I Link You

Where do the French network online?

Although MySpace has recently opened its French language site, one social networking site still dominates in the French social networking world. Part of the Skyrock network, Skyblog is the site to be on if you’re a young French male or female getting in on the social networking scene. There is a counter on the top of the page that constantly updates its usage statistics. Since its inception, there have been more than 6.7 million accounts, more than 337 million articles, and more than 668 million comments. Today, more than 1500 Skyblogs have been created and 90,000 articles have been published.

Skyblog is a nice relief from the frivolous and annoying site layout of MySpace. Skyblog seems to be more focused on user-created content then who's MySpace profile has the most "bling." The site layout for Skyblog is very basic and organized. You have your basic profile on the left of the page with your blog entries dominating on the the right. Members can comment on articles written by other Skyblog members. Skyblog also has a ranking system according to categories such as music, video, and most hits.

Many of Skyblog's members are very passionate about their interests and hobbies. One Skyblog chronicles a member's love for skateboarding. Everyday he posts action photos of the moves he learned and writes about how he wants to improve himself the very next day. Another member is obsessed with her pet cats, so she posts daily entries about what she did with her cats that day. Some people comment on world affairs and local news while others make fan pages about their favorite pop culture icons. There are many small record labels and local DJs (like MySpace's humble beginnings) trying to make their names known in the French world. Skyblog also has a sizable mobile presence through SFR and i-mode. There is even a ranking for most popular mobile Skyblogs on the homepage which can only be accessed if you have a Skyblog mobile account.

Granted, some of Skyblog's most popular members often display soft-core porn which was an issue with MySpace in America. One must also keep in mind that cultures are much different between the United States and France. France, and Europeans in general, are more open to alternative means of expression and communication. I often see several magazine covers with nude women prominently on display at local newstands. Many people never take care to notice and walk right by while my American friends and I gawk for several seconds before moving on. In the Metro, advertising is definitely a lot more open than in America. A new French movie called "Cashback" displays a topless women in a store of some sort. Raunchy? Maybe to the Americans, but to the French, it's just another ad.

posted by Koh @ 12:25 AM