Classmates.com#Controversial business practices and legal issues

In 2004, United Online acquired Classmates.com"[http://archives.seattletimes.nwsource.com/cgi-bin/texis.cgi/web/vortex/display?slug=classmates26&date=20041026 No. 2 Internet service provider buying Classmates Online] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071104005039/http://archives.seattletimes.nwsource.com/cgi-bin/texis.cgi/web/vortex/display?slug=classmates26&date=20041026 |date=2007-11-04 }}", Seattle Times, October 26, 2004. and owned and operated the company as part of its Classmates Media Corporation subsidiary{{cite news |url= https://techcrunch.com/2012/06/11/classmates-com-parent-united-online-acquires-school-focused-friend-finder-schoolfeed/ |title=Classmates.com Parent United Online Acquires School-Focused Friend Finder SchoolFeed | work=TechCrunch |access-date=22 October 2012}} until 2015.

In 2010, Classmates.com rebranded to Memory Lane, which included a website redesign,{{cite news |author=Todd Bishop |date=February 23, 2011 |title=Classmates.com brand demoted in 'Memory Lane' site launch |publisher=TechFlash.com |url=http://www.techflash.com/seattle/2011/02/classmatescom-gets-demoted-in-memory.html |access-date=2011-02-27}} and included content like movie trailers, songs, and photos. In 2011, Classmates dropped the Memory Lane brand. Classmates Media operated online social networking and loyalty marketing services under the Classmates.com{{cite web|url=http://www.classmates.com |title=Find Alumni, View Yearbooks, and Plan Class Reunions |publisher=Classmates |access-date=2012-01-13}} and MyPoints[http://www.mypoints.com mypoints.com] brands, respectively.

In August 2015, Classmates was acquired by PeopleConnect Holdings, Inc., a portfolio company of H.I.G. Capital.{{Cite web |title=United Online |url=http://www.unitedonline.com/investor/?p=newstext&releaseid=2078984 |access-date=2018-01-31 |website=www.unitedonline.com |language=en |archive-date=2018-02-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180201075217/http://www.unitedonline.com/investor/?p=newstext&releaseid=2078984 |url-status=dead }} Classmates is now operated as a division of PeopleConnect,{{cite web|url=http://www.peopleconnect.us/ |title=The most trusted place to learn about people |access-date=28 December 2019}} which also owns Intelius.

In 2020, PeopleConnect completed a merger with The Control Group, a provider of B2C information services located in San Diego, California.{{Cite web |title=Livingstone advises PubRec on its merger with PeopleConnect {{!}} Transactions {{!}} Livingstone Partners |url=https://www.livingstonepartners.com/en-us/transactions/livingstone-advises-pubrec-on-its-merger-with-peopleconnect/ |access-date=2023-12-05 |website=www.livingstonepartners.com |language=en}}

Classmates Media Corporation's business model is based on user-generated content and revenue from paid subscriptions and advertising sales.

As of 2023, under the PeopleConnect leadership team, including CEO Steven Gray & CFO Sach Barot, the B2C information services division of PeopleConnect operates from the San Diego location. The Classmates division, led by President Sarah Howe, is located in Bellevue, Washington.

The only time Classmates appeared on Hitwise's top 10 list of social networking websites was in June 2009, when it appeared tenth with a 0.45% market share.{{cite web|url=http://www.marketingcharts.com/interactive/top-10-social-networking-websites-forums-june-2009-9777/ |title=Top 10 Social Networking Websites & Forums - June 2009 |publisher=Marketingcharts.com |date=2009-07-14 |access-date=2012-01-13}}

In early 2008, Nielsen Online had ranked Classmates as number three in unique monthly visitors (U.S. home, work) among social networking sites.

As of June 30, 2008, Classmates Media had approximately 3.8 million paying subscribers, reflecting a 41% increase from the previous year.{{Cite web |url=https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1142701/000115752308006411/a5748314ex99_1.htm |access-date=2025-03-20 |website=www.sec.gov}}

In 2006, television program The View mentioned Classmates.com as having more than 40 million{{cite web|url=http://www.theviewnewspapers.com/article.asp?article=7029&paper=91&cat=187|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060207065351/http://www.theviewnewspapers.com/article.asp?article=7029&paper=91&cat=187|url-status=dead|archive-date=7 February 2006|title=Take a Second Chance with that First Love |work=The View |date= 1 February 2006|access-date=28 December 2019|author=ARA Content, Zip Publishing}} members in the United States and Canada.

According to the Online Publishers Association Paid Content U.S. Market Spending Report, Classmates.com was Number 4 among the Top 25 Web Destinations Ranked by Consumer Content Revenue in both 2002 and 2003[http://www.online-publishers.org/pdf/opa_paid_content_report_may04.pdf "Paid Content U.S. Market Spending Report"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060307054537/http://www.online-publishers.org/pdf/opa_paid_content_report_may04.pdf |date=2006-03-07 }}, Online Publishers Association, May 2004 (the last years that individual site rankings were broken out). As more users have moved to Facebook, the site has fallen in popularity.

