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[[Image:Xangascreenshot.png|right|thumb|Screenshot of Xanga.com]]
With over 31 million worldwide users, '''Xanga''' is a Web site that provides users with [[weblog]]s or "blogs". It is operated by Xanga.com, Inc., and is based in [[New York City]], [[USA]]. Users of Xanga are referred to as "Xangans".
As of [[24 April]], [[2005]] [[Alexa Internet]] rated Xanga the 14th most popular English-language website, and the 27th most popular website in the world.
==Overview==
Xanga is a free [[World Wide Web|Web-based]] journal-hosting service. These journals are themselves sometimes called "Morons". It is largely used by [[teenagers]] and young adults, but is open to anyone at least 13 years old (though many under-13 year olds lie and still create Xangas). Users are allowed to post any number of messages per day, and they may post comments on other people's journals. Users may customize how their Xanga looks, using pre-made [[template]]s or custom [[HTML]]. Subscription lists, blog rings, and other features implement a [[social networking|social network]]. Xanga journals are used for a wide variety of purposes, from personal diaries to social and political commentary. Primarily monitored by the community, Xanga has a few administrators who handle violations.
==Features==
Xanga offers both a free service and a pay service. All Xanga accounts are accessible via [http://www.xanga.com/username the username feature]. One popular aspect of Xanga is the ability to customize the appearance of one's journal. Included with their free service is a basic layout formatter that allows non-HTML literate users to change their journal's layout and style, including colors and border styles. Those who do know [[HTML]] are able to include their own code within the page, allowing customization beyond what the basic layout system supports. Users can have profile pictures, which are displayed next to their posts and comments. Using other free sites such as [[Photobucket]], users can post multimedia content, such as photos and music, which the basic Xanga service itself doesn't include. Xanga also offers a paid [http://www.xanga.com/about/premium/ premium] service offering many extra features.
===Community===
Xanga places particular emphasis on community, allowing its users to '''subscribe''' to others' blogs, or to create and join categorized groups called '''blogrings'''. On [[2004-11-10]], Xanga launched '''Xanga Metros''', a feature that allows users to find other users in their same area. With the rising popularity of the service, there have been many noted cases of hoax and "fakers" in the xanga community as well, impersonating celebrities whose xanga use is questionable (though several celebrities, especially younger, or youth-oriented, personalities, are known to use the service, including [[Asian]] rapper [[Jin(music)|Jin]], whose Xanga site was one of his major promotional tools). ''See'' [[Computer-mediated_communication]]
===Comments===
Other users who register may leave comments on a post. Along with the comment, they can leave '''eProps'''. Comments may be disabled several different ways. There is an option when one creates a new post to disable comments and eprops for that post. Also, if one's username has been '''blocked''' by a certain xanga site, that username will not be able to comment on that site. [http://help.xanga.com/someoneknowblocked.htm "Will someone know that I blocked them?"]. Comments are the best way to communicate on xanga. Comments on '''protected entries''' can only be seen by those on the '''protected list'''. Although gone unnoticed, it is true that it is indeed pronounced zanga, unusually mispronounced as x-anga.
===eProps===
In addition to comments, Xanga allows users to add '''eProps''' to other users' blog entries. Eprops are what Xanga uses to encourage users to comment. A commentator can assign the post being commented on 0, 1, or 2 eProps, depending on the quality of the post. Sites that receive the most eProps are highlighted on the '''Featured Content''' page. Eprops encourage users to post more. Usually, those who write what is considered interesting content build a large fan base behind them. [http://help.xanga.com/whatisaneprop.htm Xanga's explanation]
Since you automatically give out 2 eProps with every comment you post unless you specify otherwise each time, most teenagers don't bother to worry about eProps and instead just focus on the comments. But, because commenting over again on the same post doesn't produce more eprops, and neither does commenting on your own, eprops are usually used as a gauge of how many different unique users have commented on a post.
===Subscriptions===
Subscriptions allow Xangans to stay up-to-date on other Xangas to whom they're "subscribed," and bring the latest blogs from selected Xangas to the user without having the user manually visit each site.
Subscriptions were originally called "Sites I Read," so some older users sometimes refer to them as "SIR."
===Xanga Premium===
Xanga also offers a pay service called '''Xanga Premium'''. Members who subscribe to Premium service receive additional features, including photo uploads. Premium members may also fully customize their site using [[skin (computing)|skins]], post entries to their site via [[electronic mail]], and download archives of their entries. Pages of using Premium members also do not contain web banners. Some other Premium features include: a higher limit on profile pictures, a custom sidebar, and specialised page skins [http://www.xanga.com/about/premium/].
==Notable news==
On [[May 17]], [[2005]], police used a murder victim's [http://www.xanga.com/item.aspx?user=ToTo247&tab=weblogs&uid=261268578 last Xanga entry] to identify his and his sister's killer [http://www.nydailynews.com/front/story/310320p-265498c.html].
In [[April]] [[2005]], the ''Fresno Bee'' reported that students at [[Buchanan High School]] in [[Clovis, California]] were using Xanga to insult and threaten their classmates. Also, [[cyber-bullying]] at classmates and family members was reported. [http://www.fresnobee.com/local/story/10373653p-11176907c.html]
In [[March]] [[2005]], 2 students at [[Grand Ledge]] High School using Xanga (and [[Myspace]]) to post entries which included death threats against a teacher. These were found by another teacher and reported. The students were then expelled from the school.
==Other==
Xanga has also become a sort of vernacular for people who use it. For example, the term "Xanga-ritis" often refers to the overuse of Xanga, to which many teens are accustomed to doing. Some check their Xanga over 10 times a day because of this "disease."
==External links==
*[http://www.xanga.com Xanga.com]
===Tools===
*[http://blogring.net/index.php? BlogRing.net]
*[http://xblog.no-ip.info xBlog]
*[http://www.xanga.com/add_ons Xanga Add-ons]
*[http://www.createblog.com createBlog]
*[http://www.xangascript.info/xangabar.php XangaBar]
===Visitor logging===
*[http://s7.invisionfree.com/xblog/index.php?showtopic=4365 List of Trackers]
*[http://www.xtracker.us/ xTracker]
* [[Ultimate Logging System Professional]] (ULSP)
*[http://www.gottem.net/ Got'em]
*[http://suhock.net/xanga/xasm.html/ The Xanga Anti-Stalker Module]
*[http://tzui.info/ xanLog]
[[Category:Websites]] [[Category:Weblog sites]]
[[zh:Xanga]]
This may have used to work, but not anymore. No "My Stalkers" module pops up when the script is put in.
===Skins and layouts for xanga===
*[http://blogring.net BlogRing]
*[http://xblog.no-ip.info xBlog]
*[http://www.createblog.com Createblog]
===Video Codes ===
* [http://www.bestvideocodes.com Best Video Codes]
* [http://www.bandcodes.com BandCodes.com]
* [http://www.codesandlyrics.com CodesAndLyrics.com]
* [http://www.powerlinetours.com PowerlineTours.com]
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