Bebo may exit Australia after failure to dent Facebook’s dominance

Tim Burrowes

November 20, 2009 9:23

Bebo, the AOL-owned social networking site, is reviewing its Australian operations which could lead to its closure, after failing in its fight against Facebook.

The company has told Mumbrella that it has laid off staff and is currently “exploring the possibility of centralising” a number of its business operations. However, it could not confirm at this stage if it would close its Australian operation altogether.

According to a Sydney Morning Herald report today it could leave before Christmas.

In a further response, Bebo said the company’s head of global operations Stephane Panier is leading the strategic review.

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Tim Burrowes

Tim Burrowes is the publisher of Mumbrella and Unmade. He co-founded Mumbrella in 2008 and sister title Unmade in 2021. He's worked in the UK, Middle East, Asia & Australia and has specialised in writing about the communications world for the last 25 years. He wrote the book Media Unmade, published in 2021, and became the presenter of MediaLand on ABC Radio National in 2025.