The latest headlines from the social networking realm:

• More Firms Create High-end, Custom Social Networks
  “A highly customized social network can run between six and seven figures. But those are ones with lots of bells and whistles. Even with the cost, social networks have become the Web site of this decade. Back in the ’90s if you didn’t have a Web site you were irrelevant; the same was true with having an e-commerce site in 2001. That is where social networks are right now.”
  I couldn’t agree more with Jerry Sheer in this candid interview with the Wall Street Journal
• stickK Introduces the Self-Contract
  “stickK is designed to promote a healthier lifestyle by allowing users to create “Commitment Contracts” that oblige them to follow through with commitments such as exercise and quitting smoking.”
  An innovative spin on offering value to users while encouraging repeat visits and follow-through. This is a feature that will be interesting for other social networking websites as well to examine and incorporate with the right audience/niche.
• Social Network Marketing Campaign Strategies for Success
  “Many brands are considering it, some have done it. Done what? Marketed on social networks (Facebook, Myspace, or private label social networks). Why? Social Networks are attractive because consumers are connecting with other consumers and the trust tends to be higher. Secondly, there’s a tremendous amount of buzz from the media for this newest form of marketing. Lastly, there’s lots of folks using social networks (about 2/3rds of all North American youth use it daily, and about 1/3rd of NA adults use it as least once a month –data From Forrester Research, Q4, 2007)”
  A well-written breakdown of key areas to consider in terms of running marketing campaigns on social networks.
• Fake Facebook Profiles
  “Make a spoof celebrity profile on a major social network lately? Well, don’t. Not if you live in Morocco, at least. 26 year-old Fouad Mourtada, an IT engineer, has been arrested for making a fake Facebook profile for Prince Moulay Rachid, the younger brother of King Mohammed VI, according to FaceReviews.”
  5 years in prison? Are you serious? Facebook & mySpace scammers beware!
• The Web 2.0 Marketplace
  “Buy, sell, and trade anything Web 2.0″
  Excellent resource. This marketplace has categories including: websites for sale, websites wanted, jobs available, jobs wanted, consulting, blogger jobs, bloggers for hire, platform/software providers, Facebook developers, events, domains for sale, seeking funding, etc…