Facebook is slow in developing microtransactions content

Facebook announced that it is now selling music; a move that I believe took extremely long, given that music was a huge driving force for Myspace and Cyworld. I sometimes don’t understand why Facebook is slow in adopting business models that have already been proven in other markets. For instance, it kind of lost the virtual room model to Zynga (although I suppose if Facebook were to adopt its own virtual room thing it would squash Zynga) a business model fueled by micro transactions. I also don’t know why it hasn’t adopted the micro transactions model for customizable fonts and customizable skins. Since self-representation is such an important factor of social network sites, it only seems to make sense that such elements be hugely popular. Fonts and skins are extremely easy and cheap to produce; these elements may not be adopted by older users but younger users (and perhaps middle-aged women) will definitely be interested.

In a sense, Facebook has it easy because it can adopt business models that have been successful with Cyworld, which is a few years older and only popular in Korea and a couple other asian countries. If that is so, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Facebook adding more microtransaction content (like fonts, skins), and introducing services that make it a one-stop browser, which would include adding self-accounting services, subscribing to news, and becoming kind of like iGoogle.

It would also be super cool if Facebook could work with Amazon to put the universal wish list into Facebook so that you can send your friends gifts without having to know their addresses. FB is actually perfect for weddings if there was a wedding app that lets you invite your friends, put up your registry, share photos, etc. (There probably already is one) Would be nice if that could be in place before I get married, hehehe.

Are Digital brats are middle aged?

I am beginning to notice that the digital brat phenomena is not so prevalent among younger users of technology. In fact, not only are young people more adept at using technology, they also have better etiquette. For instance, younger people tend not to speak so loudly on their cell phones in public or use loud ring tones. Another example is the young girl who was texting while making a video call on her mobile phone because she didn’t want to be obtrusive (I wrote about this a couple years ago). I think this is extremely interesting because the etiquette that the young people develop are not from education, but developed amongst themselves.

This isn’t something that one can generalize, especially because the people that I know are brats are also those who have huge egos; so maybe it’s more of an ego issue than an age issue. Maybe it’s because I haven’t gone into a high school classroom where all the kids are texting each other instead of listening to the teacher. But to some extent, I have the feeling that the so-called middle aged early adapters are more “noisy” about their use because they’re unconsciously flaunting it, whereas younger people take the new technology for granted so it’s not so much of a big deal.

Cosplay at Anime Boston 2009

Just posted article on Cosplay at Playaslife.com…also posted photos on flickr.

Youngest cosplayer: 4 months old

Koreans ‘nuts’ over Cyworld

Getting nostalgic…I found this article I wrote in 2004 about how everyone in Korea was using the social networking site Cyworld. At the time I wrote it, I thought it was dumb, because everyone knew what Cyworld was and it was kind of stupid to point out that it was trendy. Cyworld had been created in 2001 so it wasn’t as if I was reporting on anything new. Now, I’m glad I wrote it.

Koreans ‘nuts’ over Cyworld
by Yoon Chang-hee, Wohn Dong-hee (Yoon is a senior reporter about 10 yrs older than me and close friend and colleague)

September 30, 2004

Forty-eight-year-old Han Myung-soo recently gave his teenage daughter acorns as a birthday present. He was surprised at first when his daughter sent him an e-mail saying that she wanted acorns, but understood after his wife explained that they were a form of money in Cyworld.

Cyworld is a popular site that provides personal homepage services. As of yesterday, the site surpassed 10 million members, or more than a quarter of the South Korean population. Within just a few years of launching, it has become an important part of mass culture.

Cyworld’s main feature is a type of Web log called a “mini hompy,” short for mini homepage. Like other blogs, users can create various Web boards, produce online photo albums, and upload other content. Its specialized content includes a “mini room,” which users can decorate with items from a cyber shop.

Arcade games and music can also be bought to be included in one’s hompy. These are bought with acorns, which cost 100 won (9 cents) each. Currently, Cyworld earns about 150 million won a day from acorn sales.

Another attraction is that all users who sign up must reveal their residential registration number, thus blocking multiple accounts. Users can search for friends and create virtual “bonds” with other members. This concept became very popular and was later adapted by competitors such as Naver, Freechal, MSN and Daum.

Cyworld was first established in September 2001 and was taken over in August last year by SK Communications, after which the number of members more than tripled. The site has become so popular that the act of writing postings or uploading photos onto Cyworld has been dubbed “Cy-ing.” Other new terms such as a “Cyholic,” a person who is addicted to Cyworld, have sprung up as well.

One of the negative aspects of Cyworld is that it is not a very private medium. Lee Yoon-hyung, the youngest daughter of Samsung Group Chairman Lee Kun-hee, and President Roh Moo-hyun’s daughter-in-law Bae Jung-min have had to close down their sites because too many people were publicizing their personal material. Others, such as Grand National party head Park Geun-hye, however, have used their sites to communicate with the public.