Financial Meltdown = The Best Chance for Online Community Manipulators?

Posted by wcw1204 on
Tuesday, November 4th, 2008 at 10:32 am

In the period of economic recession, most people are feeling down and tired of economic burden in real life. Some of them may lose their jobs or get frustrated in the working environments. Thus, many people turn to the online communities to search for a comfort zone. In these communities, they may retrieve accomplishments that they really need. On the other hand, they can enjoy the fun of the community at a low capital cost.

In Taiwan, despite the economic recession, the market of online game and online karaoke are expanding. Accordingly to the survey of Market Intelligence Center (MIC), the total output value of the online game industry this year will exceed 3 billion, the yearly growth rate reaching 9.38%. The similar situation happens on the online karaoke industry. The vice president of iKala, one of the online karaoke providers in Taiwan, indicated that the new membership in October was more than ten times the average monthly new membership.

In online karaoke communities, people spend a little amount of money to enjoy countless karaoke songs. Besides, they can interact with other karaoke lovers, sharing techniques of singing, discussing favorite songs, holding the online karaoke contests, etc. The feeling of involving in a community that everyone has the same habits is one of the most important reasons for the consumers to join the community. Online game communities have the similar traits as the online karaoke community in certain degree.

The financial meltdown recently may be the worst time in history, but it may be the best time for the industries that related to online communities. People want some entertainment in a low cost at this time and they also need to get involve in some kinds of communities that make them feel comfortable to run away from the cruel reality. Accordingly, the timing may be the chance for the online community related industries.