Students who ignore lectures to read about the biggest sluts on campus and engage in anonymous free speech will have to find another online forum to discuss these topics.JuicyCampus, a gossip Web site with content generated by college students, announced Wednesday the site will shut down because of lack of revenue generated from advertisers.Since October 2007, JuicyCampus had 20 million monthly views and expanded to more than 500 college campuses nationwide.Matt Ivester, CEO and founder of JuicyCampus, said in an e-mail the Web site had more than 2,600 views a day, but a business can’t survive and grow without a steady stream of revenue to support it. JuicyCampus’ online ad revenue plummeted, and venture capital funding dissolved.No charges were ever brought against JuicyCampus, but as online ad spending dropped across the board, the Web site’s leadership made the decision to shut down Monday.”JuicyCampus’ exponential growth outpaced our ability to muster the resources needed to survive this economic downturn,” Ivester said.All other options were considered for keeping the Web site open, according to JuicyCampus’ blog.As of now, JuicyCampus doesn’t have any plans to return.Ivester said he will be consulting with some start-ups in the Los Angeles area, and he is already brainstorming his next big Web site, according to the blog.”JuicyCampus has raised issues that have passionate advocates on both sides, and I hope that dialogue will continue,” he said. “While there are parts of JuicyCampus that none of us will miss — the mean-spirited posts and personal attacks — it has also been a place for the fun, lighthearted gossip of college life. I hope that is how it is remembered.”—-Contact Leslie Presnall at [email protected]
JuicyCampus to discontinue operations today
February 4, 2009