Teen launches his own answer to Facebook (From Warrington Guardian)
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Appleton teen launches answer to Facebook
2:00pm Friday 22nd March 2013 in News
Sean Gilchrist
AN APPLETON teenager is bidding to become the next Mark Zuckerberg after launching his own social networking website.
Friend Pad has been created by Sean Gilchrist, aged 16, of High Warren Close, Appleton.
He designed and programmed the website after spotting ‘holes’ in Facebook.
“I thought I’d develop a new way to get in touch with my friends and family.
“Facebook could have features like profile videos, dislike buttons, a better use of Youtube.
“My mum says I’ve always been quite talented at IT and I thought creating a website is more relaxed than getting a Saturday job.
Sean began doing web design in September, creating an online shop for a friend.
Friend Pad was started in February, sketches and doodles turning into two weeks of programming and design.
Nine days after its launch Sean says he got a £9,000 offer to buy Friend Pad.
He says he has since received a £17,000 offer, but does not want to sell.
“I didn’t mean for it to be successful, it was just for my friends.
“Then I got this big offer which was really shocking.
“I thought if it’s worth £9,000 after nine days what might it be worth in a year.
“I don’t know where I’m going to take it, I just want it to be unique.”
Comments(8)
wire_girl007
says...
3:20pm Fri 22 Mar 13
HappyMisery
says...
4:06pm Fri 22 Mar 13
Melonfish
says...
5:00pm Fri 22 Mar 13
warrington_biker
says...
8:51pm Fri 22 Mar 13
MikeJT
says...
7:05am Sat 23 Mar 13
warrington_biker wrote:Then again, there are loads of twitter pages on F/Book. Well done to the founder though. Once again it shows not all teenagers are hoodie-wearing-troub
Well done.. but I think its ironic you have a facebook page to promote/advertise FriendPad.
le-makers
Chip Hazard
says...
11:55am Sat 23 Mar 13
2) I would also make sure your background photo's are royalty free.
3) Change the name and get a .com address. Internic currently gives out your family address with it being a co.uk.
4) Eventually (if it really takes off) you'll have to either host the site yourself or find somebody else to do this. Your current host won't like the potential bandwidth this site could be using in the months/years to come.
MarkK1875
says...
10:55am Thu 28 Mar 13
He's took Joomla! and installed a social plugin... "programmed" indeed.
moleogod says...
2:28pm Fri 22 Mar 13