Tech

Snog.com is a UK social network that first started blowing up in January 2011. Initially I was skeptical about the “network”, assuming that it was only a fad viral app for Twitter and Facebook, however 9 months on I’ve been convinced by its founder (Will Pierce) to give it a go. So here’s the oh so tabloidesque question; am I going to Snog, Marry or Avoid Snog.com?

The premise is simple, users sign up and then ask the world if it wants to snog, marry or avoid them. This morning, against the better judgement of my friends, I signed up for Snog.com and asked the world to rate me. The sign up process was a little tricky. I was asked to Connect with my Facebook account then following this I was presented with a “Signup for Snog.com” form. It appears that Connecting with Facebook doesn’t actually create an account on the site, you have to go through the sign up process regardless.

Once signed up, signed in and my profile was filled out, I waited and I waited… and I waited some more. Nothing was happening. I’d visit the homepage of the site and it would show me a very blank page with what seemed to be my profile in an editable mode. It wasn’t until I got an email telling me that I’d received my first “Snog, Marry or Avoid” answer that the site “unlocked” and actually allowed me to use the network. See the screenshots below for before and after examples. Perhaps a poor oversight by the site’s designers, but very confusing from a user interface perspective.

Signed up. Profile Filled out. Now what?

Much better! A usable site and profile!

Finally able to use Snog.com in all of its full glory I set up the “show me a random profile” filters to display guys between the ages of 18 and 24. If I’ve got to use a network aimed at finding out who I’m interested in, I may as well do it properly. My conclusion, after 10 minutes of seeing random profiles that matched my filter settings, is that there don’t seem to be that many attractive guys on the site, but maybe I’m just picky? Having said that, I can feel the addiction and rush that Snog’s loyal users claim on the front page. It’s fun to be a bitch at times.

Last month Snog launched its official iPhone app and as of writing it’s currently the 6th most downloaded social app for the iPhone in the world. Running Windows Phone 7 exclusively, I’m yet to play about with the app so can’t pass judgement. Snog claims to be getting an impressive 1.5 million hits with 300,000 answers being given daily; not bad for a site that’s less than a year old. No wonder Reinvent Inc have invested a six figure sum in the British networking app.

If I were to rate Snog.com on its own terms of “Snog, Marry or Avoid” which would I choose? Snog. – The site, whilst fun once you get through the hurdle of getting started, doesn’t have a pull factor for me or longevity. Frankly I don’t see enough substance to commit to the app and “Marry” it, but as a one time fling? Sure it was fun.

I expect to see some great things in the future, but until then it’s a reinvention and spin of “Hot or Not”, very much in the same way that Facebook initially started out (if The Social Network is to be believed). Admittedly I’m not in Snog’s target profile, not being a 14 year old girl and instead being a gay 22 year old guy, but I still had fun. Snog.com is great for passing time on those wet, rainy and cold afternoons. I’m not going to lie, I enjoyed my Snog and passing fling but I shan’t be hitting that “Marry” button just yet. I’ll wait to see what the Snog team have got up their sleeves to be released in the coming months.

Chris Leydon.

Two years ago over an August weekend at Google’s London Victoria offices, young developers (under the age of 19) were brought together to see what they could create given 48 hours and access to open government data. The result was around 20 high quality, innovative applications and ideas that could better serve the public. The weekend was called Young Rewired State and next week it’s taking place again. This time Young Rewired State is on a national scale with centres for young developers to work from up and down the country; before they all descend on Microsoft’s London HQ on Friday to show their peers, the world and an esteemed panel of judges, what they’ve managed to build given one week and open government data.

Young Rewired State calls itself a hack week, on the front it’s all about young developers honing their skills, learning new ones and building cool stuff; but it’s so much more than that. For the past two years I’ve been an observer of Young Rewired State, always attending their presentation afternoons to see what’s been created. For the past two years I’ve been blown away by what I’ve seen and experienced. The applications that come out of this event are outstanding and often have commercial viability. From natural language parsers (Wolfram Alpha for your local government statistics) to location aware public transport journey planners; Young Rewired State has churned out some truly amazing applications, some of which have gone on to be adopted by the government and commercial organisations since.

Building things, honing your skills and learning new ones are all well and good but a vital part of what Young Rewired State offers its young developers is often overlooked. Young Rewired State offers a community, a place for these young developers to get together, meet new people, share experiences and build long lasting friendships and potential business partnerships. Young Rewired State isn’t JUST about building cool stuff, it’s about helping these young people to build better relationships with their peers and those who share common interests. Participants at Young Rewired State aren’t just hacking cool apps together, their hacking friendships together and, as a supporter of this programme over the past few years, that’s the most important and unique part of Young Rewired State that stands out for me.

I encourage all young developers, designers or even those with cool ideas, to get involved in Young Rewired State 2011. There are centres based all over the UK, you can even work at home if you can’t find your own centre and YRS will make sure that you can get to the presentation ceremony on the Friday (last year they even flew someone down from Scotland). More information can be found at Young Rewired State’s official website for Under 18 year olds (http://youngrewiredstate.org/yrs2011/18-or-under/). Now isn’t too late to get involved, but leave it a few more days and you might miss out.

Chris Leydon.