“Six Degrees of Separation” theory put forward once again, opened the doors of another Internet world, the concept of early introduction of the Internet social networking, social network created for the Internet service SNS. Currently, the Internet social networking service has become one of the most popular topic, has become the hottest investment community sought after area. Looking back on the development of SNS, SNS development back from abroad, MySpace, Facebook, Twitter to China happy network, all network applications such as SNS pan-entertainment, to the current popular microblogging China, rice chat, micro letters, as well as vertical class of SNS application form, the concept of social networking service further the essence of the Internet.

a certain sense, is derived from social network social networking needs, based on this idea, and Qing dynasties Research Center believes that the development process of Chinese social networking presents four kinds of main stage, as shown below :

1. BBS era of the early prototype of social networking

from depth look at the evolution of social networks, social networks should be level from the BBS era WEB1.0 gradual evolution. Compared to E-mail form, BBS to social networking one step further, the point opposite the point of the evolution of the form, reducing communication costs. In addition, compared to instant messaging and social networking tools and other light blog, BBS dilute the sense of individual multi-node of the information, and to achieve a dispersion of information aggregation. At this point, End of the World, Mop, Xicihutong BBS and other products are typical of the era of enterprise. From the VC/PE attention point of view, before mid-2006, BBS and blog focused on the capital form of social networking products, but the latter point of view, the development of such enterprises more than unsatisfactory.

2. Entertainment, social networking age

through the early conceptualization of the theory of six degrees of separation time, the concept of social networking with entertainment has made great progress . Abroad to promote the social product of the depth of the development of social networks. In 2002, LinkedIn was established; 2003, the use of rich multimedia personal space to attract the attention of the Myspace set up; 2004, copy the line management of the real cost of online relationships to set up Facebook, a social network of these excellent products or service patterns, social networks have been guided by the “low-cost alternative” principle, reduce the time and the social cost of people, has made considerable progress.

Throughout China, the foreign development of social networks in full swing, the Chinese social networking products have appeared, such as all networks set up in 2005, established in 2008, happy network, launched in 2009, Sohu and even the white community so, the curtain opened Chinese social network. During this time, generally three years spanning 2006-2008, VC/PE experienced a substantial investment here, after a slow 2008 into the input stage.

3. Micro-social network information age

the introduction of micro-Bo, China opened a social networking micro-information age of the big screen. August 2009, Sina microblogging product launch, the timely expression of 140 words, and according to user interest in the value orientation and division of the multi-dimensional user groups, users, etc. to promote and build their own search for their own circle of friends, this product rapid polymerization of the massive user base, of course, attracted a large number of operators (such as Tencent, Netease, Shanda) to follow. This model will once again push investors broad vision of social networking.

In addition, with the development of mobile Internet, micro-social product information and location services, gradually moving the combination of features, one after another talk meters, micro letters, simple products such as mobile clients. In addition, we should not be overlooked is SoLoMo era, social functioning has become the product standard, has been unable to accurately distinguish between the social product range.

4. Vertical social networking application times

vertical social networking application is not in the era of the three social networking end, but that the other three times each other. Currently, the vertical social networking mainly with games, e-commerce, a combination of classified information, which can be called social networking business models to explore the beneficial attempt. Research Center is expected to clear, vertical social network social networking will become the main direction of future development.

With the continuous advance of social networks, all kinds of social networks continue to seek differentiated product development, research called from the “incremental nature of entertainment” to “constant sexual life & rdquo ; evolution. Currently, social networking and gradually extended to the field of mobile phone platform, with mobile phones universal, portable line, timeliness and other features, the use of various friends/IM/e-mail software such as transceivers, making the cell phone will become the new main vehicle for social networking .

article from: investment community

(Editor: Zhang Yong)