Tech Takeover: How Social Media Fares on Wall Street

Is it worth buying stock in social media?

Twitter Tweets to the Top - Following Facebook and other social media platforms, Twitter made its IPO, or initial public offering, debut at New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) on Nov. 6. Twenty million shares were sold at $26 a pop and then shares reached more than $50 by the afternoon. BET.com takes a look at some of the top social media IPOs. — Dominique Zonyéé(Photo: AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)

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Twitter Tweets to the Top - Following Facebook and other social media platforms, Twitter made its IPO, or initial public offering, debut at New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) on Nov. 6. Twenty million shares were sold at $26 a pop and then shares reached more than $50 by the afternoon. BET.com takes a look at some of the top social media IPOs. — Dominique Zonyéé(Photo: AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)

Twitter - It looks like Facebook may have some competition. Since it was made public on Nov. 6, Twitter rose 73 percent, and hit over $50 within the first 10 minutes of availability, but declined into the forty dollar range. In total, it raked in $1.8 billion at a valuation of $14.2 billion.  By Friday, Nov. 8, Twitter shares opened at $40 and rose to $44.90 by closing.(Photo: AP Photo/Richard Drew)

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Twitter - It looks like Facebook may have some competition. Since it was made public on Nov. 6, Twitter rose 73 percent, and hit over $50 within the first 10 minutes of availability, but declined into the forty dollar range. In total, it raked in $1.8 billion at a valuation of $14.2 billion.  By Friday, Nov. 8, Twitter shares opened at $40 and rose to $44.90 by closing.(Photo: AP Photo/Richard Drew)

Facebook - When Facebook went public on May 18, 2012, it had a less-than-stellar debut. The shares barely reached the $38 asking price. However, with steady persistence, Facebook shares had surged 40 percent by January 2013. Twitter’s debut even influenced Facebook’s IPO shares. On Nov. 8, the shares closed above asking price at $47.53.  (Photo: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) 

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Facebook - When Facebook went public on May 18, 2012, it had a less-than-stellar debut. The shares barely reached the $38 asking price. However, with steady persistence, Facebook shares had surged 40 percent by January 2013. Twitter’s debut even influenced Facebook’s IPO shares. On Nov. 8, the shares closed above asking price at $47.53.  (Photo: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) 

Get Linked on Social Media - Whether it’s LinkedIn, a site for networking and job searches, or being members of professional Facebook groups, the Internet is a great way to get connected to people. (Photo: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

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LinkedIn - LinkedIn, the business networking site, was one of the first American social media websites to debut at NYSE. In 2011, LinkedIn hit Wall Street offering 7.8 million shares between $32 and $35 a share. By the end of closing, the shares more than doubled; rising as much as 171 percent to close at $92.25 per share. Today, investing in LinkedIn stock is profitable. On Friday, Nov. 8, shares closed at $215.15 per share. (Photo: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

Zynga - When the online gaming publisher Zynga went public in 2011, there were no Facebook or Twitter IPOs to compete with. Then Facebook made its NYSE debut and Zynga shares began to fall in the moments before Facebook shares began trading — a standard NASDAQ procedure for any stock that moves 10 percent or more in a five-minute period. Shares were only supposed to be frozen for five minutes, but Zynga shares were frozen for 50 minutes. Zynga continues to do poorly; it closed on Nov. 8 at $3.46.(Photo: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

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Zynga - When the online gaming publisher Zynga went public in 2011, there were no Facebook or Twitter IPOs to compete with. Then Facebook made its NYSE debut and Zynga shares began to fall in the moments before Facebook shares began trading — a standard NASDAQ procedure for any stock that moves 10 percent or more in a five-minute period. Shares were only supposed to be frozen for five minutes, but Zynga shares were frozen for 50 minutes. Zynga continues to do poorly; it closed on Nov. 8 at $3.46.(Photo: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

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FriendFinder - Publishers of Penthouse announced in 2008 that they were planning adult dating site FriendFinder’s NYSE debut. But due to “inopportune market conditions,” the move was halted until 2011. The shares debuted at $7.85, or 22 percent below the IPO price, after dipping as low as $7.23. Shares continued to decline through 2012, as it was labeled one of the biggest tech IPO fails of all time. It continues to take hits, closing at a mere .43 on Nov. 8.(Photo: FriendFinder.com)

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FriendFinder - Publishers of Penthouse announced in 2008 that they were planning adult dating site FriendFinder’s NYSE debut. But due to “inopportune market conditions,” the move was halted until 2011. The shares debuted at $7.85, or 22 percent below the IPO price, after dipping as low as $7.23. Shares continued to decline through 2012, as it was labeled one of the biggest tech IPO fails of all time. It continues to take hits, closing at a mere .43 on Nov. 8.(Photo: FriendFinder.com)

Pandora - Online radio company Pandora hit the public market in 2011. It sold 14.7 million shares at $16 apiece, raising $234.9 million in its IPO. If you want to invest in tech IPOs, Pandora is the way to go, with almost three years on the market stocks continue to maintain. On Nov. 8, Pandora closed at $26.74. (Photo: Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

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Pandora - Online radio company Pandora hit the public market in 2011. It sold 14.7 million shares at $16 apiece, raising $234.9 million in its IPO. If you want to invest in tech IPOs, Pandora is the way to go, with almost three years on the market stocks continue to maintain. On Nov. 8, Pandora closed at $26.74. (Photo: Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

Groupon - Groupon, the online group discount hub, advanced 31 percent in its 2011 trading debut, raising $700 million by selling 35 million shares at $20 each. But two years later, the IPO is suffering. Groupon fired CEO Andrew Mason in March and new CEO Eric Lefkovsky is going to have to come up with a plan to pick shares up from $10.11, the closing price on Nov. 8.(Photo: Scott Olson/Getty Images)

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Groupon - Groupon, the online group discount hub, advanced 31 percent in its 2011 trading debut, raising $700 million by selling 35 million shares at $20 each. But two years later, the IPO is suffering. Groupon fired CEO Andrew Mason in March and new CEO Eric Lefkovsky is going to have to come up with a plan to pick shares up from $10.11, the closing price on Nov. 8.(Photo: Scott Olson/Getty Images)

RenRen - Chinese social media company RenRen became the first social media company to list on NYSE in 2011. At its opening, RenRen shares soared almost 40 percent from $14 to $19.50, raising $740 million. But by 2013, the Chinese “Facebook” had fallen 80 percent since its IPO debut. RenRen is still plummeting with shares at just $3.28, as of closing Nov. 8.(Photo: RenRen)

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RenRen - Chinese social media company RenRen became the first social media company to list on NYSE in 2011. At its opening, RenRen shares soared almost 40 percent from $14 to $19.50, raising $740 million. But by 2013, the Chinese “Facebook” had fallen 80 percent since its IPO debut. RenRen is still plummeting with shares at just $3.28, as of closing Nov. 8.(Photo: RenRen)