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Fotolog hits 11 million members and 300 million photos posted

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fotolog.jpgFotolog revealed that its photo-blogging community and third most-trafficked social media network had reached the milestones of 11 million members and 300 million photos posted on its site. The site also set new monthly records in August with more than 20 million uploads of posted photos and 3.5 billion page views, a daily record last week of 135 million page views and two consecutive daily records with 774,000 and 790,000 photo uploads.

The news, which follows closely on the heels of the company’s announcement that it would be acquired by France’s Hi-Media Group, continues the site’s extraordinary momentum, including a doubling of its membership and the addition of more than 140 million photos since the beginning of the year, rises in usage and the launches of key alliances that have substantially upgraded its already compelling user experience.

Fotolog’s astounding growth, adding approximately 30,000 members per day, has been achieved purely virally, with virtually no expenditures on marketing.

Originally posted on September 20, 2007 @ 10:00 am

MTV launches online community to engage youth on issues that affect them

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think.jpgMTV, along with founding partners the Case Foundation, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Goldhirsh Foundation and MCJ Amelior Foundation, today launched a new movement in youth activism: Think.MTV.com. Born from MTV’s long-standing commitment to inform and engage young people on issues that affect them most, the Think Community aims to be the definitive online resource and rally point for young change makers. Launched in beta today, Think.MTV.com is a place where everyone from sunny day volunteers to die hard activists can Get Educated, Get Connected, Get Heard, Get Active and Get Rewarded.

The seminal ThinkMTV study “Just Cause” revealed that young people care deeply about activism: 80 percent say that taking action to help their community and others is important and the right thing to do; yet only 19% percent describe themselves as “very involved.” Respondents were very concerned about the challenges that face their generation – from personal issues like sexual health, discrimination, and education, to global concerns such as the environment, terrorism, poverty, and immigration – but many weren’t sure where to turn or how to get involved. Think.MTV.com will help mobilize these young people with new tools of engagement (mobile phones, online forums, broadband video, digital cameras, etc.), thereby narrowing the “activation gap” and making it much easier to become informed and take action.

Originally posted on September 20, 2007 @ 12:02 pm

xAble.com a passionate online community for people with disabilities

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xable.jpgDesigned as the world’s premier online disability community, xAble.com, is a place to view the web’s largest collection of disability videos, read real-time news on disability-related issues as well as share stories and voice opinions through audio, forums, and blogs.

Elio Navarro, the CEO and co-founder who uses a motorized wheelchair due to a neuromuscular disorder called Spinal Muscular Atrophy, hopes to create a community where people with disabilities, their families, friends, caregivers, doctors, recreation and rehabilitation providers, employers,and more can connect, share, and empower each other. This world is now a reality. Welcome to xAble.com.

Membership is free and participation is welcomed. xAble.com has launched cutting-edge Web 2.0 technologies and interactive multimedia, including online video, audio, photos, blogs, profiles, reviews, and more that can all be viewed and created by members of the community.

Let’s do our share as responsible Internet citizens by sharing this wonderful and very inspiring community to all people with disabilities in our social circle, online, and offline communities. A simple act of kindness will greatly help if we all participate.

Originally posted on September 18, 2007 @ 11:59 pm

OkCupid.com helps singles answer the question “WTF?”

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okcupid.jpgOkCupid.com, one of the largest and fastest growing free online dating site around, announced WTF (What to Fix), a new matching tool that lets OkCupid.com users see the issues on which they disagree with potential matches. When users ask “WTF?” on OkCupid.com, they get an analysis of their disagreements.

A WTF report reveals each party’s answers and desires on topics ranging from sex, drugs, politics, and religion so singles can see first hand which issues they can live with, and which issues are deal breakers. Users should be careful – anything they have revealed to OkCupid.com might be revealed to their WTF partner.

“Other dating sites gloss over disagreement, but OkCupid.com believes that conflict can be a great conversation starter,” said Sam Yagan, CEO and co-founder of OkCupid.com. “A healthy debate can either stoke the flames of passion or quickly show you who you should avoid like the plague.”

Originally posted on September 18, 2007 @ 12:54 pm

Admish.com launches comprehensive online community for college admissions

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admish.jpgAdmish, a free online community for college admissions, today announced its official launch. Admish connects everyone involved in the college admissions process, including students, college admissions officers, high school guidance counselors, parents, college access programs, teachers, and other educators. More than just an online home for student profiles, Admish.com takes popular “online playgrounds” like MySpace and Facebook to the next level, utilizing their best aspects to give social networking a purpose– to enhance the college admissions process from every perspective.

Admish.com offers deep, direct access to a wide range of tools, advice, and information about college admissions, including: The Admishionary, an A-Z guide that walks applicants through every step of the process; detailed resources and forms for financial aid and scholarships; online chats with admissions officers; school blogs; and more. This honest, insider content is available through Admish’s exclusive relationships with leading college preparatory and admissions organizations such as The Princeton Review, and with top college administrators, non-profit educational groups, financial professionals from companies such as Morgan Stanley, and other industry experts.

At Admish.com, students can create a free, interactive admissions profile with both text and multimedia content, search more than 5,000 accredited universities in the U.S., and get candid advice straight from university insiders to find the best school for their specific needs. Meanwhile, colleges can use Admish’s targeted searching and other unique tools to easily find qualified applicants worldwide – making the site ideal for American and international students alike. Parents, guidance counselors, teachers, and other educators can also join the community to network with students and each other, and to access free informational resources, interact with renowned experts, and gain valuable insight into the admissions process.

Originally posted on September 17, 2007 @ 12:02 pm