With all the gloom in the global economy, I got to wondering whether there is anything else going on in the world of business. I'm looking for growth because I think that's what will ultimately bring the economy out of the doldrums. Not surprisingly, that growth is coming from technology companies. In Growth Matters, I look at consumer technology companies that point the way to growth trends -- and in the process introduce services and products you may want to explore.

Facebook is not the world's only social network. A big player in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa is Belgium-based Netlog. According to its Ana Adi, "Netlog is a fun, cool, entertaining, and safe social community. We have more than 40 million registered members in Europe, the Middle East, North Africa, and beyond. More than 60% of our users are between the ages of 14 and 24, and this is why having Netlog available in more than 25 languages is vital. This, together with our easy-to-use interface, makes connecting with friends -- like-minded people, and local communities, sharing photos and videos or signing guestbooks -- an uncomplicated and very pleasant experience both online and on your mobile."