Teens like Nexopia over Facebook? WTF?
Posted on January 17th, 2008 in links, rants, technology |
I don’t even know how this makes the news. Damn old media is screwed up bad.
First off, just because Facebook growth is slowing compared to in previous months, and Nexopia is still growing at a steady pace, does not mean that people are switching.
You also ought to compare the number of users as well as the areas in which these users live. For example, I have heard that Piczo is huge in the Maritimes.
As anyone who knows the social networking industry would understand, you choose a site based on where your friends are - not features. Features only contribute to where people initially head, and can lead to an eventual switch. But, if 80% + of your friends are on MySpace, versus a handful on Orkut, you’ll use MySpace more often, and eventually attempt to convince the other 20% to switch.
Frankly, Nexopia is the has-been in social networking, at least in Vancouver. Everyone used it, then eventually switched almost a year ago. In terms of usage actually, Vancouver and Toronto are two of the three regions where Facebook is used the most - the third city is London. With a stranglehold on the area, it’s unlikely people will switch anytime soon, at least until there’s a site with cool enough features to warrant it.
Perhaps kids in Edmonton are still using Nexopia. But as far as I understand, most big cities in Canada have graciously embraced Facebook as their social network of choice - especially adults, one of the largest growing markets using the service.
Furthermore, teens *cannot* hide out in Nexopia. One of Facebook’s strengths is that it’s a closed platform: people cannot see your profile or almost any of your info; they have to be your friend for that access. And even then, you can limit who sees what. So the claim that teens are using Nexopia to hide from their parents on Facebook makes absolutely no sense.
And as for worlds colliding, just because your parents or other family add you, doesn’t mean you have to accept them. Smart parents would understand there needs to be some distance between them and their kids and won’t be too upset over it.
Misty Harris: You are one poor journalist.
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4 Responses
Nexopia has insanely high penetration in the Edmonton and Calgary teenage demographic. Facebook uptake was been very rapid in the 18-30 demographic, but it will take much effort to erode Nexopia’s presence there.
Here in Van, of course, few people are aware of Nexopia. The article is very Alberta slanted and mainstream media continues to fail at tech.
In some sense, teens can hide out on Nexopia, because the service doesn’t appeal at all to adults. Obviously this privacy is an illusion, but the tone of the site gives it a “no old people” vibe.
this was a wire piece and not written by a local journo.
I refuse to be on Facebook :)
Nexopia is canadas myspace, and British columbia is taking it over. Myspace is where everyone in America goes. And face book is gay, it kicked me off, so I dont use it, and plus old people are there,you’re parents use face book. what kid wants to talk to there parents at home in person and on the computer. Like seriously