Remuneration ChapteR 4 65 Both of these questions are thought-provoking and both were controversial at the time, but the difference between them and the conversations they were likely to stimulate is obvious. 5. uSe StaRS on MeSSageS to Show MeMBeRShip ContRiBution levelS Many social networks, such as Facebook, MySpace, LinkedIn, and so on, require that members create user profiles and then other members can use these pro- files to obtain information about individuals in the network. When we built the network for the Boys and Girls Club of America, we also provided the ability for people to create user profiles. However, we added a competitive dimension that really drove up use of the network. The technique was very simple: allow people to earn stars for the amount of par- ticipation that they exhibited in the network. The more messages you posted, the more complete your membership profile. The more responses that you gave to other people's messages and the more views that you had of other people's post- ings, the more stars you earned as a user. For some members of the community, earning stars was analogous to advancing to the next level in a video game.