Netropolitan: the new Facebook for rich people?

Netropolitan, an elite social networking site billed as an "online country club", has been launched.

For an initial cost of $6,000 and subsequent annual fees of $3,000, members can "meet like-minded individuals from across the globe who share your lifestyle and interests", the website boasts.

"I believe there is a need and an audience for this service," its founder, Manhattan-based composer James Touchi-Peters, told CNN.

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up

In order to join, you need to be over the age of 21 and your identity will need to be verified by the company. You will also need to pay the full sum up-front, but don't worry – they accept all major credit cards.

What do you get for all that money?

Like Facebook and many other social networking sites, it allows users to post status updates, share photos and videos and send private messages. It also features a CloudDrive, where users can store unlimited data, as well as discussion forums where users can chat about "everything from fine wines to classic cars to vacation destination recommendations".

Why would anyone hand over $9,000 for that?

It allows you to connect with other (rich) people

Touchi-Peters said he wanted to create "an environment where you could talk about the finer things in life - without backlash."

So fear not, "Netropolitan is here to save you from having to hob-knob with undesirable 99 percenters," writes Chloe Albanesius for PC Mag.

Avoid those pesky ads

The website will not allow external ads to be placed on the website and round-the-clock moderators will protect you from any potential spam.

Your privacy is guaranteed

"We simply cannot stress enough how important preserving our members' privacy is to us," the company states.

The company promises that user names and profiles will not be indexed on Google like those on Facebook and Twitter and upon registration, users must sign an agreement prohibiting them from revealing members of the group.