In 2015 (the year the company turned 20), Classmates had over 70 million current members.{{Cite news|url=http://www.adweek.com/digital/classmates-ceo-celebrates-20-year-mark-examines-evolution-of-social-media/|title=Classmates CEO Celebrates 20 Year Mark, Examines Evolution of Social Media|access-date=2018-01-31|language=en-US}}

Classmates.com members use real names,{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PxTvbM-VCPEC|title=The Facebook Effect|access-date=28 December 2019|author=David Kirkpatrick|date=February 2011|publisher=Simon and Schuster |isbn=9781439102121}} not screen names, including maiden names. Member privacy is protected through a double-blind email system, so email addresses and contact information are never revealed unless self-disclosed by members one-on-one.

Classmates.com has an archive of over 470,000 yearbooks from the US, with some dating back to the 1880s. This represents the world’s largest digital yearbook collection. Classmates.com acquires these yearbooks and then scans them, creating digital copies that can be viewed online. Many of these yearbooks are available to purchase in hardcover or softcover reprints.  

The oldest yearbook on the site is from 1886, from Central High School, Manchester, NH.{{Cite web |title=1886 yearbook from Central High School from Manchester, New Hampshire |url=https://www.classmates.com/yearbooks/central-high-school/127072?page=1 |access-date=2024-05-28}}

Classmates.com members can plan and attend reunions on-site. In 2020, Classmates.com also rolled out the virtual reunion feature so that schoolmates can get together without having to travel, which was a new option during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

5 District Attorneys in CA (including LA) filed a consumer protection lawsuit – Classmates updated its subscription renewal disclosures and settled the claim.{{cite web |title=Classmates.com to Pay up to $550K for Violating California Auto-Renewal Law |url=https://www.subscriptioninsider.com/topics/regulation-and-compliance/classmates-com-to-pay-up-to-550k-for-violating-california-auto-renewal-law |access-date=2024-05-28}}

Classmates.com was alleged to have sent emails that told recipients their old friends from school wished to reconnect (and the recipients would need to buy Classmates.com memberships to receive their old friends' contact information). A class action lawsuit was brought against Classmates.com in 2008. The lead plaintiffs in the case were David Catapano and Anthony Michaels.{{cite magazine|last=Singel |first=Ryan |url=http://archive.wired.com/politics/law/news/2008/11/classmates |title=Classmates.com User Sues; Schoolmates Weren't Looking for Him |magazine=Wired |date= November 12, 2008|access-date=2016-04-23}} Classmates.com agreed to pay $2.5 million to its users to settle the lawsuit.{{Cite news|url=https://topclassactions.com/lawsuit-settlements/lawsuit-news/1314-revised-classmatescom-settlement-provides-more-money-to-class-members/|title=Revised Classmates.com Settlement Provides More Money to Class Members|date=2011-08-11|work=Top Class Actions|access-date=2018-01-31|language=en-US}}

Classmates.com was accused of piggybacking and post-transaction marketing.{{cite news|last=Sandoval |first=Gred |url=https://www.cnet.com/news/classmates-com-tied-to-more-dubious-marketing-tactics/ |title=Classmates.com tied to more dubious marketing tactics |publisher=Cnet.com|date= 15 March 2010|access-date=28 December 2019}} Parent company United Online earned $70 million from marketing practices under investigation in 2009 by the Senate Commerce Committee. United Online denied the allegations and maintained that customers were provided clear disclosures before agreeing to transactions.{{cite news|last=Sandoval |first=Gred |url=https://www.cnet.com/news/e-tailers-snagged-in-marketing-scam-blame-customers/ |title=E-tailers snagged in marketing 'scam' blame customers |publisher=Cnet.com|date= 23 November 2009|access-date=28 December 2019}}

On August 18, 2010, New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo announced a settlement with six companies, including Classmates, as part of a probe into the discount club industry. Classmates were among the retailers that agreed to pay $2.1 million toward refunds and consumer education.{{cite news| url = https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSN1820540420100818 | work=Reuters | title=UPDATE 1-Cuomo says 6 settle on hidden online shopping fees | date=August 18, 2010}} Under the alleged practice investigated, consumers who completed online purchases were presented with discounts or cash-back offers, and accepting these offers triggered small, easy-to-overlook recurring charges billed to unfamiliar company names. Classmates' share of the settlement amounts to $960,000 and a commitment to end these practices.{{cite web|url=http://www.ag.ny.gov/media_center/2010/aug/aug18a_10.html |title=Cuomo Obtains $10 Million In Settlements With Companies That Tricked Consumers Into Signing Up For Discount Clubs With Hidden Fees |publisher=New York Attorney General's Office |date=2010-08-18 |access-date=2012-01-13 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721061335/http://www.ag.ny.gov/media_center/2010/aug/aug18a_10.html |archive-date=July 21, 2011 }}

• Names Database, owned by Classmates.com

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• {{Official website|http://www.classmates.com/}}

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Category:American social networking websites

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Person databases

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Category:2004 mergers and acquisitions

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