Folkdirect

Folkdirect is a social network website that started in June 2010 as a beta version in English and now fully released. It was founded by music producer Joe Wakeford and a team of programmers.

Features

folkdirect offers its users standard features of social networking websites along with blogging functions, live chat and discussion forums. There is a particular emphasis on privacy controls and security. The site has report functions for unwanted contact, intrusive behaviour and inappropriate content. Users can create profiles, communicate with friends, join groups, upload pictures, etc. The site is based on Ajax (programming) where data is loaded from the server asynchronously in the background without interfering with the display and behavior of the existing page increasing speed and functionality.

Users can create and join groups, write, edit and publish blogs (including non-member viewing) and seek answers to questions from other users (a feature originally seen on Yahoo! Answers. An entertainment section features 4400 Flash games which allow members to challenge each other and create championship contests. Members can invite friends from other social networks and email clients to further increase interactivity.

Purpose of the company

According to the site's 'About Us' page

We've put together a secure site with all the features you're used to on a social platform - comment walls, groups, live chat, blogs - but now with rock-solid privacy controls that you control. You decide who gets to see what you want to include, not us. You can even use a preset avatar as your profile picture. Your details remain your own and even when shown to more than just you will never become fodder for targeted advertising campaigns. Search for old friends, search for new ones, upload pictures, write your own blog... whatever you want to do and wherever you are. "We're listening to our users by honing features and implementing new ones on a daily basis" said CEO of folkdirect.com. "Privacy, data security and fun are key to our product which will remain free to use." 

Concept

The concept and its execution are down to Joe Wakeford whose initial objectives in January 2010 were:

build a social network with strong and dependable privacy controls

functionality and features of a normal social network, additional blog tools and in-house gaming

no advertising based around user content

no third-party applications phishing and selling user content

Folkdirect.com is designed and maintained by programmers supported in-house by a team of internet users and enthusiasts. Without external funding the team have been able to focus entirely on user feedback, not corporate agendas, and improve on their existing platform. Founder Joe Wakeford invested private funds to cover the first year's operating costs. There are no third-party applications that could potentially compromise the user's security and privacy controls are "rock solid".

Privacy

User details will never be passed to any third-party operators nor will be used to target you specifically with advertising. It is a community site run by members of the community. It is a secure environment where users can show as much or as little about themselves to their chosen contacts. The site itself recommends three important privacy settings to ensure users are entirely aware of what they will be showing to other registered members and their friend groups on the site. No guests (non-member visitors) can view any profiles from the site therefore if unsolicited messages or abuse from other members arises the site moderators are able to identify them and block them if necessary. folkdirect users are given the right to decide about modifications of the Privacy Terms if such an event is required. Since all data belongs to the users they get to decide how their data is handled. folkdirect has no interest in using data against the will of their users. The privacy terms of folkdirect.com can be viewed at folkdirect.com privacy policy.