Glee.com
 | |
| Social networking company | |
| Founded | 2007 |
| Headquarters |
205 Hudson Street, 6th Floor New York, NY 10013, USA |
| Owner | Community Connect, Inc. |
| Website |
www |
GLEE.com is a social networking site that is geared toward the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender communities. The site was launched in February 2007 by Community Connect Inc.
Community Connect operates several niche market social networking sites and GLEE is their latest venture. As with their other social network sites, GLEE is modeled after the popular MySpace and Facebook offering many of the same features.
Currently GLEE.com is available only in the English language and primarily the North American market with approximately 86% of its users in the United States.[1] However, as of October 2008 it is blocking countries such as the UK and Netherlands, possibly with more of Europe affected too; the true extent is unknown. A GLEE.com spokesperson purports this move was due to "spammer" activity.
Operations
The site is free to users, generating revenues through advertising. Users register and create profiles, which can include a variety of layout themes for profiles, users also have the option of custom designing a profile layout. Typically, profiles might include uploaded photo albums, music players, lists of interests and friends list. Other features include blog hosting,video hosting, groups, style and news sections, and community bulletin boards covering a variety of issues but with the added emphasis on those issues of importance to the LGBT community. Instant messaging, and email is available with other registered users.
In addition, profiles are allowed a mirror on GLEE.com's professional networking site, which allows for job search (through an arrangement with Monster.com) along with the other features found on the social network.
Publicity
GLEE.com's launch in early 2007 received generally favorable coverage in internet focused media, with the caveat about competition from established sites and others still on the drawing board divvying up the niche market for potential LGBT users.[2]
In October 2007 GLEE.com received free publicity from an unlikely source, the United States military.[3][4] The advertising firm that handles the military's recruiting advertising inadventantly placed the ads on the site. The mainstream and LGBT press along with several comedians picked up on the gaffe of advertising to an audience that the U.S. military then actively barred from joining through its Don't ask, don't tell policy.