ASmallWorld

aSmallWorld is an online social network service similar to Friendster. Dubbed "Snobster" by critics, [ [http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/13.08/posts.html?pg=2 "Bin Laden in 'Hell'"] by Xeni Jardin, "Wired Magazine", August 2005] it is an exclusive invitation-only network with roughly 300,000 members [ [http://technology.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/tech_and_web/the_web/article3277046.ece Who's pressing your buttons on Facebook? - Times Online ] ] . Founded by Erik Wachtmeister, a former investment banker and INSEAD graduate, and the son of a former Swedish ambassador to the United States, the network includes supermodels such as Naomi Campbell, Marcus Schenkenberg, Ivanka Trump, Bruno Santos, Massimiliano Neri, Isabeli Fontana, Lisa Cant, Singers and Musicians such as James Blunt, and Josh Groban; Film directors Quentin Tarantino, Renny Harlin, Martin Kunert, and Andrew Waller, Sport champion Tiger Woods,some racing drivers like Mario Moraes royalty such as Prince Emanuele Filiberto Di Savoia, Prince Felix of Luxembourg, James Ferragamo, David Reuben and also some Mexican élite families such as Salinas, Castañon, Diaz Ordaz, Slim, Peralta and Burillo.

Features

aSmallWorld shares many features with other social network services, such as profiles, an event calendar, and private messaging. [ [http://www.ksg.harvard.edu/netgov/files/png_workingpaper_series/PNG07-004_WorkingPaper_asw_com_monetizing_connectivity_case_study_A_langenberg_schellong.pdf "Teaching case on aSmallWorld"] by Thomas Langenberg and Alexander Schellong (Program on Networked Governance, "Harvard University"), "ksg.harvard.edu/netgov", June 2007] Unlike most other such services, aSmallWorld allows users to list multiple cities as their location of residence.

aSmallWorld offers 65 detailed "city guides" written by its members detailing and rating high-quality clubs, bars and restaurants. [http://www.gawker.com/news/hotspots/sneaking-around-asmallworld-022731.php Gawker: Sneaking Around aSmallWorld] ] Members can also buy, and sell items using aSmallWorld's private forums or even rent property or find a flatmate.

Members

According to Wachtmeister, "members are people with large personal networks, frequent travel and highly active personally." Most aSmallWorld users come from European countries. London, New York and Paris are the top three cities of residence. Wachtmeister has been quoted as stating that only some members have the right to invite others, as determined by a panel that factors in more than a dozen variables for eligibility. According to Wachtmeister, aSmallWorld keeps "track of people's behavior and we actually do kick people out." Members are not allowed to discuss the inner goings-on of aSmallWorld on any outside website, and doing so may result in internal exile to "aBigWorld".

aBigWorld

aSmallWorld is patrolled regularly for suspicious activity or members who are not closely connected enough to its main userbase. [ [http://www.gawker.com/news/hotspots/asmallworld-gets-even-smaller-022837.php aSmallWorld Gets Even Smaller] by the editors, "Gawker.com", 6 October 2004] Problematic users are immediately exiled to a separate network called "aBigWorld"; when exiled users log in, they will find that the color scheme of the website has changed from blue to green, and they no longer have access to aSmallWorld profiles or forum posts. [ [http://web.archive.org/web/20060508005939/http://thevirtualhandshake.com/wiki.html?page=aSmallWorld "Social Software Company Profiles Wiki: aSmallWorld"] by David Teten, "TheVirtualHandshake.com", July 2005]

Funding

With its cachet of exclusivity, the site has attracted the interest of film producer Harvey Weinstein. In May 2006, his company invested a significant amount in the site as their first online venture. [ [http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/12/movies/12movie.html Films From the Weinsteins Falter, but the Brothers Stay Focused - New York Times ] ]

References

ee also

* List of social networking websites

External links

* [http://www.asmallworld.net/ aSmallWorld]
* [http://www.gawker.com/news/hotspots/asmallworld-friendster-for-the-vip-set-022639.php Gawker: aSmallWorld: Friendster For The VIP Set]
* [http://www.gawker.com/news/unused/hotspots/asmallworld-gets-nasty-022924.php Gawker: aSmallWorld Gets Nasty]
* [http://online.wsj.com/public/article/SB119637905445308659-GWwMtG7HPZERP8QOiGlF1O6mUUA_20071229.html?mod=tff_main_tff_top MySpace for Millionaires] , Article from The Wall Street Journal.
* [http://www.socialnetworkingwatch.com/2008/08/asmallwolrd-fou.html Founder Erik Wachtmeister Interview, SNW, Aug '08]