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• Social networking site Bebo is was founded in 2005 by British entrepreneur Michael Birch and his wife, Xochi Birch. With a reported 40 million users, it is currently the second-largest social networking site in the UK, and the third-largest in the world.TechCrunch: AOL Buys Bebo For $850 Million (March 13, 2008) Washington Post: AOL to Buy Bebo to Compete In Social-Networking Market (March 14, 2008)

• Fast Facts

  1. Acronym for “Blog early, blog often”The Guardian: How to make 80 million friends and influence people
  2. Founded: January 2005The Guardian: Are you connected? (May 16, 2007)
  3. Relaunched: July 2005Two Point Touch: Be-boom or bust - the ingredients of a social network
  4. Founders: Michael Birch and Xochi Birch
  5. Based in San Francisco, California
  6. Owner: AOL
  7. Bought by AOL on March 13, 2008BBC: AOL Acquires Bebo Social Network (March 13, 2008)
  8. Type of site: Social networking
  9. Registration required
  10. Available languages: English, Polish, German and French
  11. Has customizable skins

• Bebo Sections

  • Bebo Music
  • Bebo Authors
  • Bebo Groups
  • Bebo Mobile
  • Bebo Video
  • Bebo Apps
  • Bebo Skins
  • Bebo Nation

• AOL Purchase

  Bebo was purchased by AOL on March 13, 2008, for £417 million.

• Bebo Suicide Controversy

  Bebo's reported connection with several youth suicides that occurred in the United Kingdom beginning in January 2007 raised controversy.CNN: Web cult blamed for seven suicides (January 23, 2008) A few of the youths who committed suicide had profiles on the Bebo network.The Independent: Bridgend deaths: Police warn of Bebo 'internet suicide cult' (January 28, 2008)

• Related Pages on Mahalo

  Facebook | Bebo Suicide Cult | Friendster | Xanga | VMIX | Hi 5 | Social Networking | Xochi Birch | Michael Birch

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