Online Communities Continue Growth

How is the Web 2.0 social networking scene doing. We connect and connect and I always wonder exactly how the scene is doing. On Wednesday Hitwise revealed that online traffic to MySpace increased 10.2 percent in February.

Smaller players like Buzznet and iMeem also benefited with traffic increases over 11 percent. Visits to photo journal sharing website Buzznet and the iMeem site more than doubled according to an article at AFP via Yahoo! News. MySpace accounted for 80 percent of social networking traffic and these smaller entities accounted for less than one percent for the month. One percent, that seems insignificant, but I guess MySpace was at one percent sometime.

Facebook came in second in the hit category accounting for 10 percent of all visits. The February numbers show that startups like iMeem (2004) and Buzznet (2003) are gaining in popularity, but have a long way to climb to make a dent in MySpace's market share.

“While MySpace is still by far the dominant social networking website, sites like Buzznet and iMeem are succeeding in building communities around music and other media,” said Hitwise research director LeeAnn Prescott.

Personally, have always rooted for the underdog sites in this category, and am glad to see them making a little headway. Facebook is superior in many ways to Myspace but continues to trail the behemoth in popularity.

This may be one of those situations where smaller sites gain momentum but never take off with massive appeal, and in so doing retain an atmosphere that is less chaotic and more fun for people who do not like crowds. The news is good for Web 2.0 in any event, as users continue to enjoy community around the net. Or are they the same people? This is a good question for one of our diligent readers.

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