Social Networking Watch

Chinese SN Block Baidu Indexing

CNET NEWS -- Sep 14 -- User privacy concerns on Chinese social networks have led the biggest players to block indexing by Baidu, China's leading search engine. The blogging site of Sohu.com, China's leading portal, as well as social networks including 51.com, Xiaonei, and Hainei have blocked Baidu's spiders from indexing the sites, Marbridge reported. Other search engines may also be blocked. The reasoning behind this move may reveal a pragmatic commitment to security by obscurity for people who post under their real names and may want to avoid attention from employers, acquaintances, and government monitors. FULL ARTICLE @ CNET NEWS

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Giant Interactive Invests $51 Million In 51.com

PAID CONTENT -- July 1 -- Chinese online games publisher Giant Interactive is acquiring about 25% stake in Five One Network Development, a Chinese online social networking service provider, for approximately $51 million. Rumors to this effect had been circulating for a while now. Founded in 2005, 51.com claims to be the largest independent social network service provider in China in terms of its total number of registered users. As of June 15, 2008, the total number of registered users on 51.com was approximately 120m and monthly unique visitors were approximately 31.5m. FULL ARTICLE @ WASHINGTON POST