BoredAt.net, the contextual, uncensored social media company for universities, today announced the expansion of its student-led pilot project to keep boredom at bay for users at top companies. Targeting casual Web users who are familiar with social networking via the Internet, BoredAt was developed to provide an open, anonymous forum, apart from institutional structures, procedures and communication protocols to air grievances, share gossip and keep in touch.
BoredAt builds on Columbia University's successful, student-run portal called BoredatButler (named after a Columbia library), a social-networking experiment started in February 2006. The then-groundbreaking idea was to provide a forum for students to post anonymous thoughts and comments to a Web site where others could comment on those posts -- creating a very interactive, conversational online experience. Now a hugely-successful platform, available to more than 25 colleges and universities, BoredAt has proved itself in university settings. For the first time, BoredAt's capabilities are available to corporate users, outside their highly-monitored environments, for honest, uncensored and anonymous interaction.
According to research firm Hitwise, the US market share of Internet traffic to the top 20 social networking sites grew by 11.5 percent from January 2007 to February 2007, to account for 6.5 percent of all Internet traffic in February 2007.
"We continue to see big opportunities for companies with innovative social media formulas," said Chris Moore, partner at venture firm Redpoint Ventures. "BoredAt's ability to take its vision from a small social experiment, to a promising media startup with huge potential was very interesting to us. People continue to connect online in ways that are different from their in person interactions. Boredat's approach to anonymous group messaging, while still preserving the integrity of content, is unique and powerful."
Once a user is validated as an active user within a company or university, they are free to log in and say whatever they want, without fear of their BoredAt identity haunting them later (as is often the case with sites such as MySpace or Facebook). BoredAt brings all of the functionality of the Web 2.0 world (message posting, video/photo sharing and blogging) in a Web 3.0 (highly contextual) framework where dynamic, user-generated content is updated in real time. The community has the final say in who will stay and who will go by blocking unruly or impolite users from posting to the sites.
"BoredAt is a platform for free speech. The goal is to surface the collective mind of the community," says Jonathan Pappas, BoredAt co-founder. "BoredAt ensures the integrity of its users (and therefore its content) by validating user email addresses and providing complete anonymity for everyone to say what they really think about anything and everything. We've carved out small pockets of truly free speech online and, by associating with specific schools or companies, we've provided an instant connection and common thread between users."
About BoredAt
Located in San Mateo, venture-funded BoredAt was started by two Columbia University graduates in 2006. Originally started as an experiment to curb boredom during a late-night study session, the completely anonymous, uncensored social network took off like wildfire and succeeded in creating a platform for free speech. Currently available to more than 25 college and university students nationwide including Harvard, Columbia, NYU and Stanford, BoredAt's anonymous platform frees users to gossip, air grievances or express their true thoughts about politics or social issues without worrying about the limitations and regulations enforced by university administrators. In December 2007, BoredAt expanded its reach to employees of Apple (www.boredatapple.net), Google (www.boredatgoogle.net), Microsoft (www.boredatmicrosoft.net) and Yahoo (www.boredatyahoo.net) as part of its corporate beta program. For more information, please visit www.boredat.net.