Social networking sites such as MySpace, Bebo, Facebook, Friendster and many others count large numbers of children among their users.

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But the social networking website still has some work to do to catch the likes of MySpace, Bebo and Facebook.

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Sites like MySpace, Bebo and Facebook give people a tool to interact online and extend their social lives beyond working hours.

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Even social networks like Facebook and Bebo are getting a makeover as developers hard-wire casual games into online social networks (see "Facebook's Winning Game").

FORBES: Magazine Article

The games, ranging from poker to battleship, are accessible to users of social networks such as Facebook and Bebo.

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It might be that texting and messaging, Facebook and Bebo provide the exclusive amity once provided by gangs and musical sub-cultures.

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Social networks of the commercial variety, that is Facebook, Bebo, Ning et al, may have a place in those countries where it is unlikely that millions will be spent on Government-sponsored social networks of the kind we see in Scotland ( www.glowscotland.org.uk).

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The challenge will be to do what AOL failed to do - ensure that Bebo survives and grows in a social networking market dominated by Facebook.

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Bebo became the first network to add the button with MySpace following suit, but Facebook resisted the change, saying its own reporting systems were sufficient.

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Bhurji believes that Facebook has not as aggressively chased the under-20s market as has rival, Bebo.

FORBES: Magazine Article