School

1. Social
Networking –
FIT1012
Joe Fahrenholz

2. MyYearBook

3. What is it?
MyYearBook is a social networking site that is
generally focused on teens. The site shares similar
qualities to popular social networking sites such as
Facebook with additional unique qualities. The site
was launched in April of 2005 and has a revenue of
about 20 million dollars, as well as about 20 million
registered users – Most of them being teens. The site
is ranked 851 globally on Alexa.

4. Background info:
In 2005 Catherine Cook, and her brother David
cook came up with an idea to help find friends
since they had just transferred to a new High School.
The siblings, while flipping through their yearbook
one night thought of an innovative idea of digitizing
the yearbook. After the ideas were presented
Catherine and David’s older brother Geoff who had
just graduated from Harvard decided to pay the
start up bill. After 6 years the Cook siblings became
multi-millionaires. Recently the Quepasa corp.
bought out MyYearBook for $100 million dollars.

5. Key Features
•MyYearBook features a wall – similar to facebook’s.
• MyYearbook has many games – Most of which are hosted
on OMGpop.com
•MyYearBook has competitions – There are a wide variety of
competitions ranging from Best looking to Most musical, to
most athletic – Similar to an actual yearbook.
•MyYearBook has a “Flirt” feature where people can meet
new people with similar interests.
•The site has a unique currency called Lunch Money. Lunch
money can be used to buy new layouts, give virtual gifts to
friends or even donate to charity.
• The site has a “Causes” feature where you can donate
lunch money that is earned through various acts on the site.
The lunch money is converted to an actual currency and is
donated to which ever cause users want to help.

6. The Wall
Like Facebook – MyYearbook has a wall that you
can use to connect with friends. There are many
options and settings which allow you to also view
posts by people near you, or people with similar
interests – It is not just limited to friends.

7. Games
The game selection on MyYearbook is an assortment
of games that are hosted on OMGpop.com – A
popular online gaming site. Games can be either
single player or multi-player. Games include spin-off
versions of connect four, words with friends, pictionary,
etc.

8. Competitions
In most school yearbooks there are usually sections
that show “most…” or “best…” for each grade.
MyYearBook has a feature similar to the classic
“Most likely to succeed”, “Best Dressed”, “Class
Clown”, etc. You can set up a competition with
anyone. When the competition is setup you can
have either friends or people within your area vote
on who is “Best…”, or “Most….”. The winner of the
competition wins bragging rights and a little bit of
Lunch Money.

9. “Flirt”
The site offers a section to people who are looking
for relationships. There are many activites in this
feature that allow someone to find a compatible
match in their area. There are quizzes, games, and
picture rating.

10. Currency
A fun aspect of MyYearBook is the virtual currency.
The currency is earned through various activities on
the site such as competitions, games, and daily
login bonuses. The currency can be spent on
different profile layouts, special site options, giving
virtual gifts such as stickers to post on a friend’s wall,
and even allowing you to donate to charity.

11. Causes
One of the most unique features on the site is the
“Causes” Section. Users can donate to various
charities of their choice with the site’s virtual
currency. There are many different charities or
causes to donate to – and it’s up to the user which
one they choose to donate to. Every time you
donate you get experience points towards your
donating rank. The more Lunch Money you spend
the higher your donating rank is.

12. List of Causes
•End Child abuse – Buy stuffed animals to give to kids
•Help Cure cancer – Buy lab research time
•Support our troops – Buy care packages (By weight)
•Autism Research time
•Diabetes Research time
•Feed rescued animals – Buy pet food
•End World Hunger – Buy rice to help end world hunger
•Promote equality – Legal time
•Books for poor children
•Promote World Piece
•Raise Breast Cancer Awareness
•Help the Homeless – Buy blankets
•Fight disease – Supply clean drinking water
•Save the rainforest – Stop destruction
•Fight Global Warming – Remove CO2 from the atmosphere
•Fight the spread of aids

13. Causes
Each cause costs a certain amount per unit to
supply. For example – the help end world hunger
cause costs $40 Lunch Money per grain of rice.
Some causes are money expensive than others due
to the size of each unit. The Help the Homeless
cause costs $2400 Lunch Money per square inch of
blanket – because blankets cost a lot more money
to make than rice.

14. END

15. Bibliography
MyYearBook.com
Abcnews.go.com/Technology
Wikipedia.com/wiki/MyYearBook
Causes.myyearbook.com