Microsoft stops social network Socl

Microsoft will shut down its Socl social network next week. The site, which is intended to be a cross between a regular social network and a search engine, has been online for a total of almost five years. Microsoft gives no reason for stopping the network.

The test version of Socl came online in May 2012 and now, almost five years later, the team behind the site says the service will no longer exist as of March 15. Socl stems from Fuse Labs, the research division of Microsoft.

Socl is set up as a combination between a social networking site and a search engine. Users get suggestions on various topics on the homepage, where it is possible to see what others have searched for. It is also possible to share search results that are then visible in a news stream.

Fuse Labs does not say why Socl is closing, but it is probably due to a lack of users. Despite the support of giant Microsoft, it seems that few people have used Socl over time.