We often argue on this site that Canada has more than its share of Web 2.0 and social-networking start-up opportunities. As proof, the Globe and Mail's Barrie McKenna ran a story today on http://www.clubpenguin.com, the hugely successful social-networking site for preteens. A year old, the site boasts more than two million unique views a month. Not bad.

Importantly, the site's founders looked at Internet best practices to see how kids could be protected from many of the the negative forces that are part of the Web. They succeeded. The site does not allow advertising relying instead on memberships which start at $5.95 U.S. per month. I'm not sure that the article specifically states this but with 2.6 million users at $6 a month it is generating some significant cash flows.

Products like this one represent just the tip of the convergence driven social-networking market. Canada is driving some of the big hits in this market - thing flickr.com for one. We are a nation of well educated people who long ago learned how to connect over long distances. Who better to lead the Web 2.0 revolution?