Microsoft Decides To Shut Down It’s Social Network, So.Cl

Back when even Facebook had competitors.

Some make their presence felt in their absence.

Microsoft SO.CL has been one of those things in the tech universe — forgotten in plain sight, until its departure.

Back in 2011, when Facebook was a relatively new, wet-behind the ears social network, everyone seemed to be launching its competitors. In fact, Google Plus was launched with that aim in mind. But unlike Google Plus, So.Cl was never meant to be a competitor.

Launched in 2011 by Microsoft Research’s FUSE Labs division as a social community (rather than platform), where the objective was “collaborative consumption, not communication”, it was initially for university students.

Later, So.cl opened up to anyone once it had gotten going and subsequently added support for mobile devices, too.

During the initial days and prior to its public launch, many had assumed it to be a Facebook competitor. But it actually used a Facebook log-in to sign up or sign-in to the service. So, in a way, it was just a Facebook app.

If you’re looking for a comparison, the focus on image collages and video made So.cl a little like a Pinterest-style service for visual content. It also carried a tiled look to match the “Metro” design used for Windows 8 on mobile and desktop.

Much like Metro, everybody left So.cl after trying it at a lark, perhaps because it was never really clear what it was for. It ended up mostly being a site to share and discuss random stuff you found on the internet, something you can already do on Facebook. Unlike Facebook, though, it lacked basic features including the ability to simply upload a photo.

Also now that Microsoft also has Linkedin in it’s arsenal, it makes even lesser sense for So.cl to continue to exist.

Anyway, after living a lacklustre existence for almost five years, So.Cl is exiting the arena. In a brief research blog, it informed the users that the site will be shut down on March 15.
“Socl has been a wonderful outlet for creative expression, as well as a place to enjoy a supportive community of like-minded people, sharing and learning together. In supporting you, Socl’s unique community of creators, we have learned invaluable lessons in what it takes to establish and maintain community as well as introduce novel new ways to make, share and collect digital stuff we love”.

Ten years later, when Facebook would be an even bigger giant than it is now, this would be stuff of technological anecdotes. How the world attempted to slow down Facebook by putting competition, and how Facebook decimated them.

So long So.Cl. You were never meant to end with a bang, it was always going to be a whimper.

Originally published at Chip-Monks.