centers and high-tech defense contractors
The first four networked computers were from UCLA, Stanford Research Institute, UC Santa Barbara and the University of Utah.

1972: E-mail was invented and ARPANET was made public
Ray Tomlinson, a computer engineer, invented e-mail in March 1972.
The first public demonstration of the ARPANET was in October 1972, opening up possibilities of the Internet to more people.

1974: The term “Internet” originated
It described a global Internet Protocol, it enables connection or communication and data transfer.

1989: Internet Service Providers (ISP) were created
Internet Service Providers are companies that provide internet access to the public.

1991: The World Wide Web was invented
Tim Berneres-Lee, an English scientist, invented the World Wide Web in 1991. Its a system of interlinked hypertext documents that can be accessed via the Internet.

Source: Internet 101: The Mass Medium for Filipinos by Rachel E. Khan

Survey for Thesis

Hi guys! Please answer my survey. I need 100 respondents for my thesis. Anyone can answer. Please send the survey to my mail: jei_javier@yahoo.com or jesylourishjavier@yahoo.com

Survey Questionnaire

Name: __________________________________________ Age: _______ Gender: _______
Occupation (Company): _____________________ Student (School): _______________________
Contact No. __________________________ Email Address: ______________________________

I’m a senior student at the College of Fine Arts and Design, University of Santo Tomas. I’m conducting an essay about social networking site as reference to my thesis.
Please answer the following truthfully as possible. Any information written is confidential and will be used for academic purpose only. Please circle your answers.

Social Networking Site (SNS) - These are websites where in you can have your personal profile and be seen by other people who are member of these sites. You can share your interests with others and explore interests and activities of others.

1. Are you a member of a social networking site? YES NO

2. What is your favorite social networking site? Choose 1.
A. Friendster
B. Facebook
C. Multiply
D. My Space
E. Other ___________

3. What is the most important reason why you join social networking sites? Choose 1.
A. Meet new friends
B. Keep in touch
C. To date
D. Professional use

4. Rank the top 3 reasons why you use social networking sites?
___ Upload pictures
___ Upload music
___ Upload videos
___ Post blog
___ Can customize own profile
___ Meet other people
___ Keep in touch

5. Have you attended a social networking event? YES NO
If yes, where? _____________________________
Describe what you saw in the event? __________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________

If no, would you like to attend? Why? _________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________

6. What activities do you want to see in the event? You can choose more than one.
A. Social activities: interaction/soirees
B. Conference: talks about social networking
C. Game activities
D. Band Performances
E. Contest
F. Celebrities

7. Please recommend other activities you want to see in a social networking event.
___________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________

8. What interests you more? Please number the choices in sequence. 1 being the best preferred and 6 being
least preferred.
____ Hang-out
____ Watch movie
____ Listen to music
____ Take pictures
____ Blogging
____ Shopping

9. Who do you think will be the best host for social networking event?
A. Mo Twister
B. Toni Gonzaga
C. Luis Manzano
D. Iya Villana
E. Others, please specify _________________________

10. Do you have a Friendster account? YES NO

11. How many active accounts do you have? _______

12. Would you recommend Friendster to your friends? YES NO
Why? ________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________

13. List down five media choices.
TV Stations
1. __________________________________
2. __________________________________
3. __________________________________

FM Radio Stations
1. __________________________________
2. __________________________________
3. __________________________________

Broadsheets
1. __________________________________
2. __________________________________
3. __________________________________

Magazines
1. __________________________________
2. __________________________________
3. __________________________________

Places you usually go to (locations)
1. __________________________________
2.__________________________________
3. __________________________________

14. What is your feedback about proposed theme for a social networking event,
SMILE (Socialize, Mingle, Interact, Link, Engage)?
____________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________

Thank you for your time! :)

Internship + Thesis = Time Management

I haven't written anything for my thesis here since I had my internship which started on May 12. I just finished it last week. I learned a lot from my internship. From doing contact reports, calling media, making powerpoint presentations and presenting it to big bosses, writing a press release, doing an advertorial, creating event flow, etc. I really learned a lot. I will never forget my experience working in that company. People are so nice. My bosses really helped me and guide me in all of my tasks in the office. This experience will really help me in doing my thesis and preparation for my future career. It also helped me to become more mature, to think fast and help me gain self-confidence in some way.

Eventhough there's so much to do at work I still find time to work on my thesis. I usually do my thesis on weekends right after our meeting. I try to finish at least half of my required tasks for the week then finalize everything on Fridays before our meeting day. But since my internship ended, I'll probably work on my thesis everyday. I finished one interview with a guidance councilor for reference on the psyche of Filipinos about social networking. I'm still waiting for the other guidance councilor. I am currently starting on my survey about social networking as well. I divided my respondents into groups such as, teens, yuppies and late 30's. That's my target audience. But I'mthinking of doing extra survey just to make sure I get my target market right. I hope I can finish everything by the end of this week. Maybe on my next blog entry I'll share how I do my thesis... like my guidelines for making thesis just for your reference. I hope it will help all those who are making thesis work.