Social Networking Watch: News on the Social Networking and Social Media Industry

OfferPal Sues Kickflip For Starting Competitive Service

TECH CRUNCH -- June 12 -- Offerpal Media, an advertising platform concentrated on helping developers monetize social networks by offering virtual currency in exchange for participating in ‘offers’ like online surveys, has filed suit against Kickflip, the company behind the Gambit payment engine. The suit alleges that Kickflip temporarily used Offerpal’s services for the purpose of stealing knowledge of how the service worked, which it then used to start a competitor. Kickflip has issued the following statement regarding the suit: We were game makers long before we built Gambit. As game makers, we used the services of both OfferPal and SuperRewards. We noticed these services couldn’t keep up with our needs, so we decided to build our own, which turned into Gambit. We are confident that this lawsuit has absolutely no merit. FULL ARTICLE @ TECH CRUNCH

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Viacom Buys Quizilla (Female Teens Social Network)

YAHOO NEWS -- Oct 16 -- Viacom's MTV Networks is buying Quizilla.com, a top five community for female teenagers to create and share quizzes, fictions, poetry and other content. Quizilla was started in 2002 and draws 4.7 million uniques (comScore) around the world.  In August, MTVN bought Shockwave.com and AddingtingGames.com. In September, Nickelodeon launched ParentsConnect.com. FULL ARTICLE @ YAHOO NEWS

Mark Brooks: Users first joined social networks (Friendster) to check out their friends buddy lists. But they needed something more. MySpace beat Friendster because of their connection with music. WAYN.com is doing well (and charging membership) by allowing users to express their travel interests. Quizilla is perfect for MTV, and I bet they got a good deal on this slightly 'off the radar' site. They have mopped up a sizable batch of market key influencers.  Social networking sites will niche out around demographic targets, interests and we could still see a technology leader emerge with some next generation compelling functionality. I'm still waiting for the 'iPod' of social networks.