Facebook

[Anotherkiwi]

LMAO 

Herpatitus

LOL and you said it is different here. 

It had to come - social disease (herpes) and worse (hepatitis) = you're doomed! 

[Jumper]

Firstly, The Russian sites have had a huge head start over Facebook, and secondly, in case anyone has forgotten, they’re Russian. And Facebook was compromised by a conflict of interests, specifically DST. Things take time, give it time.

Chivo- I don't doubt FB will out pace the others in time.
DST, seems to have their hands in all of them including FB.
So which one would turn them more profit ,if users transferred between..




I am curious since you have lived there long term,
What factors played into the  others having a head start?
I can see the Odnoklassniki's and mail. ru's  jump on FB,
but not VKs really?
VK is basically a clone or copy in its inception so was after facebook's release.. and FB was  available on the I-net in the FSU? 
So did FB not add the Russian language feature until after VK was launched and established?

[BC]

If VK gets in trouble, folks in FSU will gravitate towards odnoklassniki.ru  FB might get a slight bump.

[vaiano777]

Facebook is still a baby in the market. VK and the others ahead of it have been in the game for much longer than Facebook in Russia. And were really the only options. If you make a direct comparison at this moment, it's apples to oranges.
 
Facebook is projected to increase its marketshare in Russia by 62% in 2012, the other networks, VK, Odnoklassniki, et al, 11%* 
 
Most of my contacts on Facebook are Russians, about 90%. They use it more with each other than with foreigners. If you live in Russia, the default language is Russian, so English is not an issue. The 800,000 people I referred to were/are indeed Russians. That was in the first 6 months of 2012.
 
As far as Russians wanting only Russian providers, I don't agree. Oh sure, you will always have die hards, but Russians want what's trendy, is of good quality, new and user friendly. You need not look any farther than at Starbucks here and its phenomenal growth in Moscow compared to the local standard. People just need to be aware.
 
There is no longer a conflict of interests concerning DST for Facebook, which will help its cause in Russia and level the playing field, so mail.ru has more to worry about than Facebook IMO. If you go just by the figures for today, Facebooks trails and is not even close to VK. But, one of, if not the most attractive feature VK offers is its movie, TV show, and music downloads. This is and will be an issue for them now as they are being pressured, as I mentioned, with copyright breach.
 
To anyone who knows or cares, Russia just finalized the ratification to enter the WTO. Whatever anyone's personal opinion or beliefs are concerning this, one thing is for sure; it will definitely change the landscape here in Russia. Part of that will directly involve copyright infringement. Now I don't think it will stop individuals from pirating movies and such, but for companies like VK, it will be a problem.

If VK loses this feature, it will hurt their base, no question about this as far as I'm concerned, as it's a difficult and boring site to deal with otherwise. A big portion of Russians use VK mainly for these downloads.

Like I said, Russia is changing fast and time will tell. 

As far as the OP is concern, well that is another issue. And really, he should just look for Russians in America if he's trying to hook up. Searching for Russians on a default Russian site when you don't speak the language is not the best way to go about things.
 
 
* source emarketer, who collects data from 4000 sources worldwide

I'd be interested to hear what you have to say about Ukraine. I have been living in Ukraine for more than 3 years and would concur with everything you said about vkontakte.ru. However, I cannot see Ukraine being willing to do what they need to do in order to join the WTO or the EU. Governmental corruption and business corruption is just ingrained into the landscape and is  not being moved anytime soon without a Nelson Mandela, Martin Luther King, Jr. or Ghandi to speed up the process. As far as your recommendation on not using a Russian website to find a girl, that is the worst idea I have ever heard. I wrote a full-length book on the topic and have a running blog about that too. If you are interested in learning more, please let me know. Otherwise, great post. Thank you.

[pemdas1983]

VK is basically a clone or copy in its inception so was after facebook's release.. and FB was  available on the I-net in the FSU? 
So did FB not add the Russian language feature until after VK was launched and established?

I don't know.  FB was exclusively for college students in its early years.  Looking up vk.com on Wikipedia, ВКонтакте was founded in September 2006.

I think that during this time, FB was mostly for college students but non college students could become members if pre-existing members sent them an invitation.

I am not sure if they allowed for other languages other than English at this time.  But, ВКонтакте's availability to non-college students might have been why it managed to gain a foothold in the Russian-speaking markets.

[pemdas1983]

I can tell you, what they consider normal is not the OP.


I would have to ask the OP, 
Do you have any real friends?
What I mean by that is , Do you get out of the house and do things with people your own age and with similar interests?
How large is your circle of friends?
Do you have any friends from the FSU?
When is the last time you made a new friend?

If you are using facebook to try to meet people for online whatever..  that's cool.

