Tickle Global

A leading online personality and IQ testing platform of the early 2000s with tens of millions of registered users, acquired by Monster Worldwide in 2004.

Tickle Global (originally known as Emode) was an online consumer platform founded around 2000 that specialized in personality tests, IQ tests, and other psychological assessments delivered via the web. The platform attracted tens of millions of users who engaged with its entertaining and self-discovery-oriented quizzes, making it one of the most visited testing and social networking sites of its era. The company rebranded from Emode to Tickle around 2003 to better reflect its fun, social orientation. Tickle monetized its large user base primarily through advertising, selling display and contextual ad inventory to marketers seeking access to its demographically diverse audience. The platform's high engagement and rich user profile data — derived from quiz completions and self-reported information — made it an attractive vehicle for targeted advertising campaigns. This advertising-supported model, combined with premium subscription offerings for detailed test results, formed the core of its revenue strategy. In 2004, Monster Worldwide (the online job board giant) acquired Tickle, recognizing the value of its large registered user base and its potential synergies with Monster's recruitment and career-oriented services. Following the acquisition, Tickle continued to operate as a distinct brand under Monster's umbrella for several years before eventually being wound down as Monster refocused on its core employment business.