Social:Platinnetz

Platinnetz is a German-speaking, web-based social network for the so-called generation of Best Agers. It was created in April 2007 and has its headquarters in Unterhaching, near Munich. In early 2008, the community already had approximately 100,000 registered members. Members use the site above all for personal exchange and networking. Platinnetz is the biggest social network for silver surfers in Germany, Switzerland and Austria. Since mid-2007, Platinnetz has the support of the European Founders Fund, as well as Holtzbrinck Ventures.

The creators Heike Helfenstein, Jan Bromberger, and Markus Helfenstein wanted to offer middle generation in German-speaking countries more opportunities to become involved online. The online community's target audience includes internet-users between 40 and 65 years of age.

Use

Platinnetz has, since its beginning, been perceived as a classic dating-website for elder people. However, the network distinguishes itself from dating-websites in several respects: the profiles do not include physical characteristics, and members receive no suggestions from the system. The basic concept is the exchange of experience and opinion among registered users, who can in turn talk about common interests or meet in both chats and forums.

Every user creates a personal profile and can establish contact with other members. The search for partners and contacts relies, however, the initiative of the members themselves. A particular aspect of Platinnetz is the variety of virtual meetings and bars like Platinnetz International or Pizzeria La Taverna, that have been created as an alternative to real bar-life.

Every member receives a weekly Newsletter by email, which informs them about newly published articles and forums. In addition, a Forum of the Week is chosen and birthdays are announced.

Users have access to the Platinnetz Blog, which keeps them up to date on user functions and articles that are particularly of interest to Best Agers.

User Functions

The system can be labeled as so-called social software and is a Web 2.0 offer. It offers the following functions:

• Creation of a profile, including photo, with the choice of several entries (name, age, residence, interests and hobbies)

Search function to find other users (by name, age, residence, and interests)

• Question and Answer section
• Publication of articles with comment and rating function
• Discussion forums, some including the possibility of meeting in real-life
• Photo album
• Sending of articles and greeting cards
• Chats, including a once-a-week beginners' chat in which members can ask questions about the use of the website. There are also expert chats, to which guests in particular areas (culture, society, media, politics) are invited.
• Favorites list with chosen profiles, articles or photo albums

Discussion forums and articles focus on the following topic areas: travel, health and nutrition, culture and knowledge, love, computer and technical, general and entertainment.

Business Model

Use of Platinnetz is free for all members and should remain so according to the operators. On the website there are also links to partner companies.

According to the standard form contract, users are responsible for information, data, texts, images, and links to other websites posted on the communication platform. Grounded accusations against a user or breaches of the agreement lead to the expulsion of the user from the platform or limiting of his or her participation.

Protection of Privacy

The users themselves determine their name, birthday, contacts, and address, and can choose who may see this information: everyone, registered users, only their contacts, or nobody. The username (first name and nickname) is for everyone, contacts or nobody visible. Each user is informed about who has visited their profile. Anonymous visits are not possible.

See also

• Facebook
• MySpace
• Virtual community
• Social network
• Social web
• Web 2.0

External links

• Platinnetz.de
• Guardian: "Getting older people to surf the net is becoming a priority"
• Telegraph: Face it - oldies want chums, too
• An interview with one of the creators - Heike Helfenstein (German-startups)