I’ve heard about Second Life and even checked it out but I never really got it. I mean, why spend hours every week creating a virtual life, which can never become real, when that investment in your real life could be more rewarding? What was I missing? Plenty it seems. Glenn Fisher CEO of Second Life dished our some amazing stats about the Second Life business at LeWeb 3 this afternoon:
1.6 million current registered residents. To reach 2 million in the next couple of weeks.
500,000 active residents.
10 million objects in the virtual world.
900 events each day.
900,000 unique items traded or sold in October this year alone
The top ten businesses transact a real US$25,000 a month.
The next 100 businesses transact, on average, US$6,300 monthly.
Half of the time in Second life is spent by females, average age is 32.
55% of the residents live outside the US.
Most important of all was the realization that Second Life, for many inhabitants, is like a local café or pub or club. People go there to meet other people. It’s social. Sure it’s commercial for some, but for most, it’s social. The commercial operators are there to support those there for the interaction.
This new way to soclialise is a challenge for those of us with businesses involving social interaction and which rely solely on the bricks and mortar world. Fisher’s presentation today had some important takeaways for me and the Find It and related social media sites we’re developing but I’ll save those for a more private place. In the meantime, if you’ve never been to Second Life, go and see what close to 2 million residents see in this new world.