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Tommy
1st April, 2009, 10:32 PM
Social networking 'will continue to develop'

Websites such as Facebook, MySpace and Twitter will continue to grow and develop as long as they remain popular with broadband users, one expert has suggested.

According to a spokesman for New Media Intelligence, a tailored web monitoring company which provides objective news analysis for a number of businesses including PR agencies, social networking is an area that continues to change.

Tim Houghton, managing director of New Media Intelligence, said there was "definitely" a risk of such websites alienating their existing client base if they continue to attempt to monetise themselves.

However, he added it was inevitable that the networks would need to do so and such a thing had been seen before when Google realised they had to figure out a way of getting their search facilities to generate revenue.

"They didn't have a business model they just had a great search engine to start with and I think with social networking sites we're at a similar stage," he said.

"Some of these sites are going to crack that and they're going to be able to generate some revenue but I don't think they've done it yet."

Recent news originally published by Reuters' Alexei Oreskovic suggested Twitter would seek revenues from businesses using its service to connect with consumers and that this would be a "much-anticipated" step in transforming itself into a workable business.

Twitter is still very much the new kid on the block when it comes to attracting broadband users. However, with a number of high-profile celebrities regularly using it such as Jonathon Ross and Stephen Fry it has gained popularity over the past few months.


Tommy