FACEBOOK vs. MYSPACE

  vs. 

Many users are choosing sides when it comes to two of the most popular networking Web sites today, www.Facebook.com and www.myspace.com 

Both sites aim to serve the same basic purpose: creating communities and connecting people with common interests. Registered users on both sites can benefit socially, professionally or romantically due to the availability of information on the large population of users. While this is true for both, the sites have their differences. 

FACEBOOK

MYSPACE

limits its registered users to those with an e-mail address belonging to one of the chosen participating schools  level of security on Facebook is substantially higher, a user must be a confirmed friend in order to view a member’s profile.  Facebook members also have the option to change their privacy settings to restrict certain people from viewing personal information that may be posted on one’s profile.    Only now is the network growing from that of College students Always loads quickly

open to anyone who wants to join, binding they are at least 16 years old.  Allows users to add more than one photo (any number up to 10), whereas Facebook only displays one photo.  Bands, Clubs and even TV Shows have their own Myspace  MySpace members can see anyone’s profiles, communicate with a variety of people, share photos, and post journals, comments and interests. (However, Myspace now has the application of setting site to private, thus only allowing friends to view their profile)  Bigger network of people.

  Although some users are members on both sites, many have a favorite among the two. “I prefer MySpace to Facebook,” said Lisa Hartman, a senior psychology major. “MySpace is better. It is more advanced. You can put videos on your page and it’s more individual. Facebook is more one-dimensional.”Darrell Flynn, a senior sociology major, belongs to MySpace and refuses to join Facebook. “MySpace is not just students, it’s a whole community,” Flynn said. “Bands and random people can join. It’s nice because of the personalization, you can really make your page your own.” In the online networking community, the personalization of one’s profile is a huge selling point.Jen Muser, a sophomore math major, says her heart belongs strictly to Facebook. “MySpace is ghetto looking. It just doesn’t look as nice as Facebook,” she said.

With the growing population on both Facebook and MySpace, it’s rare to find someone who doesn’t belong to either one.

My own personal response to Myspace and  Facebook.

I found signing up to both sites quite easy, the only problem was the time it took to load all my favourite movies, music, television shows etc… but this I feel was more my indecisiveness than a problem with the software. I had already been affiliated with Myspace for the last year, having been introduced (peer pressured) into last year by friends, and needless to say I became immediately hooked. With the ability to search, message, blog and comment, plus load music, pictures and video clips – what is not to love?!? 

I was new to Facebook, and had intentionally avoided it, afraid that it would be another form of procrastination (and that it has). With the numerous application and various groups, I am finding Facebook just as addictive. However It does not allow for the personalization and creativity that Myspace does, thus targeting its older demographic. Plus I can already see the bruises piling up from all the super poking! 

In my eyes, and no doubt the other 100000+ people who have already signed up, Facebook is the new Myspace (branching out from its original targeted audience of just college students) 

MySpace now receives more daily hits than Google, and is second only to Yahoo as the Web’s busiest destination. The median age range of MySpace users is 18-24. Facebook is a similar site targeted explicitly to college students. The numbers of students who use this site on a regular basis is similarly staggering. On both sites, students compose profiles describing themselves in order to make or maintain relationships with others. Students form and join groups, reflect on their lives through blog entries, and document them by posting photographs. In both cases students are creating self-representations, seeking to convince an audience to understand themselves in a particular way. 

These technologies and associated software have enabled learning to occur as a result of connection with people and knowledge. These connections are made in real time and real life, but also in a virtual time and virtual reality.