The Web 2.0 social network portal, www.d1g.com, became among the first in the region to award prizes, such as iPods, digital cameras and Xbox 360s, to encourage its users to create online content. At d1g, Arab users can create and join online communities, publish favorite music, share videos, create their own web identity and evolve into web publishers.
“The competition was a way to attract participants, add content value and create a fun and competitive online environment,” said Majied Qasem, CEO of d1g. “Furthermore, unlike other Arabic sites, d1g’s foundation is based on a bilingual system — Arabic and English — rather than solely on English, which is later translated into Arabic. This allows a wider range of opportunities for Arab users. In doing so, the site is easy to use and encourages participants to share their creativity and innovation online.”
The website focuses on the concept of a “Dewan,” which is a community gathering for conversation. The d1g portal aims to become a hub for Arab culture. In essence, the site is calling out to the Arab online community to “Participate With the World.”
The site already attracts more than 300,000 online visitors and has displayed over five million pages in its first 10 weeks of its operation. Qasem believes that the fast growth of the site shows that there is a strong demand for this type of online venue. He hopes that more and more young Arab adults will be attracted to the site in order to express themselves, open dialogue and visually share their experiences and perspectives.