Virtually Here

It’s often easy focus on the social networks that originated - and thrive - in the US, but it’s a big world out there and in some posts here we will take a closer look at some of the bigger names.

South Korea is the most wired country in the world and many of the best gamers in the world comes out of there (yes, everyone knows how to play Starcraft) so it’s not that surprising that one of the most popular and largest social networks in the world also has its roots there. Cyworld is veritable powerhouse within the world of social networking. In 2006 it already had 100,000 videos uploaded to its site each day (this can be compared to youtube.com that at the same time was getting approximately 65,000 videos/day). In addition to sheer media sharing Cyworld also sold virtual currency for about 300,000 US dollars/day. Cyworld is a social site whose target females from their pre-teens up to their early 20’s.

The virtual currency you can purchase (called acorns in-game) can be used to buy digital accessories and even furniture for your virtual home. By furnishing your own on-line room (called ‘MiniRooms’) you are making a statement about who you are, what your taste is - and in some way how much money you have to squander. People can comment on the room you’ve made and make comments and suggestions about how to change it.

Cyworld attempts to differentiate themselves from other, similar social sites in saying that the site is much more about extending existing real-life relionships and friendships into the virtul world instead of trying to amass as many followers that you can - and that you don’t really know.

At it’s peak in 2006 cyworld also entered the US market with a very agressive marketing focus targeting their already identified target. It has not reached the popularity in the US that the site enjoyed back in South Korea - mostly due to the fact that the competition was already well established here with sites like MySpace and FaceBook to mention two.

But if you happen to be a 13 year old girl with interior design dreams it may just be the place for you. The rest of us may have to give this one a pass.

Trackback URI | Comments RSS