social networks

Entropy, Dispersion and Fragmentation

I am totally convinced that the world of social media is not consolidating around one “winner takes all” social platform.

– Fred Wilson

News Byte

Home Decor Flash Sales Site LuxeYard Raises $3.5 Million in Capital

Tricia Duryee in Commerce on January 23 at 9:01 pm PT

LuxeYard, a home decor flash sales and group-buying site, has secured $3.5 million in new capital from undisclosed investors. The Los Angeles company is also unveiling a redesigned site that allows members to participate in two new ways: First, members can post photos of items that they would like to purchase at a discount; and second, they can drive prices down by encouraging others to buy the product on social networks. The more people who buy it, the less expensive it becomes. LuxeYard will be competing against Gilt Groupe, Rue La La, One Kings Lane, Fab.com and other similar sites.

About All Those Active Google+ Users …

Liz Gannes in Social on January 19 at 5:15 pm PT

Sometimes I feel like it would be easier to find the Fountain of Youth than get apples-to-apples metrics about Web site and app usage.

Tagged Acquires Facebook Competitor hi5

Shayndi Raice, Reporter, The Wall Street Journal in Social on December 14, 2011 at 10:25 am PT

Hi5, once one of the top three global social networks, was acquired by San Francisco-based Tagged on Wednesday, as some of the remnants of the social network space clear out in the wake of Facebook’s overwhelming dominance.

In Your Hands, Just What You Want to Read

Katherine Boehret in The Digital Solution on December 6, 2011 at 9:05 pm PT

Until now, personalized-reading apps have been mostly found on tablets like the iPad, but Wednesday, the first of those apps moves to the smartphone for reading on the go.

The Future of Social Gaming Isn’t All About Facebook

Tricia Duryee in Social on October 11, 2011 at 6:00 am PT

In fact, other platforms are slated to represent much larger opportunities than Facebook, according to a recent study.

Angie’s Restricted List Should Tempt Investors

Rolfe Winkler, Reporter, The Wall Street Journal in Social on August 31, 2011 at 5:00 am PT

For social networks trying to defend their turf, a good barrier to entry may just be a barrier to membership. That is the idea behind Angie’s List, a members-only site for business reviews that filed for an initial public offering Thursday.

Who’s to Blame for Yahoo’s Q2 Revenue Rout? The Line Forms Around Back…

Kara Swisher in News on July 19, 2011 at 2:02 pm PT

What happened to Yahoo revenue? Display sales in the U.S. gets the blame this quarter. While coming up with a new thing to blame for Q3, Yahoo execs try to explain it all for you.

More Women Crashing Google+ Sausage Party

John Paczkowski in News on July 16, 2011 at 9:00 pm PT

Google+ isn’t the frat party it first appeared to be.

News Byte

Two Playfish Co-Founders Depart from Electronic Arts

Tricia Duryee in Commerce on February 15, 2011 at 4:08 pm PT

Electronic Arts confirmed today that two of the founders of Playfish, the social games platform it acquired in late 2009, are leaving the company. InsideSocialGames was the first to report that Sebastien de Halleux, the former Playfish COO, and Sami Lababidi, the former head of development, are stepping down. Going forward, a spokesperson said they will both work as consultants as EA brings its other gaming properties to social networks.