Makeoutclub

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Makeoutclub.com (or *MOC) was the first social networking website^{[citation needed]}, registered in 1999 and kicked off in the summer of 2000 by Boston artist and musican Gibby Miller. Since 2000, it has been run by the same team that created it (Miller and friends), and run totally out-of-pocket, holding to the grassroots spirit it had during its inception, created in Miller's bedroom in Boston MA while attending Massachusetts College of Art.

Branded as the first indierock/"emo" and subculture community online, MOC still thrives, and claims to strive to provide an alternative to the oversaturated and popular social networking websites online by holding true to its original spirit of a true indie/DIY/punk online community.

[edit] History

Upon its inception, the website allowed users to submit a photo of themselves and list their interests, email, and instant messenger screen name, becoming the first website that allowed you to browse and contact other users in this way (by creating profiles).

The name of the website was taken from the song "Make Out Club" by DC indie band Unrest, and the website claims to have been created to bring together likeminded artists, hardcore kids, indierockers, record collectors and "subculture creatives" through music and a desire to meet others.

Gaining popularity (and members) quickly, MOC was soon featured in Spin Magazine, Rolling Stone, The Face, MTV2, Much Music, and Tech TV. Dozens of immitators surfaced, and the template was adopted by companies like Friendster and Intermix (Fox/Myspace) to launch their social networking websites for the purposes of direct marketing.