My network is dying in a battle with a facebook groups

[gudris]

My story

i run social network for models photographers mua and so on

basic meaning of my network is to get new contacts and cooperation between network members

i run my ning network for 18 months...and all the time my network members are complaining me about not having an option to communicate with other members

now it get even wors...because now one of my network member have created a facebook group similar to my ning network...for models photographers mua etc. and lot of my members now are going to that facebook group...and the main reason is that on facebook they can write message to each other instantly

so only option how can i compete with facebook is that on my network members can write message to each other

but because there is some unknown principle for ning team to not allow members write message to each i think my network wont last very long

intresting is my network only one where members complain about this message problem ?

and is there is any other popular social network like facebook, myspace, youtube etc where you cant write message to each other instantly ?

[gudris]

thanks...but i hope ning will do some update on this :)

[Phil McCluskey]

Hi gurdis,

What's your request; to let members message each other without needing to be friends?

Thanks,
Phil 

[gudris]

Yes,

i,m asking for that kind of options more than year

[the_real_macfly]

If this would be an option, to be switched on/off by the corresponding NC, I would not mind.  Your network, your rules.

Random spam from random strangers, forced on my members by Ning itself, however, is a completely different issue.  Please keep this optional, if it is ever implemented at all.