Virtual Worlds, Social Networking Strengthen Silicon Valley
The Seattle Times recently published an overview of the ever-burgeoning Silicon Valley tech sector, pointing out that the region's status as a global tech leader is only growing stronger even as other global markets are picking up the pace.
The article credits virtual worlds and social networking companies as big drivers behind that strength:
"In less than two years, YouTube went from an idea to a $1.65 billion acquisition by Google. Within the bustling social-networking sector, Facebook, LinkedIn and Ning, as well as "virtual worlds" Second Life and Gaia, are headquartered between San Jose and San Francisco.Even several sites that target audiences elsewhere are based in the valley or close by. Bebo — the top social-networking site for the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand — is headquartered in San Francisco. The top sites for the Philippines (Friendster), Brazil (Google's Orkut) and Turkey (Yoonja) primarily operate from the Peninsula, thousands of miles from their users. Facebook recently disclosed that 60 percent of its users were outside the United States."
60 percent of Facebook users? That's considerable.
