In a sign that no good model goes uncopied, CNET (NASDAQ:CNET) appears to be taking on Facebook, the popular campus photo-sharing site, to grow the reach of its own Webshots site.
CNET's launch of Webshots CollegeLive may not be a carbon copy of Facebook, but it seems pretty darn close. CNET is setting up more than 4,000 college-specific areas within Webshots, where only students from a given institution will be able to see, upload, and comment on other pictures. Like Facebook, the new college sections of Webshots will require confirmed email accounts from the .edu domain of each campus to activate users.
If narrowing a social-networking site to a limited audience seems like a restrictive approach, you probably haven't heard about Facebook's success. Launched just two years ago, the site has made the ultimate leap to stardom: It's become a verb, as well as a noun.
CNET's site is no slouch. It has already collected more than 300 million snapshots. Even though photo-sharing sites were once the domain of companies such as Kodak (NYSE:EK) and Hewlett-Packard (NYSE:HPQ) that sought to make their mark in digital photo-finishing, it has become a playing ground for CNET and Flickr parent Yahoo! (NASDAQ:YHOO).
CollegeLife is an interesting development for CNET. Webshots' public albums are already loaded with coed snapshots. Creating walled-off social-networking communities will allow CNET to better target its online advertising efforts; sponsors love to position themselves in full view of well-educated young'ns with disposable income. As another bonus, the new site may also direct college students toward CNET's flagship text-based content sites.
Even though CNET earned buzz as buyout fodder last year, the company appears to be maturing into a stand-alone entity these days. Beefing up Webshots' appeal will be just one more way for CNET to earn a passing grade with investors.
CNET shares have risen 17% higher since being singled out this past summer to Motley Fool Rule Breakers newsletter service subscribers. To discover more of David Gardner's high-tech growth-stock picks, try a free 30-day guest pass.
Longtime Fool contributor Rick Munarriz is a fan of CNET, but he does not own shares in any of the companies mentioned in this story. The Fool has a disclosure policy. Rick is also part of the Rule Breakers newsletter research team, seeking out tomorrow's ultimate growth stocks a day early.
