New social media generation targets Facebook

Sites look to target Facebook's limitations

The next batch of social networking websites have Facebook's position as industry number one firmly in their sights. Undaunted by the 400 million user base achieved by Facebook, portals like Pip.io and UmeNow believe they can exploits Facebook's limitations and usurp the company to become social media leader.

Pip.io works in a similar way to Facebook, but with the exception that users can keep their information more private. It allows members to send messages and post status updates, and has so far attracted 20,000 registered members. Co-founder Leo Shimzu told The New York Times that this is "the perfect time" to zoom past Facebook.

He said: "People are starting to understand the limitations of Facebook while we’re showing off a product with features that everybody is wanting and didn’t know existed."

UmeNow is a similar website and again focuses on privacy. It hopes to capitalise on perceived global negativity towards Facebook, such as a recent ban in Lahore, Pakistan.

Evelyn Castillo-Bach is behind UmeNow, and has commented that the "drumbeat" for Facebook's lack of privacy control means the time to overtake the website is now. Castillo-Bach added she would like to "provide a platform for people who do value their privacy".

A recent Ofcom study has suggested that people in the UK are turning to the internet for social media rather than educational use.

According to statistics from the group, only one in three people surfed the net last year in pursuit of information compared to almost one in two in 2009.