The new networking site for the gay community recently launched in April, and already it said GayWatch.com has generated more than 86,000 users.
While the company gives part of its success to MySpace.com for exploiting a niche, GayWatch webmaster/administrator Clifton Hatfield said it picks up where MySpace has some weakness, providing gay users with networking for a subniche designed specifically for them.
He also thinks allowing adult content will draw users to GayWatch and away from MySpace.
"I feel that it has been a large advantage over MySpace," Hatfield told XBIZ. "We allow members to upload their adult photos and videos as long as the content does not violate any copyright laws or our Terms of Service. Gaywatch is a completely free 18-plus site that restricts minors from joining. We work around the clock monitoring the site for anything that may violate our Terms of Service such as illegal content or hate speech."
The site was created by GayWatch owner Luke Liakos, not because the gay community would rather be allowed to post adult content, but because they wanted to provide as much freedom as possible for members to express themselves.
"I think that is broken down to a personal level for each member on his or hers own preference to display nudity," Hatfield said. "We strongly believe in the freedom of speech from the 1st Amendment.
"Everyday you will meet someone new with the same interests but may live on the other side of the world. This brings the gay community together as a whole, in a place where they are free to express their mind and body."
GayWatch projects that more than 2,800 members join weekly, and the company is currently working on the site's video section and groups section.
