I’m lost for words! MNET has released their own social network, which is just like all others:
- Create a profile
- Upload photographs
- Upload videos
- Rate friends photographs and videos
I’m amazed that they have done this and am very interested to see how it plays out and whether it’s going to put pressure on other local social networks. I know of another big corporate company, which is currently developing a social network as well – is there going to be a saturation soon?
I talked about niche social networks the other day and I’ve still not heard any news on a new niche network – this has to happen for any company to rank above the others – unless thousands of rands are going to be pumped into marketing and feature development
Wow, maybe the M-Net community might draw inn an older demographic compared to facebook…
Hmm true, but i dont like the look of this. I hope these things dont start popping up everywhere :/ O well, maybe I shud develop my own before the real rush comes :)
Weak attempt at being a wannabee!
Maybe a social network for all Panarotti’s customers social network? or ppl who love kiwi fruit and custard social network? or how about for those who tie their left shoe lace before their right shoe lace before they wash their cars social network?
Oh wait… is that not the entire point of the whole “groups” thingy in FB?
I’m with HoTsTePPa on this one, it’s nichey and overdone, and you can only connect with other MNET users. And only in SA. They should have just got a Facebook group of do the fan application thingy.
I’m starting to wonder where all this social networking is really going. I know it’s growing as in more previously unenlightened people are using it, but how much more connecting can we really take? As it is, the average person seems to have Facebook, and Twitter, and Mxit, as well as MSN, Gtalk and Yahoo, plus emails… kinda gets a bit OTT after a while.
MNET are just trying to up their viewers by ‘keeping up’, which in turn ups their figures.
I don’t think that they see it as a acquisition tool. I think its more retention that they are chasing. Honestly, I dont see myself signing up with MNet because they have a SN now.
They are also trying to show that the company image is up there with latest trends. But I think that the strategist who came up with this, missed the whole idea.
Building a completely new network is like trying to invent a toaster in 2008 and then sticking a flag in it claiming to be the first to invent such a useful appliance. Pretty damn pointless. FB has the network set up already.
I think that new businesses should learn from this actually. “STICK TO WHAT YOU KNOW!”. Work with companies that know what they are doing. I’m no heart surgeon, hence I leave it to the doctors kinda approach.
Thanks for the post Chris – and for the feedback. Some interesting points, which I feel I should clarify.
Bit of background – the social network was launched in June last year (so its been around for almost a year now), on the back of 3 reality shows (Big Brother, Idols and Survivor). We felt that it was necessary to build community around these shows, and given the time frame to delivery, we opted to purchase a platform and customize it, rather than build. It proved successful, as we gathered around 40,000 users.
The platform is a single user database, with multiple front-ends – so that we can tailor the look and feel to specific audiences. Natalie is absolutely correct in that we are trying to target a multitude of audiences (from the kykNET/Egoli user, to the GO channel and Channel O users).
Functionality wise, the platform is very similar to other s/n offerings in that it allows for profiles, photos, video etc, but this is just the foundation that we need in order to launch more specific functionality – functionality that will be very niche once ready. For example, we are looking at integrating the profiles with our sms2TV shows – so that our audiences are able to interact across various platforms, with other members/friends.
There are many examples of great social network platforms out there, as you have all pointed out, but there are very few examples that allow for multi-platform interaction.
I hope this answers some of the questions/concerns you have about the emergence of another local social networks, and specifically why M-Net is playing in this space.
Personally, I think it’s a good idea. Whether or not huge masses of people decide to sign up it’s still a win win situation for M-Net. It’s relatively inexpensive and they are leveraging their brand in a growing community. I don’t know how far South Africa has grown with respect to online social networks but in America consumers are reaching out to companies for online communities; even coffee enterprises have their own online social communities. M-Net and South Africa can’t afford to lag behind the global markets.
Bit tired of all the social networks, but would reconsider a smaller community if I find the right one. Niche social networks will hopefully concentrate on quality rather than on quantity.