Gottem+Xanga+Tracker

toc [|Got'em] Xanga Tracker is a new online technology that enables bloggers to track who visits their site and how often. This is a technology used in conjunction with [|Xanga weblogs]. A blogger must have a Xanga account before signing up with the Got'em tracker. The blogger pastes the Got'em Javascript coding into his or her Xanga page in order for the Got'em technology to start working. Afterwards, the blogger may view all sorts of information about users that visit his or her blog. Information includes: =The need for this tool=
 * Xanga username, if the user is a Xanga user and is signed in
 * IP address
 * location of the IP address (university campus, city, etc.)
 * how many times the user has visited the blogger's page
 * which pages the user has visited
 * where the user came to the blogger's site from (e.g. John visited Debby's blog from a link posted on the website www.Dogsarecool.com)

The main reason for the advent of this technology is due to the prominence of "stalkers" on the Internet. A stalker can be typically described as a person who frequently visits a blogger's page, checking the page several times a day. Since blogging is a very personal domain amongst Xanga bloggers, some people do not wish to have others visiting their website multiple times a day. Concerning this phenomenon, there has been an expressed concern of discomfort amongst Xanga users. Repeated and unwanted site visitors include but is not limited to: exgirlfriends, former friends, or secret admirers. The online stalking may or may not escalade to levels of physical and real danger. The goal of the Got'em Tracker is to give bloggers the right to protect themselves while also giving them an opportunity to track information regarding their website traffic.

Furthermore, the Got'em Tracker is also a great tool for bloggers to observe the type of traffic they are receiving. Bloggers can see whether or not more Xanga users are making use of their site and from which blogrings they are connecting to the site. In addition, the tracker keeps the blogger up to date on how many hits their weblog is receiving. All entries are in chronological order and organized by date. It makes looking back and sifting very easy.

=Extra Features=

In addition to the tracker, a couple more features exist on the Got'em website.

Blocker
Under a Xanga blogger's regular account (without Got'em), the blogger has the ability to block certain Xanga users from posting comments or messages on their site ( This tool enables the blogger to block all "unknown" users. This means that the user must sign into Xanga in order to view the blogger's webpage. The blocker also allows bloggers to block specific usernames from visiting their website. In this case, the blocked user encounters the error message "You are not permitted to view this website." In order to make this function work, the user must cut and paste a Javascript code into the page.

Sniffer
This tool enables the blogger to enter a Xanga username and check whether or not the user carries a Tracker. If the user has a Tracker, the blogger is notified. No cutting and pasting is necessary to make this feature work.

Overall, Got'em is a technology widely used by Xanga users. Some people use it to protect themselves, whereas for others it is mere curiosity. An interesting note is that Got'em tracks even referral links from Google searches. This technology brings about a controversy, however. The issue of stalkers brings about a new definition of netiquette. People now feel inhibited to visit blogs they enjoy to read for fear of being labeled as a stalker. There is now an invisible need to build rapport with a blogger before having the "permission" to visit their webpage multiple times.

=Screenshots=

Main Interface Screenshot


=Sources=

//Got'em - Give your Blog a lil' KICK//. Accessed 22 Feb. 2006. http://www.gottem.net/ "Xanga." Wikipedia. Accessed 21 Feb. 2006. Available online: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xanga