ASmallWorld
Encyclopedia
aSmallWorld is an on-line social network service
similar to XING
, and LinkedIn
. It is an exclusive (i.e. invitation-only) network with roughly 770,000 members that was founded by Erik
and Louise Wachtmeister
.
services, such as profiles, an event calendar, and private messaging. Unlike most other such services, aSmallWorld allows users to list multiple cities for their locations of residences.
aSmallWorld offers seventy detailed "city guides" written by its members detailing and rating high-quality clubs, bars, and restaurants. Members also may buy and sell items, find executive talent and business partners, rent property, and find flatmates using aSmallWorld's private forums.
and the staff hiring spree there in 2006 and 2007. London, New York, and Paris are the top three cities of residence. According to Wachtmeister, aSmallWorld keeps "track of people's behavior and we actually do kick people out." Members whose behavior doesn't follow the site's code of conduct may find themselves exiled to "aBigWorld". Typical infractions would be creating fake profiles, using profane language, using the site for self-promotion, or excessively connecting with or contacting other members without knowing them.
Erik Wachtmeister has been quoted as stating that only twenty percent of current members have been entrusted with invitation privileges. The selection of these members involves a number of variables including geographic location, the member's activity and reputation, the composition and balance of the member's network, and completeness of the member's profile. These criteria are said to be used to ensure that ASW members represent the most relevant, interesting and well-informed community on the Internet. It also ensures that the network is balanced in terms of geography, interests, tastes and perspectives.
aSmallWorld has enrolled over 700,000 members since its launch.
aSmallWorld is patrolled regularly for suspicious activity or members who are not connected closely enough to its main userbase. Problematic users are exiled immediately 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.
's The Weinstein Company
invested a significant amount in the site as their first online venture. In October, 2009, however, Weinstein sold a controlling stake in the company with a loss making history and cited a need to focus his company's resources on its struggling movie operations.
Social network service
A social networking service is an online service, platform, or site that focuses on building and reflecting of social networks or social relations among people, who, for example, share interests and/or activities. A social network service consists of a representation of each user , his/her social...
similar to XING
Xing
Xing may refer to:* an abbreviation for crossing, primarily used in North America* Qiao Xing Universal Telephone Inc. * XING, a social network platform* Xing County, in Shanxi, China* Xing - A Korean boyband...
, and LinkedIn
LinkedIn
LinkedIn is a business-related social networking site. Founded in December 2002 and launched in May 2003, it is mainly used for professional networking. , LinkedIn reports more than 120 million registered users in more than 200 countries and territories. The site is available in English, French,...
. It is an exclusive (i.e. invitation-only) network with roughly 770,000 members that was founded by Erik
Erik Wachtmeister
Count Erik Wachtmeister is the founding chairman of ASMALLWORLD Holdings, Inc. The son of Swedish Ambassador Count Wilhelm Wachtmeister and Countess Ulla Wachtmeister, he earned a Master of Business Administration from INSEAD in 1983...
and Louise Wachtmeister
Louise Wachtmeister
Countess Louise Wachtmeister is a Swedish entrepreneur, athlete, and political activist. She was President of the largest chapter of the Conservative Youth Party in Stockholm for four years, and has held elected positions with the Stockholm City Hall and Stockholm District Court...
.
Features
aSmallWorld shares many features with other social networkSocial network service
A social networking service is an online service, platform, or site that focuses on building and reflecting of social networks or social relations among people, who, for example, share interests and/or activities. A social network service consists of a representation of each user , his/her social...
services, such as profiles, an event calendar, and private messaging. Unlike most other such services, aSmallWorld allows users to list multiple cities for their locations of residences.
aSmallWorld offers seventy detailed "city guides" written by its members detailing and rating high-quality clubs, bars, and restaurants. Members also may buy and sell items, find executive talent and business partners, rent property, and find flatmates using aSmallWorld's private forums.
Critics
aSmallWorld often is dubbed "Snobster" or "Friendster for the jet set" by critics, calling its unique selling point is that almost no one can be a member. Another problem is that wealthy and famous people cannot join aSmallWorld even if they want to - since in order to join the community you need an invitation from a friend. Asmallworld often sends members to "a big world" - a website created as a punishment to aSmallWorld members who don't follow its terms.Members
According to Erik Wachtmeister, "members are people with large personal networks, frequent travel and highly active personality." Most aSmallWorld users come from European countries, but over the past three years emphasis has shifted to the U.S., in line with the company's relocation to ManhattanManhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
and the staff hiring spree there in 2006 and 2007. London, New York, and Paris are the top three cities of residence. According to Wachtmeister, aSmallWorld keeps "track of people's behavior and we actually do kick people out." Members whose behavior doesn't follow the site's code of conduct may find themselves exiled to "aBigWorld". Typical infractions would be creating fake profiles, using profane language, using the site for self-promotion, or excessively connecting with or contacting other members without knowing them.
Erik Wachtmeister has been quoted as stating that only twenty percent of current members have been entrusted with invitation privileges. The selection of these members involves a number of variables including geographic location, the member's activity and reputation, the composition and balance of the member's network, and completeness of the member's profile. These criteria are said to be used to ensure that ASW members represent the most relevant, interesting and well-informed community on the Internet. It also ensures that the network is balanced in terms of geography, interests, tastes and perspectives.
aSmallWorld has enrolled over 700,000 members since its launch.
aBigWorld
aSmallWorld is patrolled regularly for suspicious activity or members who are not connected closely enough to its main userbase. Problematic users are exiled immediately 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.
Funding
In May 2006, Harvey WeinsteinHarvey Weinstein
Harvey Weinstein, CBE is an American film producer and movie studio chairman. He is best known as co-founder of Miramax Films. He and his brother Bob have been co-chairmen of The Weinstein Company, their film production company, since 2005...
's The Weinstein Company
The Weinstein Company
The Weinstein Company is an American film studio founded by Bob and Harvey Weinstein in 2005 after the brothers left the then-Disney-owned Miramax Films, which they had co-founded in 1979...
invested a significant amount in the site as their first online venture. In October, 2009, however, Weinstein sold a controlling stake in the company with a loss making history and cited a need to focus his company's resources on its struggling movie operations.
See also
- DecayenneDecayenneDecayenne is an invitation-only on-line social network service founded in 2001 in Düsseldorf by Phillip Eissing, Alexander Eissing, Marco Schierhorn, and Ioannis Voudouris. Its member pool aims at exclusivity and is composed of mostly Europeans and Americans...
- List of social networking websites
- Count Erik Wachtmeister
- Countess Louise Wachtmeister
External links
- aSmallWorld
- Gawker: aSmallWorld: Friendster For The VIP Set
- Gawker: aSmallWorld Gets Nasty
- MySpace for Millionaires, Article from The Wall Street JournalThe Wall Street JournalThe Wall Street Journal is an American English-language international daily newspaper. It is published in New York City by Dow Jones & Company, a division of News Corporation, along with the Asian and European editions of the Journal....
. - Founder Erik Wachtmeister Interview, SNW, Aug '08