aSmallWorld
 |
This article has multiple issues. Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page.
|
 |
|
| URL | aSmallWorld.net |
|---|---|
| Registration | Invitation-only |
| Launched | March 2004 |
| Alexa rank |  13,835 (February 2013[update])[1] |
| Current status | Active |
ASMALLWORLD (ASW) is an invitation-only social network, which claims in 2013 to have about 800,000 members[citation needed]. The site was founded in 2004.
To join, one must receive an invitation from an existing member. Only a portion of ASW users has the ability to invite new members.
Sabine Heller is the current CEO.
Company history
In May 2006, Harvey Weinstein's The Weinstein Company invested a significant amount in the site as their first online venture.[2] In October, 2009, Weinstein sold a controlling stake in the company, citing a need to focus his company's resources on its struggling movie operations[citation needed].
Swiss entrepreneur and investor Patrick Liotard-Vogt purchased the controlling stake and became the company’s Chairman[citation needed].
In February 2013, ASMALLWORLD announced that as of March 1, 2013, it would not be accepting new members, citing an initiative to ensure the integrity of the community[citation needed].
Member-vetting process
 |
This section does not cite any references or sources. (April 2013) |
The site relies on its members to determine who receives access to the community. To join, one must be invited by an existing member. According to founder Erik Wachtmeister, "members are people with large personal networks, frequent travel and highly active personality."
Of the existing membership, only certain members have the ability to invite new people to the community. ASW grants invite privilege to members on the basis of a number of variables, including geographic location, the member's activity and reputation, the composition and balance of the member's network, and completeness of the member's profile. These criteria are aimed at ensuring that the network is balanced in terms of geography, interests, tastes and perspectives.
ASW users must obey a code of behavior, which mandates that they may only post pictures of themselves in their profile pictures and may not use aliases. The site is monitored for profanity, racism, slander, explicit promotion and commercialism and suspicious behavior.
Features
|
|
This section does not cite any references or sources. (April 2013) |
ASMALLWORLD is part communication platform, part service platform[clarification needed]. The website is tailored to facilitate both online interaction and offline meetups between members.
The site shares some features with other social network services, such as user profiles, an online calendar and private messaging. The site also offers over 100 "city guides" written by its members detailing and rating restaurants, bars and clubs. To facilitate meet-ups, ASW’s site has a “Geolocator” tool, which allows users to post travel plans as well as browse and comment on the travel plans of other members. Members can also view upcoming ASW-hosted events in different cities.
In 2012, ASW released a mobile application for iOS that allows members to indicate whether they are willing to meet up with fellow members nearby or during upcoming travels.
The site also allows members to buy and sell items, find potential employees and business partners, find investors or ventures to invest in, rent property, and find flatmates. Using the site’s discussion boards, members can exchange advice on travel and business, or simply engage in conversation.
ASMALLWORLD allows users to list multiple cities for their locations of residence.
Offline offerings
|
|
This section does not cite any references or sources. (April 2013) |
ASMALLWORLD hosts about 300 events per year worldwide for members to get together. Each year over 200 members attend the Winter Weekend in Gstaad, where members can join in wine tastings, fondue parties, and a dinner event.
In 2011, members donated €40,000 to a sex trafficking prevention charity run by Somaly Mam. At the 2012 Winter Weekend in Gstaad members raised $92,500 for the Alzheimer's Society. Carey Mulligan, an Ambassador for the Alzheimer’s Society, was present.
The company also offers invitations to events hosted by its partners. For example, users might preview new collections from fashion designers.
The company has stated through its mobile iPhone app that they “will be extending members-only perks and benefits exclusively to ASW members” with selected partners[citation needed].
aBigWorld
aSmallWorld is patrolled regularly for suspicious activity or members who are not connected closely enough[clarification needed] to its main userbase.[3] Problematic users are restricted immediately to a separate network called aBigWorld; when restricted users log in, they will find that the color scheme of the website has changed from blue to green, and they no longer have access to aSmallWorld profiles or forum posts.[4] ASMALLWORLD can also terminate the accounts of members.
References
- ^ "Asmallworld.net Site Info". Alexa Internet. Retrieved 2013-02-02.
- ^ Cieply, Michael (April 12, 2007). "Films From the Weinsteins Falter, but the Brothers Stay Focused". The New York Times.
- ^ aSmallWorld Gets Even Smaller by the editors, Gawker.com, 6 October 2004
- ^ "Social Software Company Profiles Wiki: aSmallWorld" by David Teten, TheVirtualHandshake.com, July 2005
