The End of MySpace?

I was interviewing a couple about using Facebook as a way to communicate in a long distance relationship, and they mentioned how they used to use MySpace a lot more, and how in some ways they prefer MySpace over Facebook. Then I thought, "Oh yeah...MySpace!" Wow. It has only been less than a decade, and Facebook has completely overshadowed MySpace to many, which is a true testament to how fast the evolution of the internet has progressed. So I researched how MySpace has been doing a little more and I found this article about how MySpace is trying to counter the growing popularity of Facebook and Twitter by adding new applications that make a similarity to microblogging with more "user engagement".

To me, the initial reason I have abandoned my MySpace for Facebook was because I felt it was much simpler to deal with Facebook, because of all of the hacking that was going through MySpace and difficulty to deal with editing the profile. I also thought that tagging photos on Facebook was great, and MySpace did not offer. But now, MySpace has a lot of the same options that Facebook has to offer- but I still much rather use Facebook. The main thing I think MySpace is used for now is to find new musical artists- and I feel like if it weren't for that, I would completely stop using MySpace. So what do you think? Will MySpace see its end soon?

Facebook and College Applicants

In my research group (and even within my other groups of friends), we have recently been talking about how Facebook profiles are no longer visible to just "friends". Many of my friends have actually chosen to hide their photos because admissions officers, job interviewers, or anyone involved in hiring you for a job may go to your Facebook or Myspace profile page and check out your qualifications. According to the article College Applicants, Beware: Your Facebook Page is Showing, admissions officers do admit to looking at social-networking sites and photos on students' profile pages to evaluate applicants. In fact, many of the admissions offers say that what they saw on the profile pages have negatively affected their view of the student.

Our research project partly focuses on how first-year students form their expectations of their college experience by looking at the Facebook profile pictures of their hallmates (especially prior to move-in). We felt that this field of study can also apply because colleges are forming expectations of their applicants around profiles on social-networking sites. However, many college or job applicants can argue that their profiles are not an accurate representation of themselves as an individual and that it may only be a "partial view" of any student. Still, admissions officers believe that students should be held accountable for their actions and that to a certain extent, a profile page does accurately reflect the individual.

Soldiers banned from MySpace and Facebook

The last interesting article I came across while browsing through digg.com, was about how soldiers have been told to stop using social networking websites like MySpace and Facebook, after military officials ruled it could lead to a security breach. According to the article, posting information on the internet through blogging, joining in forum discussions or online multiplayer games is now considered "public disclosure of information". As a result, troops who regularly use networking sites to keep in touch with family and friends are angered.

I have friends that attend USAFA [US Air Force Academy], are enlisted in the Navy, Army, and Air force and keep in contact with me through AIM, facebook, and myspace. I'm sure that as a safety precaution they had the best intentions in mind for banning social networking sites. But this is the new digital age, where the generation is more technologically savvy and more common means and methods of communication have evolved from letters/postcards and emails to texting, leaving facebook/myspace comments, posting online video/textual blogs, etc. So to take that away from people who are already so distant from their actual social networks is a controversial decision. Personally, I feel it's a personal space. I feel that they should have their right to privacy and own a Myspace and Facebook. Instead of banning Myspace and Facebook, the government should make a compromise on allowing them to just use it solely for the purpose of social networking/keeping in touch with friends and family and not disclose any information regarding their training, position, location, and military "specs." Any thoughts on this matter?

Social Websites Harm Children's Brains

Another interesting article I came across while browsing through digg.com was this article that was basically a warning from neuroscientists to parents that social networking websites are causing alarming changes in the brains of young users. According to the article, social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter and Bebo are said to shorten attention spans, encourage instant gratification and make young people more self-centered.

Reading this article, I was reminded of my middle school/high school cousins that own a facebook/myspace and are avid users. It made me realize that the new younger generation is more technologically savvy but at what costs? If this study is true, I wouldn't be surprised if my cousins' neurologically "soft" brains develop a slight case of ADD or ADHD from being daily facebook/myspace users. I guess this is related/parallel to kids playing rated M games that have a lot of gory/violence in them. Also, growing up my parents wouldn't let me have a TV in my room because they felt it was a distraction, wanted me to spend more time outside of my room [not cooped up in there alone], and felt it was best for me. Looking back at it, I feel they were right [I didn't spend hours sitting on my bed watching TV, spent more time studying and with family/friends]. What do you guys think about this whole ordeal?