FitFinder
Encyclopedia
FitFinder was a social networking website primarily based in the United Kingdom. FitFinder is described by its creator, Rich Martell
, as localised anonymous microblogging
. FitFinder is based on the concept of anonymously posting both a location and description of an attractive person whom one has spotted; this post is then immediately placed on the FitFeed, where it can be viewed by anyone.
, a computer science
undergraduate studying at University College London
(UCL). The website, launched in April 2010, was originally a joke between Martell and his rugby friends who would text each other when they spotted an attractive girl. The website immediately spread and became instantly viral. In the first few hours the site had over 2,000 users and had to be taken down. Once the site was back online again, its popularity grew to nearly 20,000 visitors in the first weekend. The initial success was met with huge demand for the expansion of FitFinder to more universities across the UK. By the time the site was taken down the site was reported to have had over 250,000 users over several countries with more than 5 million page views.
, Durham University
, UCL
, Leeds
, Warwick
, Bath
, LSE
, KCL, Imperial College London
, and most Red Brick universities
. Prior to its closure, Martell had said that that FitFinder was going to be expanded outside of universities in the near future, possibly covering sporting events and music festivals.
emailed all their students warning them about the site. A number of complaints about the site prompted JANET
, the UK network provider that serves universities, to block the site. The ban itself sparked more complaints, which led to its own reversal. In addition, UCL
fined Martell for refusing to take the site down. On 28 May 2010, the FitFinder website was taken down because of "increasing pressure from universities" and the maximum fine UCL imposed on Martell for bringing the university into disrepute.
launched a new social network - this time called Floxx
. Floxx is designed to be more of a location platform which encourages location based sharing.
Richard Martell
Richard Lewis Martell, also known as "Rich Martell" or "Dicky M" is an Internet entrepreneur best known for creating the social networks Floxx and FitFinder...
, as localised anonymous microblogging
Microblogging
Microblogging is a broadcast medium in the form of blogging. A microblog differs from a traditional blog in that its content is typically smaller in both actual and aggregate file size...
. FitFinder is based on the concept of anonymously posting both a location and description of an attractive person whom one has spotted; this post is then immediately placed on the FitFeed, where it can be viewed by anyone.
Background
The concept of the FitFinder website was conceived by Rich MartellRichard Martell
Richard Lewis Martell, also known as "Rich Martell" or "Dicky M" is an Internet entrepreneur best known for creating the social networks Floxx and FitFinder...
, a computer science
Computer science
Computer science or computing science is the study of the theoretical foundations of information and computation and of practical techniques for their implementation and application in computer systems...
undergraduate studying at University College London
University College London
University College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and the oldest and largest constituent college of the federal University of London...
(UCL). The website, launched in April 2010, was originally a joke between Martell and his rugby friends who would text each other when they spotted an attractive girl. The website immediately spread and became instantly viral. In the first few hours the site had over 2,000 users and had to be taken down. Once the site was back online again, its popularity grew to nearly 20,000 visitors in the first weekend. The initial success was met with huge demand for the expansion of FitFinder to more universities across the UK. By the time the site was taken down the site was reported to have had over 250,000 users over several countries with more than 5 million page views.
Coverage
The FitFinder Network covered 52 UK universities, including OxbridgeOxbridge
Oxbridge is a portmanteau of the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge in England, and the term is now used to refer to them collectively, often with implications of perceived superior social status...
, Durham University
Durham University
The University of Durham, commonly known as Durham University, is a university in Durham, England. It was founded by Act of Parliament in 1832 and granted a Royal Charter in 1837...
, UCL
University College London
University College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and the oldest and largest constituent college of the federal University of London...
, Leeds
Leeds
Leeds is a city and metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England. In 2001 Leeds' main urban subdivision had a population of 443,247, while the entire city has a population of 798,800 , making it the 30th-most populous city in the European Union.Leeds is the cultural, financial and commercial...
, Warwick
Warwick
Warwick is the county town of Warwickshire, England. The town lies upon the River Avon, south of Coventry and just west of Leamington Spa and Whitnash with which it is conjoined. As of the 2001 United Kingdom census, it had a population of 23,350...
, Bath
University of Bath
The University of Bath is a campus university located in Bath, United Kingdom. It received its Royal Charter in 1966....
, LSE
London School of Economics
The London School of Economics and Political Science is a public research university specialised in the social sciences located in London, United Kingdom, and a constituent college of the federal University of London...
, KCL, Imperial College London
Imperial College London
Imperial College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom, specialising in science, engineering, business and medicine...
, and most Red Brick universities
Red Brick universities
Red brick university is an informal term used to refer to six particular universities founded in the major industrial cities of England. Five of the six red brick institutions gained university status before World War I and were initially established as civic science and/or engineering colleges...
. Prior to its closure, Martell had said that that FitFinder was going to be expanded outside of universities in the near future, possibly covering sporting events and music festivals.
Controversy
Because of the nature of the user-generated content on FitFinder, many commentators accused it of being offensive and inappropriate. Less than one week after the site went live, the London School of EconomicsLondon School of Economics
The London School of Economics and Political Science is a public research university specialised in the social sciences located in London, United Kingdom, and a constituent college of the federal University of London...
emailed all their students warning them about the site. A number of complaints about the site prompted JANET
JANET
JANET is a private British government-funded computer network dedicated to education and research. All further- and higher-education organisations in the UK are connected to JANET, as are all the Research Councils; the majority of these sites are connected via 20 metropolitan area networks JANET...
, the UK network provider that serves universities, to block the site. The ban itself sparked more complaints, which led to its own reversal. In addition, UCL
University College London
University College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and the oldest and largest constituent college of the federal University of London...
fined Martell for refusing to take the site down. On 28 May 2010, the FitFinder website was taken down because of "increasing pressure from universities" and the maximum fine UCL imposed on Martell for bringing the university into disrepute.
Floxx
In January MartellRichard Martell
Richard Lewis Martell, also known as "Rich Martell" or "Dicky M" is an Internet entrepreneur best known for creating the social networks Floxx and FitFinder...
launched a new social network - this time called Floxx
Floxx
Floxx is a social networking website primarily based in the United Kingdom. It is the new incarnation of the defunct social networking site FitFinder, and it was launched by its creator Rich Martell on 3rd January 2011...
. Floxx is designed to be more of a location platform which encourages location based sharing.
See also
Sources
- PC Pro - Student forced to shut down FitFinder site
- The Chronicle - Matchmaking Site Brings Romance to British University Libraries