Social networking – fit1012
- 2. MyYearBook
- 3. What is it? MyYearBook is a social networking site that is generally focused on teens. The site shares similar qualities to popular social networking sites such as Facebook with additional unique qualities. The site was launched in April of 2005 and has a revenue of about 20 million dollars, as well as about 20 million registered users – Most of them being teens. The site is ranked 851 globally on Alexa.
- 4. Background info: In 2005 Catherine Cook, and her brother David cook came up with an idea to help find friends since they had just transferred to a new High School. The siblings, while flipping through their yearbook one night thought of an innovative idea of digitizing the yearbook. After the ideas were presented Catherine and David’s older brother Geoff who had just graduated from Harvard decided to pay the start up bill. After 6 years the Cook siblings became multi-millionaires. Recently the Quepasa corp. bought out MyYearBook for $100 million dollars.
- 5. Key Features •MyYearBook features a wall – similar to facebook’s. • MyYearbook has many games – Most of which are hosted on OMGpop.com •MyYearBook has competitions – There are a wide variety of competitions ranging from Best looking to Most musical, to most athletic – Similar to an actual yearbook. •MyYearBook has a “Flirt” feature where people can meet new people with similar interests. •The site has a unique currency called Lunch Money. Lunch money can be used to buy new layouts, give virtual gifts to friends or even donate to charity. • The site has a “Causes” feature where you can donate lunch money that is earned through various acts on the site. The lunch money is converted to an actual currency and is donated to which ever cause users want to help.
- 6. The Wall Like Facebook – MyYearbook has a wall that you can use to connect with friends. There are many options and settings which allow you to also view posts by people near you, or people with similar interests – It is not just limited to friends.
- 7. Games The game selection on MyYearbook is an assortment of games that are hosted on OMGpop.com – A popular online gaming site. Games can be either single player or multi-player. Games include spin-off versions of connect four, words with friends, pictionary, etc.
- 8. Competitions In most school yearbooks there are usually sections that show “most…” or “best…” for each grade. MyYearBook has a feature similar to the classic “Most likely to succeed”, “Best Dressed”, “Class Clown”, etc. You can set up a competition with anyone. When the competition is setup you can have either friends or people within your area vote on who is “Best…”, or “Most….”. The winner of the competition wins bragging rights and a little bit of Lunch Money.
- 9. “Flirt” The site offers a section to people who are looking for relationships. There are many activites in this feature that allow someone to find a compatible match in their area. There are quizzes, games, and picture rating.
- 10. Currency A fun aspect of MyYearBook is the virtual currency. The currency is earned through various activities on the site such as competitions, games, and daily login bonuses. The currency can be spent on different profile layouts, special site options, giving virtual gifts such as stickers to post on a friend’s wall, and even allowing you to donate to charity.
- 11. Causes One of the most unique features on the site is the “Causes” Section. Users can donate to various charities of their choice with the site’s virtual currency. There are many different charities or causes to donate to – and it’s up to the user which one they choose to donate to. Every time you donate you get experience points towards your donating rank. The more Lunch Money you spend the higher your donating rank is.
- 12. List of Causes •End Child abuse – Buy stuffed animals to give to kids •Help Cure cancer – Buy lab research time •Support our troops – Buy care packages (By weight) •Autism Research time •Diabetes Research time •Feed rescued animals – Buy pet food •End World Hunger – Buy rice to help end world hunger •Promote equality – Legal time •Books for poor children •Promote World Piece •Raise Breast Cancer Awareness •Help the Homeless – Buy blankets •Fight disease – Supply clean drinking water •Save the rainforest – Stop destruction •Fight Global Warming – Remove CO2 from the atmosphere •Fight the spread of aids
- 13. Causes Each cause costs a certain amount per unit to supply. For example – the help end world hunger cause costs $40 Lunch Money per grain of rice. Some causes are money expensive than others due to the size of each unit. The Help the Homeless cause costs $2400 Lunch Money per square inch of blanket – because blankets cost a lot more money to make than rice.
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