If you are using facebook in place of having a socal life,  that is not cool.

What??? :O
ROFL!!! Whoooo, what are you????? Thanks, but no thanks!!!

But, seriously, I can ask you the same exact questions.   I know from watching my own parents (who are roughly around your age) that people in your age groups don't make friends that often.   When people get around your age, the last time that they made a new friend was decades ago.  Btw, I do have friends and I'm young enough to make new ones.  And, what are you doing here?

[Jumper]

I don't know.  FB was exclusively for college students in its early years.  Looking up vk.com on Wikipedia, ВКонтакте was founded in September 2006.

I think that during this time, FB was mostly for college students but non college students could become members if pre-existing members sent them an invitation.

I am not sure if they allowed for other languages other than English at this time.  But, ВКонтакте's availability to non-college students might have been why it managed to gain a foothold in the Russian-speaking markets.

Lot's of factors played in ?A lack of FB marketing in the FSU etc..???
I do doubt it was about actual availability?
We are talking readily available URLs to most any browser or search engine?

I'm sure it had nothing to do with *in contacts* , URL being  Russian ,a russian word(s) ,as you typed ironically, and the word(s) of the URL meaning something directly in the Russian language,in a russian language demographic.

[vaiano777]

Lot's of factors played in ?A lack of FB marketing in the FSU etc..???
I do doubt it was about actual availability?
We are talking readily available URLs to most any browser or search engine?

I'm sure it had nothing to do with *in contacts* , URL being  Russian ,a russian word(s) ,as you typed ironically, and the word(s) of the URL meaning something directly in the Russian language,in a russian language demographic.

I would have to edu-guess that vkontakte.ru has an ru ending and Facebook.com has a .com ending.

That would mean that on Russian search engines, vkontatke came up first

Also, vkontakte doesn't have to pay any copyright or royalty rights and fees for video, music, or other types of media.

And, the base is written in Russian, and since only a few of the 110,000,000 members aren't thinking in the Russian language daily, I can tell you that they naturally think and feel that using vkontakte.ru is just easier than using facebook, having to change facebook to russian, and the fact that all of their friends are not on facebook. Of the 4,000 or so young people I know in Ukraine between the ages of 16 and 26, more than 19 out of 20 have a profile on vkontakte.ru. It is a word of mouth thing, a comfort thing, and a fact that 95% of their friends are on vkontakte.

So, what is the incentive for them to change over to Facebook unless they have traveled outside of the Russian speaking world, have learned English in a relatively proficient manner, and already have a number of English speaking friends that they would actually like to continue communicating with???

Of course, you have a few that want to try to generate contact for business purposes, or for furthering their future prospects, or some people who just like it. But, the reality is that vkontakte is just plain easier for a Russian thinking person to join, to navigate, and to keep up with. Especially since 95% of their friends have a profile there anyway.

 

[BC]

vaiano,

Good post.

Oops! Google Chrome could not find facebook.ru

Think that says it all.....

[pemdas1983]

You were trying, unsuccessfully, to make the case that since FB has a Russian component that Russians use it more than vk.


We have established that people in the FSU prefer FB?!

I don't know if it's an issue of language that you don't seem to be understanding me, I wasn't saying that more people in the FSU use fb over vk because of any reason.  I was saying that language is not a barrier preventing people from using fb in Russia.  Someone did say that vk.com was more popular because of language but I was simply trying to tell them that fb is also in Russian so that can't be it. 

Also, I didn't think that the only reason that anyone would use it was to simply talk to keep in touch with Western friends.  Facebook has games and I've been on vk.com for a while, and I haven't been able to figure out how to install any games on my profile. 

I know that with facebook games, alot of people play them.  Many people get addicted to them, and they end up "befriending" more people who also play the game so that they can help each other progress further into the game.

I myself don't actually play any of these games, but I've seen other people getting spending hours on their facebook games.  Cityville, Empires and Allies, The Sims Social, just to name a few.  These games aren't anything like Minesweep or Solitaire, there's progress and sometimes a storyline.  In other words, they're like normal modern games but only difference is that they require that you use your friends to help you progress further in the game.

You guys probably don't actually play any of the facebook games and so I can understand how most of you guys on this forum don't see how facebook could ever get so popular in the FSU if there's something "just like it" already in its place.   But, the reason why I brought up the facebook SDK is because vk.com and facebook are nothing alike.

The facebook SDK not only makes it possible for people to play the most popular social networking games, but there's also integration of facebook in other websites.  Many websites allow people to the option to login with their facebook account as an alternative to registering on the site.  My point is, is that facebook is pretty big here and seeing how much facebook has to offer, I wouldn't be surprised if people from the FSU would have a facebook profile without actually knowing any non-Russian speakers.

