Tuenti is a Spain-based, social networking service, that has been referred to as the "Spanish Facebook."
Though the name sounds similar to the English word twenty, it actually comes from "tu[id]enti[dad]," meaning "your identity." The service was targeted at the Spanish market, but since 2012 is growing globally.
Tuenti features many tools common to social-networking sites. It allows users to set up a profile, upload photos, link videos and connect with friends; recently a chat application has been added. Many other utilities, such as the ability to create events, are also offered. Unlike similar social networking sites which feature banner advertisements, Tuenti has opted out of these traditional forms of "noisy" and obstructive advertising.
History
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| Headquarters of Tuenti. |
Tuenti was founded in 2006 by a group of friends in Spain. Zaryn Dentzel, Félix Ruiz, Kenny Bentley, and Joaquín Ayuso de Pául worked together to bring Tuenti to what it is today. Dentzel, CEO, and Bentley, the lead programmer, came to Spain after having worked in social networking in the United States. Bentley is credited with coding most of the original platform from a small office in the north of Madrid in the spring of 2006, while Dentzel led the project and was involved in much of the design and strategy. Zaryn Dentzel has recently chronicled the story of Tuenti in a book called El futuro lo decides tú.
Tuenti was acquired by the major communications group Telefonica on August 4, 2010 for a total of 70 million euros. Telefonica now controls 85% of the company. The organization has employees from more than 20 countries around the world, including Spain, the U.S., Germany, Poland, the UK, Sweden, Portugal or Ireland.
