Gaia Online Wins 2009 "Webware 100" Award Teen Online Hangout Receives Top Recognition in Social & Publishing Category

San Jose, Calif. (PRWEB) May 21, 2009

Gaia Online, the world's most active online community of more than seven million users, today announced it received a 2009 Webware 100 award in the Social & Publishing category from Webware, a CNET site. The Web 2.0 user community cast more than 630,000 votes in an online voting poll which ultimately selected the winners. Finalists for the 2009 Webware 100 Awards were selected by the editors of Webware.

The 2009 Webware 100 Awards recognize the best Web 2.0 sites, services, and applications that are leading the next wave of innovation. Webware editors received and reviewed thousands of entries. A complete list of the winners can be found at http://www.webware.com/100.

Gaia Online is a leading online hangout for teens and young adults who visit the site regularly to make friends, play games, watch movies in Gaia Cinemas, and customize everything from profiles and digital characters to cars. With more than one billion forum posts to date, Gaia provides a fun, social environment that inspires individuality and creativity.

"By consistently updating our content, games and social networking features, we are continuously striving to provide our users with an engaging, enjoyable experience," said Craig Sherman, CEO, Gaia Online. "We are thrilled to be honored with a Webware 100 Award for the third year in a row, and are proud our users and the Webware editors see our site as a top online space for gathering and socializing."

"This annual listing has become such an essential resource for people who want to learn more about Web 2.0 and the many ways it can help them stay connected," said Rafe Needleman, editor at Webware and CNET. "The Web 2.0 community and our editors ultimately selected the very best sites, services and applications that have made a lasting impression."

To view all the winners and finalists, go to: http://www.webware.com/100.

About Gaia Online
Founded in 2003, Gaia Online is the leading online hangout for teens and young adults. More than seven million visitors come to Gaia every month to make friends, play games, watch movies in Gaia Cinemas, Gaia's virtual theaters, and participate in the world's most active online community. Gaia provides a fun, social environment that inspires individuality and creativity. With everything from art contests to discussion forums on poetry, politics, celebrities and more, to fully customizable profiles, digital characters and cars, Gaia is a place where teens can create their own space and express their individual style. For more information, visit http://www.gaiaonline.com.

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