http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/09/20/webkare-a-girls-only-combination-of-social-network-and-dating-game-from-japan/
Recently released Webkare is a primarily Japanese-based social network that revolves around virtual dating. The site is quickly gaining steam and over 10,000 people joined the network in the first 5 days! The site is exclusively for women. Women join the network and then may pick a virtual boyfriend from 4 anime characters who are the “stars” of the site. The site is truly a mix between a social network (with features such as profiles, message systems, and discussion boards) and a game (which requires the cooperation of Webkare members to ultimately win the heart of the virtual guy. As of now, this is a free service powered by advertising affiliates.
Due to the success of the current model of Webkare, it would not be surprising to see a male-oriented version of the site in the future. I would also expect there to be a greater selection of boyfriends than 4. The range of interaction between the user and the virtual star will also likely increase.
Online dating sites are one thing, but virtual dating is a whole different realm of the social use of technology. This new network is definitely bizarre. The infiltration of technology into daily culture has become the norm in technologically advanced countries such as Japan and the United States, but I am surprised that so many people are committing their time and love life to a virtual character that does not exist in reality! Do they have real boyfriends too or do they think they are actually exclusively dating these virtual men? The site allows people to act as characters, which clearly a lot of people find appealing. Webkare proves that people have a strong interest in the virtual world and there will surely be a lot more to come in online networking and virtual worlds.
Lauren Finkelstein
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