social networking

Facebook Gifts Tries to Turn Generosity Viral

Facebook has finally rolled out its Gifts feature, which allows people to give real-life gifts to their friends. The social commerce platform has huge revenue potential for Facebook. And for all those cynical folks who make fun of typical Facebook birthday greetings, the message is clear: Put up or shut up.

Facebook Wants to Be Your Online Bank

Someday soon, Facebook users may pay their utility bills, balance their checkbooks, and transfer money at the same time they upload vacation photos to the site for friends to see.

Why Facebook's Falling Share Price Really Doesn't Matter

On Monday, Facebook's stock fell from its IPO price of $38 to a low of (as of this writing) $33.60. So what? Nobody who actually paid attention to Facebook's statements before the IPO should be surprised by this latest turn, or even worried. Here's why:

Facebook IPO Valuation Sets Record: Is It Really Worth $104 Billion?

Facebook finally set its IPO price Thursday evening: $38 a share, for a record-setting value of $104 billion on the social media giant. Is it worth it? Who knows. But despite the skeptics, there are definitely ways to make money from all those Facebook users' eyeballs.

Pin Money: How Pinterest Helps You Spend Less and Enjoy More

The rough economy has spurred a nationwide trend toward thrift and reuse, and nothing exemplifies that quite like Pinterest. The social photo- and idea-sharing website is more than just an electronic corkboard: It's a money-saving, life-hacking virtual community.

5 Reasons Facebook May Be a Better Buy Than You Think

What if Facebook's IPO offering isn't actually outlandishly priced? What if $100 billion is actually a reasonable price? Let's go over a few of the reasons Facebook stock may be cheaper than worrywarts are leading you to believe.

Many Are Haunted by Ghost of Phone Bills Past Due

Far too many customers aren't paying their phone bills on time, if you ask the phone companies. Three of the top four submitters to third-party collection agencies are major telephone carriers. And the reasons why should come as no surprise.

SEC Warns of Social Media Schemes After Fraud Case

Regulators are warning the public to be wary of social media sites that could be offering bogus investment schemes. The warning follows civil charges filed by the Securities and Exchange Commission against an Illinois-based investment adviser who tried to sell fraudulent securities through Linkedin.

Citibank Turns Rewards Into 'Social Currency'

Credit card rewards are the new social currency. Citibank customers can now use Facebook to pool their rewards points online. The bank on Tuesday launched a Facebook application that lets users team up to use their points, whether it's for charity, a group gift or a personal goal. Citi says it's the first bank to offer such a feature.

Zynga's $10 Billion IPO Game: Should You Play?

If you're not familiar with Zynga, the undisputed champ of social gaming, odds are that you're not a fixture on Facebook or into smartphone app gaming. This month, it rolls the dice on a big public offering. Are you game?

How Your Facebook Wall Could Become an Online Mall

Ah, Facebook: It's where you banter with "friends," share vacation photos and "like" everything from candy bars to political parties -- so why not shop there, too? Now, retailers are making it easier to do just that.

MySpace Markdown: Social Site on Sale for 94% Off

Back in July 2005, the deal seemed so promising. Rupert Murdoch's News Corp bought MySpace parent Intermix Media for $580 million. The social media pioneer was, by some measures, the fifth most-visited website in the U.S. This week, MySpace was sold for a fraction of that amount.

The Three Key Ways LinkedIn Makes Money

Trefis currently has a $30 price estimate for LinkedIn stock -- about a third of the market price. Why the disparity? Take a look at the prospects for the three businesses that bring in the vast majority of LinkedIn's revenue, and the answer becomes clear.

Why is Everyone Obsessed with the LinkedIn IPO?

LinkedIn made its initial public offering Thursday, and soared immediately to more than twice its target price as Wall Street swooned over the stock. But IPOs are happening fairly regularly again after a recessionary lull: Why is there so much fuss over one not-so-major social networking site?

LinkedIn Soars Over $100 for Best IPO in 2 Years

LinkedIn investors strapped in for a rocket ride Thursday, as its newly minted shares more than doubled during intra-day trading for its public debut. The social networking giant, which priced its IPO at $45 a share Wednesday evening, soared over $122 a share during its first day of trading.

Social Recruiting: The Next Big Thing for Job Seekers

When it comes to finding your next employer, online job boards are out and social recruiting is in, says Robert McGovern, CEO of JobFox.com, a free website that enables job seekers to tap into private hiring networks. We chat with McGovern about the new era of online job hunting.

LinkedIn Raises Price Range on IPO By Nearly 30%

Fueled by strong investor demand, LinkedIn bumped up its IPO pricing range by nearly 30% to between $42 and $45 a share on Tuesday, according to its filing with the SEC. The business-focused social networking giant previously had set its initial pricing range at $32 to $35 a share on May 9.

LinkedIn Sets an IPO Price Range

LinkedIn threw investors a bone on Monday, releasing the initial pricing range for its long-awaited IPO. But the business-focused social networking site is likely to bump up both the price range and the number of shares on offer before it goes public next week.

Meet China's Next Hot IPO

The world's most populous nation is warming up to social networking, restrictive shackles and all. Chinese social site Renren, with its 117 million users, filed to go public last week, giving stateside investors another shot to cash in on China's online revolution from the inside.

Twitter Says No Plans for IPO or Fundraising on the Horizon

Twitter co-founder Biz Stone has rejected the IPO rumors and widely reported notion that the popular microblogging site is in talks to sell a 10% stake to JPMorgan Chase for $450 million -- which would have jacked up the site's valuation to $4.5 billion.

Startup Covestor Combines Social Networking With Investing


Covestor lets its users mirror the portfolios of other successful investors. And it lets investors who want to showcase their stock-picking prowess use the technology to build up a following -- and get compensated in the process. Covestor's Simon Veingard explains. [Video]

Facebook Blocks Some Apps in an Attempt to Reduce Spam

In an attempt to crack down on spam, Facebook has shut down a number of third-party software applications in the past week. The move could signal that the world's most popular social network plans maintain righter control over the apps that run on its site.

Can Social Media Be Used to Incite Corporate Revolutions?

Social media played a key role in the successful revolutions in Tunisia and Egypt, and more dictatorial regimes are facing protesters who use the Internet as a weapon. But could the power of social networking create similar revolutionary changes in the corporate world?

Facebook Buys Former Sun Site for New Headquarters

Social networking giant Facebook announced Tuesday it's moving its headquarters into the old digs of server and storage maker Sun Microsystems in Santa Clara, Calif. With the relocation from Palo Alto, Calif., Facebook will snag 57 acres and nine buildings that offer roughly 1 million square feet.

The Most Popular Social Network: Facebook

Facebook has won the most customer loyalty, by far, out of all social media sites, according to the latest Brand Keys's Customer Loyalty Index. The network easily outperformed News Corp.'s MySpace, Twitter and others.