[Misha]

VK offers tons of games including as well as its own versions of FarmVille.

[mendeleyev]

Pemdas, there are 5 females in my immediate family. Mother in law doesn't like computers so she doesn't count. That doesn't mean that she is outdated, she is a retired University professor and just like President Putin, is content to allow others to navigate the computer age. Prime Minister Medvedev is a social media junkie, a techie and a photographer. He has an active VK account and uses VK almost exclusively. There are several FB accounts in his name but only one is semi-official and is primarily updated by his staff.

Daughter 1 lives in the USA and is married. She was born in the USA and has lots of reasons to prefer FB over VK although she is aware of and uses both. Daughter 2 was born in and lives in the USA and in her job at the Washington Post uses FB constantly but she too is aware of VK. Both have extensive experience in Russia. Daughter 3 was born and lives in Russia. She uses VK constantly but is aware of FB however visits it no more than a few times a month (I asked).

The remaining female in my family is Mrs Mendeleyeva. She too is a vk user and although she has a FB account, rarely uses it, less than 10 times last year in 2011 and so far in 2012  (with her permission I looked) she hasn't been on her FB account in months.

I'm pleased that you have a vk account! In no time at all we'll have you over on the dark side. 

[Jumper]

Someone did say that vk.com was more popular because of language but I was simply trying to tell them that fb is also in Russian so that can't be it. 

Yes, it is a failure to communicate in a common language
I have no idea how to explain it better,but i'll give it another try,just  for fun

you wrote what url for Vk? ВКонтакте.ru   (yes its also vk.com lol)
what language did you write it in?  why?
Is  the word  Russian?and mean something directly related to the website in russian?

Does facebook.com?

Would you market apples to sweden with the russian word.  яблоки.ru,  яблоки.com , or
яблоки.se? or use the URL with a  spanish word  manazanas.com or manazans.se?
If so, would it not be  harder to market effectively when all the TV ads/ billboards ,
and all print media advertising would be telling your swedish market to please come
"like" apples at manazaus.se , or яблоки.com?
regardless if your entire website was translated into swedish once they arrived there?

The competition ,marketing apples,in Sweden, with a website already named
applen.se in Swedish, would kick your butt in that market, if  given the same marketing funds,and basic website and services.Everyday, all day.
why?   
is it language?  since all the sites in this exercise would be translated once someone landed on them?
Or would it take additional marketing and market presence to get them to type that URL in the first place?

Your competition , in that  swedish demographic ojnly has to rely on  apllen ,
and their internet,  print media, radio or TV advertisements to gain traffic naturally  make perfect since since the URL is also the page content, in that language.


Facebook can do fine in the FSU market place, I'm sure they will!! They already are!
but its root URL is not a Russian word.That is a hurdle.
Ignore that the hurdle is  language based all you want, marketing guys don't, and certainly facebook doesn't.  It was a secondary market for them,
if started primarly to market to the  FSU , you can bet it would have been a russian word as a URL.
why?
 

[newjason]

What??? :O
ROFL!!! Whoooo, what are you????? Thanks, but no thanks!!!

But, seriously, I can ask you the same exact questions.   I know from watching my own parents (who are roughly around your age) that people in your age groups don't make friends that often.   When people get around your age, the last time that they made a new friend was decades ago.  Btw, I do have friends and I'm young enough to make new ones.  And, what are you doing here?

What am I...  that is a good question. Last I checked I was a Human Male.  I have 5 very close FSU Friends.  I did not meet them on the internet. I met them by saying  доброе утро.
My late wife was born in Moscow, and I have a close friend who is a Ukrainian Man, who introduced me to his cousin when I was at a BBQ at his house.  I was with this FSU woman for quite sometime and was very happy with her.
Я говорю на русском.  So It is not hard to carry on friendships with FSU people. 
People my age  lol.  Well, ok   If you want to keep your mind closed that's your choice.
I do have 20 very close friends who I talk to or  visit or party with each month.  I do make friends in person and for that reason, I have genuine friendships with these people.
I just returned home from London where I had met 2 dear friends ( 1 lives in Norway, the other In Italy ) where we had a fantastic time at the Olympic Games.  We attended the Opening Ceremonies and attened as many events as possible to cheer on our Home athletes.  It was a fantastic Experience and on the way home , I stopped and visited another friend, and we jumped out of a plane and flew back to earth, all day long. 
As far as I know, there are no Apps for that stuff on FaceBook.
If I want to know the status of someone, I will simply ask them, either on the phone or in person.

I am here because I get bored at times and becauseI have experiences with the FSU, It's people and the culture. At times, I try to offer advice to those who are open  minded and really want to learn something. I am also here to learn about things which I yet do not yet know, or things I do not yet understand.  this group is a great bunch of people who offer great diverse Discussions.

