Trading Faces

New Web site rivals Facebook, enables students to trade ugly friends for hot ones

Just admit it — you are one of the millions guilty of spending countless hours on TheFacebook.com. Chances are, you are starting to get bored looking at the same individuals’ profiles, with their not-so-exciting lists of favorite movies, music and quotes. It is time you check out the newest interactive Web site — Catch27.com.

Catch27.com was created by E. Jean Carroll, an advice columnist for Elle magazine. Carroll came up with the idea for the Web site late last summer when she discovered TheFacebook.com. Her goal was to do something different — to create a web site that would satirize TheFacebook.com. "I thought kids were taking themselves a little too seriously, so as a spoof, I put up Catch27.com — a place where you not only collect friends, but you trade them for smarter, hotter ones," she said.

The concept of Catch27.com actually is quite different from TheFacebook.com, according to Lindsey Johnson, a Stanford graduate and director of campus public relations for Catch27.com. "If you look at the surface level and what the premise of the Web site is, it’s a very evil, heartless thing," Johnson said. "However, it’s real, and people like it when you’re real and up front with them."

Sophomore Emily Leibel, who belongs to TheFacebook.com and has checked out the new Web site, thinks Catch27.com is a brutally honest web site. "Facebook is all about having friends, but half of them you barely even know," she said. "At least Catch27.com is honest about the fact that all the friends you ‘have’ are for trading to get prizes."

The name Catch27 was chosen because your life is over at 27, according to Carroll. "When you reach 27, that is when you have to make the big decisions in life — are you going to get married, are you going to have children, are you going to buy your first house, what are you doing with your career?" Caroll said.

By November 2004, Catch27.com was up and running. It has since received a great deal of attention. Johnson said the site has become a great success since this past winter break.

Here is how the Web site works: Anyone over 18 years of age can join Catch27.com — there are no fees or additional requirements. After registering, the next step is making a "personal playing card," which includes a "playlist" — "a jacked-cool way of talking about yourself," according to the Web site. Current members have included their favorite swear word and fantasy make-outs.

In addition to the playlist, members create an "itch list," which describes what qualities the member looks for in a significant other. Members also must give themselves a label: jock, slut, brain, geek, bitch, wiseass, star, rebel or freak.

Once members have submitted this information, the fun begins. "The Web site offers a way for college students and young professionals to connect with their peers their way," Johnson said. "It’s a fun, no-b.s. way to meet new people, but with that fiendish twist." The goal as a member is to create a "pack" — a group of 27 people who have something in common. The web site states this can be anything from "27 people with popped collars" to "27 people who say they loathe Jessica Simpson." It’s as simple as that.

Individuals can create a pack by sending invites to members, "purchasing" members (three for 99 cents) or trading friends with other members. If someone becomes an expert in collecting and trading friends, they will be rewarded with a trendy prize, such as an iPod.

Although members really seem to enjoy winning prizes, Johnson says this is going to be put on hold. Starting in April, however, the Web site is holding a contest called "Trade Your Friends for Charity." Individuals may enter by themselves, or may gather a team. The goal is to collect the most people in their pack and trade those people for more interesting friends. The winning team or individual gets a $10,000 prize — $5,000 goes to a charity of their choice, and $5,000 goes to the team or individual.

"I am just amazed at how evil the kids have turned this site," Carroll said. "It was a total joke, then the kids got onto it and it has just taken off."