A satirical social networking website whose users collect "enemies" rather than "friends" has accrued over 12,000 members since its launch three weeks ago.

Hatebook, a well-executed spoof of the online giant Facebook, claims to be "an anti-social utility that disconnects you from the things you hate."

Known as "haters", site members create a personal profile through which they broadcast their frustrations.

The website closely resembles Facebook both in design and performance, but its blood-red colour scheme, fiery logo and "evil" profile settings distinguish it from the original. Rather than listing their "favourite" books, quotes and films, Hatebook users specify those that they hate, and are encouraged to "post lies" about each other on "Blackboards", the Hatebook equivalent of Facebook "Walls".

Hatebook's three German creators, Nils Andres, Oliver Kuehrig and Niels Hoffmann have also embellished the site with some nifty features absent from Facebook. The integration of Google Maps enables users to trace the geographical location of fellow Hatebookers, and members are permitted to see who has visited their profile.

Speaking exclusively to The Journal, Mr Andres said: "It is a fun project that is intended to parody the current social networking craze and the people that take it too seriously. Valuable feedback from members revealed that they enjoy venting their aggressions here and discussing contemporary issues with others."

Managed by the Brand Science Institute, a Hamburg-based company specialising in consumer management, Hatebook employs four administrators based in Europe and America to monitor the site continuously. Any content deemed too offensive is removed.

Although the website has grown rapidly and already attracted much interest, Mr Andres stressed that the project is not for profit. He said: "It does not generate income and we don't want it to. This site should be more like Wikipedia and not a commercial endeavour like Facebook."

Facebook recently sold 1.6 per cent of their networking monster to Microsoft for $240 million.

"I was asked the other day if we would sell it, and I strictly said no! The internet is not independent anymore and it needs some neutral sites that are not owned by Google, Microsoft, Yahoo or eBay."

Despite evident similarities between Facebook and Hatebook, the site's creators have not yet been accused of copyright infringement.