- Playboy U
Infobox Website
name = Playboy U
caption = Playboy U
url = [http://www.playboyu.com/ Playboy U]
type =Social Networking
language = English
owner =Playboy Enterprises, Inc.
launch date = August 23, 2007
current status = ActivePlayboy U is a
social networking site owned and operated byPlayboy Enterprises, Inc. Launched in August 2007, the site is inspired by other popular social networking sites, such asMySpace andFacebook , in that users may add other users as "friends," post videos and photos, leave comments and messages on a "wall," and send privateinstant messages . Among the key differences, however, are the community and content. Playboy U has positioned itself as a "campus advisor" and expert on how to maximize the college experience by offering a mix ofjournalism ,entertainment and "cross-campus" dialogue that is distinct within online social networking. [ cite news | title = Playboy Launches Social-Networking Site =August 24 2007 | publisher = FOX News Online | url = http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,294254,00.html ]Who can join?
Playboy U's membership is open to currently enrolled college students who possess an
e-mail address with the .edu identifier. [ cite news | title = Playboy Launches Social-Networking Site =August 24 2007 | publisher = FOX News Online | url = http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,294254,00.html ] . Playboy U says it will dismiss any universityfaculty , staff oralumni or other non-students that it discovers on the site. [ cite news | title = Playboy Launches Social-Networking Site =August 24 2007 | publisher = FOX News Online | url = http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,294254,00.html ]Other unique elements
In addition to being an online social network for members only, Playboy U also features original, collegiate-themed editorial content on publicly viewable pages for consumption by non-members. These features and pages distinguish Playboy U from other social networking sites, especially
Facebook , where currently the content is entirely member-driven and unavailable to those who do not maintain aFacebook profile. [ cite news | title = Playboy Launches Social-Networking Site =August 24 2007 | publisher = FOX News Online | url = http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,294254,00.html ]Quotes from a user
The prestige of the brand, coupled with the
Playboy cachet personified byHugh Hefner , holds the most appeal for a 24-year-old public relations major atWest Virginia University . [ cite news | title = Playboy fights slump with campus network, night clubs =August 22 2007 | publisher = USA Today | url = http://www.usatoday.com/money/media/2007-08-22-playboy-college-website_N.htm ]"They do a really good job at blending in the Playboy lifestyle with the student," said the student, who promotes the site to his classmates. "There's a level of exclusivity to it, and I think that keeps it cool." [ cite news | title = Playboy fights slump with campus network, night clubs =
August 22 2007 | publisher = USA Today | url = http://www.usatoday.com/money/media/2007-08-22-playboy-college-website_N.htm ]Criticisms
Restricting membership only to those with an .edu identifier at the end of their e-mail addresses minimizes membership and traffic, as does the challenge of attracting female students to the site. While Playboy U recognizes that currently there are more male than female users, it will continue to make the site more female-friendly by adding features such as style and fashion columns. [ cite news | title = Playboy finds alternative way to score with college students =
September 21 2007 | publisher = Daily Pennsylvanian | url = http://media.www.dailypennsylvanian.com/media/storage/paper882/news/2007/09/21/News/Playboy.Finds.Alternative.Way.To.Score.With.College.Students-2983638.shtml ]References
External Links
* [http://www.playboyu.com/ Playboy U]
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