There has been more and more buzz about brightkite recently. They have been getting recognized on tech websites, by the public and more recently by their own user base by putting out an update that wasn't ready for prime time.
Unfortunately their CEO is the cause of a lot more attention though, and not good attention. Recently brightkite CEO Jonathon Linner did an interview with LATimes.com about his visions of brightkite and their "goals"
Guys will go where the hot chicks are. The target demographic is a girl in college. Bars do things to make women come there -- reduced-price drinks or free drinks," he said. So we do things in our system to make it more inviting to women. Brightkite's landing page is bubbly and colorful with cute cartoon characters and an emphasis on words like simplicity.
So what he is basically saying is his goal is to get hot girls on brightkite to make it a dating site for him? Target demographic is one thing, but to make basically a stalking site have the target demographic being young "hot chicks" is a bit on the creepy side. This is nothing but a recipe to have perverts and pedophiles on the site to find these "hot chicks" This goal of Jonathon Linner's is a bit offensive to the current user base the way it is. Not like there isn't a fair share of "hot chicks", but because it is a bit degrading to the women that use brightkite currently. The other offensive part to his quote is
"So we do things in our system to make it more inviting to women. Brightkite's landing page is bubbly and colorful with cute cartoon characters and an emphasis on words like simplicity."
This quote make it look like he is talking down to women, like they are not as technically savvy as men and only like things that are bubbly and colorful. This is absolute crap! Many of the women on brightkite are very tech savvy and not drawn to those recent features of bubblyness.
The brightkite community lashed out about the LA Times article after it's posting calling Linner everything from a creep to a pedophile. Several accounts because of this were disabled because of this outrage and several accounts are being voluntarily closed because of Jonathon Linner's interview. He has gone and committed social media suicide on his own company.
Sure there will be users that stick around, but if you look at the open stream, there is not a shortage of people trying to now connect on other sites because they don't want to use the brightkite service is someone like Jonathon Linner is allowed to be employed yet alone be the CEO and mouth piece of the service.
More information: LA Times Article
Comments
Very well put.
Yeah- we were all disheartened by this article... Afterward my mouth was gaping a bit and all I could think of was: "Seriously? I mean Seriously?!?"
If I were as eloquent as you Corey, I might still have my brightkite account. Thank you for writing this article. RIP brightkite. It was fun while it lasted.
I deleted my account.
I was already turned off by their recent upgrade which made the site slower and compromised security upon launch (the corrected it, but it was too late to keep my trust).
His poor interview was beyond unfortunate. Their follow up decision to quiet the backlash by deleting and banning users, is simply moronic.
Thank you all for the support of this post. It was very hard to write this post because me and brightkite has been through a lot. The use of brightkite cost me a great job in march of 09 because the privacy settings failed on me. I have stuck by with BK since they first came onto the social scene, But I find it harder and harder to stick with them these days.
Even with a simple phone, I loved the site. I thought it was going in the direction of a real time www.tripadvisor.com with all the pictures of food, beer, and other items of interest. After 2.0 was pushed out, there was a very (noticeable) different vibe. I can't quite put my finger on it. I was just starting to connect with foodies and beer lovers (keeping it simple, due to the fact, that without an iPhone it can be a little over whelming in keeping up with your reply's)and then WHAM! 2.0...lost connections,lost pictures (and smaller). You could also tell they were getting ready for ads, note larger sidebar! I wish them luck.
Blown up out of proportion. There is so much immaturity being shown here from BrightKite users that have rightfully been deleted. Ever thought of actually just using a service like BrightKite and getting on with your lives? Oh no that's right you actually don't have one.
Wow. I am sorry to see so many jumping off the train due to one person. Brightkite was the initial tool from which I became proficient in social media. The simplicity was an advantage that has led me to a lucrative career by removing intimidation for this particular 40 year old woman. If that same concept connects a younger generation it really is none of my business. If one comment of discontent can clear a social media platform the world is a very scary place. Arms open: fire away, I suppose.
As a journalist I ask you to please also consider the source of any written article and leave room for quote generalizations as well as personal skewing as we have in this document.
Thank you all for the support of this post. It was very hard to write this post because me and brightkite has been through a lot. The use of brightkite cost me a great job in march of 09 because the privacy settings failed on me. I have stuck by with BK since they first came onto the social scene, But I find it harder and harder to stick with them these days.
Corey it's hardly a post, it's a rant. A rant about a poorly written article and some irrelevant people who can't get over themselves or the fact that they crossed a line.
I agree with k9radiotiki. The new site is much more focused on dating and guys asking me out. If I wanted that I could just join Match.com
Thank you Corey for writing this article. I can forgive Linner for screwing up the community and even for the article where he suggested that he was a pedophile. But I'll never forgive him for he has treated some of my friends and people who made BK great.
will people please quit repeating the moronic idea that males liking females is "perverted"? and what do college guys going for college girls have to do w pedophiles? sex is natural and necessary. thinking apparently is optional.
iquanyin - the article is about, hot girls. Getting hot girls will attract the guys. In the next breath, Linner says he focuses his attention on underage girls. Are you arguing this is ok?
Laura Wynn, the reaction is not only about the article. This service has shifted its focus from community to searching for and meeting new people. They emphasize gender and age search and the ability to follow people without mutual permission. These changes have had a serious impact on the type of interactions that occur. My friends and I have been confused.
The LA Times article explained why they made these changes. This is hitting a chord with the female base or at least for me.
Interesting perspective Corey. As an avid user of Brightkite and its functionality, I understand why some may take these comments to heart. Contextually, it is easy to see why many were offended being that the CEO made the comments openly. It is unfortunate. Despite the comments, tech users know that many of these 'tools' can be used for good or evil.
Well hot girls seem to work for Go Daddy so I do not see why it would not work here lol
I disagree with comment. BK's new search makes it way easier the people you want to meet. I like the fact they are going after young girls. That what all dudes want. Hello?! I do wish they would add features like searching by hair color. Blondes for me. Btw, age of consent is 16 in many states. Holla!
Did you read Brightkite's blog post about safety?
I thought of you, Corey, when this was posted. I just find it rather... amusing, given what they did to you.
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