Comments on: Breaking: Facebook adds New Revenue Channel: Social Gifts

By: Arden Long

Arden Long — Sat, 20 Oct 2007 06:06:39 +0000

It is very popular in Asia. No doubt.
Somebody paid 1500USD to purchase a virtual autobike in community, you even could purchase a autobike in real life in this price.
About 4 years ago,I am surprise at this. But now,everybody used this.
Maybe western users will have a little different,but it would works,anyway.
Best regards

By: Doug

Doug — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 01:53:33 +0000

I’m a real college student… I use facebook and guess what: I got rid of my myspace account the moment I realized it was the hangout for people trying to steal my money. If facebook continues to try to make money I’ll choose to remove my virtual self from there too. I don’t know if I speak for college students outright, but the thing is, many of us have been living at computers for too long; we could make better icons than they’re trying to sell! I just don’t see the use.

By: ::lemonup:: - News, Technology, sports, cars, movie, video, blog, travel, mp3, picture, computer, notebook » Facebook Testing Virtual Gifts

Sat, 10 Feb 2007 10:08:29 +0000

[...] Facebook Testing Virtual Gifts By Facebook is testing virtual gifts – small icons that you can give to other Facebook members to be displayed on their pages in the “wall” section as well as a new gift area. The test is running with members from just a couple of select schools at this time. [...]

By: Josh

Josh — Fri, 09 Feb 2007 00:52:22 +0000

Virtual stuff is always a hit. If people spent alot of time, to most college students it’s worth it!

By: Facebook and Television, Together at Last

Facebook and Television, Together at Last — Thu, 08 Feb 2007 20:13:49 +0000

[...] Facebook is on the run. Noah posted an entry on Facebook’s new gifts program that started a few days ago. My guess is that if this TV program is popular and yields success, then Facebook will do a similar music program. [...]

By: Nii A.

Nii A. — Thu, 08 Feb 2007 19:00:57 +0000

This might get some initial traction due to its initial novelty and valentines day (great timing on their part) I don’t think the American 15-22 year old is open to paying real money to give virtual gifts to real friends. Remember, Cyworld is an avatar based social networking site where the avatar takes precedence over the actual person. You buy/sell/trade articles of clothing/accessories for the avatar, not the in-flesh person. A more comparable website with a virtual gift giving feature would be HotorNot, who has run a program like this for years this for years for ‘real profiles.’ Though the program will likely generate incremental revenue, it’s unlikely to be a huge game changer or differentiator for facebook.

-Nii A. Ahene

By: Dan

Dan — Thu, 08 Feb 2007 15:53:00 +0000

For all students against virtual gifts, join the group:

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2234798060

By: Jason L. Baptiste

Jason L. Baptiste — Thu, 08 Feb 2007 15:38:44 +0000

thumbs down from me. The throwing shit at the wall to see if it sticks strategy shouldn’t be in FB’s gameplan. The same way they built the community and userbase, they need to build their revenue models. The fact it’s for charity right now, is great.

-JLB

By: Noah Kagan

Noah Kagan — Thu, 08 Feb 2007 08:41:29 +0000

Sri,

I love your passion / anger. I am glad we are friends;)

By: sri

sri — Thu, 08 Feb 2007 08:37:01 +0000

Japan, korea is a different market. Hello Kitty is a huge phenomena there….perhaps a billion dollar industry.

College students in Asia are VERY different than college students here. College students in ASIA have money to spend. (I am from Asia).

IF you have it, flaunt it. Thats the Asian style. Education is taken care of by parents in Asia, so there is usually no such thing as working towards college etc…So asian students have more spending power than US students. (When i say Asian countries, I am talking about selected Asian countries)