You wanted to know what I am? I am just a man.
If you meant to say, who am I?  I am Jason.
 Please accept my apologies for not introducing myself previously. 
read the Hi, I'm Jason  thread
http://www.russianwomendiscussion.com/index.php?topic=14463.0
I can promise you, it will keep your interest.

So,  I answered your questions and I will add this:
I live life to the extreme, I need to do things that are beyond ordinary,and that is who I am. I am not a home body, I am out participating.  Your assumption that I am old and don't get out much and don't make new friends might not be accurate 


oh,  BTW
VK also has an SDK and offers integration with millions of sites as well, but since the user base is русский the sites it is intergrated into are mostly in русский. 
Top Face is a very popular app  but unless you can read русский it will be useless to you.


есть хороший день.

[pemdas1983]

What am I...  that is a good question. Last I checked I was a Human Male.  I have 5 very close FSU Friends.  I did not meet them on the internet. I met them by saying  доброе утро.
My late wife was born in Moscow, and I have a close friend who is a Ukrainian Man, who introduced me to his cousin when I was at a BBQ at his house.  I was with this FSU woman for quite sometime and was very happy with her.
Я говорю на русском.  So It is not hard to carry on friendships with FSU people. 
People my age  lol.  Well, ok   If you want to keep your mind closed that's your choice.
I do have 20 very close friends who I talk to or  visit or party with each month.  I do make friends in person and for that reason, I have genuine friendships with these people.
I just returned home from London where I had met 2 dear friends ( 1 lives in Norway, the other In Italy ) where we had a fantastic time at the Olympic Games.  We attended the Opening Ceremonies and attened as many events as possible to cheer on our Home athletes.  It was a fantastic Experience and on the way home , I stopped and visited another friend, and we jumped out of a plane and flew back to earth, all day long. 
As far as I know, there are no Apps for that stuff on FaceBook.
If I want to know the status of someone, I will simply ask them, either on the phone or in person.

I am here because I get bored at times and becauseI have experiences with the FSU, It's people and the culture. At times, I try to offer advice to those who are open  minded and really want to learn something. I am also here to learn about things which I yet do not yet know, or things I do not yet understand.  this group is a great bunch of people who offer great diverse Discussions.

You wanted to know what I am? I am just a man.
If you meant to say, who am I?  I am Jason.
 Please accept my apologies for not introducing myself previously. 
read the Hi, I'm Jason  thread
http://www.russianwomendiscussion.com/index.php?topic=14463.0
I can promise you, it will keep your interest.

So,  I answered your questions and I will add this:
I live life to the extreme, I need to do things that are beyond ordinary,and that is who I am. I am not a home body, I am out participating.  Your assumption that I am old and don't get out much and don't make new friends might not be accurate 


oh,  BTW
VK also has an SDK and offers integration with millions of sites as well, but since the user base is русский the sites it is intergrated into are mostly in русский. 
Top Face is a very popular app  but unless you can read русский it will be useless to you.


есть хороший день.

Thank-you for your lengthy reply.  I only wanted to point out how quickly you tried to insult me and how arrogant it was.  Yes, I agree it's so much fun to be able to talk and get to know their opinions and thoughts.  Many of them told me they were tired of American older men who were typical to brag about their lives with money, but those girls may not have told you?  And, now I see what they meant...

[mendeleyev]

Many of them told me they were tired of American older men who were typical to brag about their lives with money,

Those types of guys are usually not well connected with a forum and have done little research prior to traveling. Some have either gone on a large tour where fantastic sounding but too-good-to-be-true promises were made, or a smaller tour run by a Western male who has been "successful" himself and promises to impart his secret wisdom and methods, for a fee of course. Most of these guys don't get married in the long run. (Thankfully, in many cases.)

Oddly, living in Russia can give you a variation on that--not all such men are "old" and many who are young and inexperienced make the same mistakes. When it comes to underfunding, it doesn't matter if a guy is 27 or 67, lacking funds for the travel, legal costs and moving costs of bringing a wife to the West simply prices many out of the ballgame.

There is an opposite side also. I work around RW all day long and many of these gals have become used to a successful life in Russia and do judge a potential mate, Russian or Western, by the size of his wallet.

I will also confess, having raised daughters, that sometimes Russian parents, just like Western ones, are prone to want to steer a child toward a relationship that is more financially stable. Our third daughter is about ready to announce marriage intentions, or so she and my wife tell me, and the first thing out of the mouth of my MIL was a gasp along the lines of "but he has no money!" I have my own concerns about the young (Russian) man and money is but one of them. He is young and the earning potential will come.