Chinese Web Surfers Embrace Facebook Clone

'You have to respect the local user' says Berkeley-educated Facekoo founder
By Victoria Floethe,  Newser Staff
Posted Jan 14, 2009 7:09 PM CST
Chinese Web Surfers Embrace Facebook Clone
Last year, for the first time, there were more Internet users in China than in the US; by 2012, there will be 373 million Chinese Web users to 223 million in the US.   (AP Photo)

Since its March introduction, Facekoo has drawn 350,000 users and is one of the fastest-expanding social-networking sites in China, the San Francisco Chronicle reports. And, says its Hong Kong-born, Berkeley-educated founder, that’s because it fills a void left by Western sites whose mere translations to Chinese miss all kinds of cultural differences. “You have to respect the local user,” Calvin Pak says.

While “face” is one of the first English words Chinese learn to spell, and “koo” means “cool,” the Facebook sound-alike was designed in its language and function to match the Chinese approach to the web. Facekoo offers a virtual world in which young people can interact playfully and choose imaginary careers. “It’s a tool for people to hang out with friends, in a silly way, with no pressure,” explained Pak. (More Facebook stories.)

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