Facebook or Myspace?

[CTyankee]

Is one better than the other? My kids and their friends are all on Facebook so I've let myself get pulled in. But is Myspace better for some reason?

I'm really wondering about what the point is, anyway...

[bigwillq]

1. Facebook is so much better.

IMO I don't even go on my MyWaste anymore. :)

[MinM]

44. In the Battle Between Facebook and MySpace, A Digital 'White Flight'

http://www.observer.com/2009/media/battle-between-facebook-and-myspace-digital-white-flight

This morning, Danah Boyd was spitting out the social media Kool-Aid at Personal Democracy Forum. "Many of us believe that technologies can be these great equalizers," said Ms. Boyd, a social media researcher for Microsoft and fellow of the Harvard University Berkman Center for Internet and Society, during her keynote speech at the Jazz at Lincoln Center auditorium. "They can bring everybody on board, they can make a welcome, lovely place and that anybody can participate in if only they had the access."

But in fact, she said, sites like MySpace and Facebook are mirroring, even magnifying, our social, political and class divides.

"MySpace has become the ghetto of the digital landscape," Ms. Boyd explained to the crowd. And many of us in these social environments, she said, "have gotten into the habit of crossing the street like we always do to avoid the riff-raff."

In her research, conducted over four years for her fall 2008 dissertation at Berkeley, she found that what we're seeing is "a modern incarnation of White Flight." Facebook users who canceled or abandoned their MySpace accounts are more likely to be white, educated and privileged. Compounding the problem is the press, Ms. Boyd said, "an institution that stems from privilege," which narrated MySpace as "the dangerous underbelly of the Internet while Facebook was the utopian savior."...

[bigwillq]

46. So I guess I am half-half

I still have my MySpace account open, but hardly ever use it.

:)

[ismnotwasm]

54. You know that is sadly interesting

Many of the middle class types I know have Facebook. (Personally, I have a hard time with the whole concept. I find it ever so slightly repulsive. I'm about to give in though) My youngest hippie daughter, my heavy metal son and their non-conformist crowd all like myspace. She couldn't articulate exactly why, now I suspect it's visceral reaction to the perception of a safe, sane and ultimately whitebread dull Facebook.

[Ex Lurker]

60. and I like Facebook because it's more "grownup"

No sparkly crap, no music that automatically loads whether I want it to or not. Just a place to post updates, host photos, etc.

[MinM]

61. And less Rupert Murdochy

Why Murdoch Really Bought MySpace?

It can't happen here...could it? | Philly | 07/08/2009

Inquiry begun on hacking cases at Murdoch papers - CNET News

[Lisa0825]

63. EXACTLY. I hate all that extra crap. But also....

I found (unless MySpace has changed much) MySpace to be all about ME ME ME ME ME! Here is my music, my pictures, my blog, and all the people who like ME ME ME!

On FB, my favorite part is the feed, seeing what everyone else is up to... what they are reading, what videos they just posted, etc.

and when I post something, others respond to it,and their replies are attached to that post, not just a long list of messages with no order.

[Lorax7844]

73. I have facebook cause Murdoch owns myspace

me thinks that she is grasping here.

[Lorax7844]

74. I'll have to share this article with my black friends on fb

[Ex Lurker]

57. Both are free, and I see plenty of African Americans on FB

no one's being forced into a Myspace ghetto. If someone's on one site, it's because they prefer it over the other.

[aquart]

2. We're all on Facebook now.

That's just how it is.

And don't forget to sign up for your Twitter account.

[Kutjara]

3. Facebook is apparently the place to be.

MySpace is dying a slow and painful death.

Of course, this could all change next week in the fickle world of social networking.

[BlooInBloo]

4. friendster = prehistoricthing, myspace = oldthing, facebook = newthing

[tammywammy]

8. Exactly. :) n/t

[davidpdx]

47. +1

But for the record, I still have a friendster and myspace account I just don't use them anymore. Joined Facebook in March and found so many people on there.

[H2O Man]

5. I recently

signed up on "facebook." It allows me to contact some of the younger boxers that I like to interview for a column I write on a boxing/mma web site. And it turned out that many of the people I e-mail with were already there.

[rd_kent]

6. There is no point

IMHO, they are time wasters and serve no purpose other than as a distraction. It amuses me how people will update their "status" in near real-time such as "going to bed now", "just woke up, having coffee", and "will be off for a bit, have to take a shower". Really? does anyone really care? I know I sure dont.

[bigwillq]

9. Yes, because message boards are never a time waster or distraction.

:eyes:

[rd_kent]

49. No, never!

This is NEVER a distraction for me! :sarcasm:

Point taken, though.

[abumbyanyothername]

11. Timewasters .. .

like . . . uh . . . DU? :-)

[timtom]

26. Now, hold on, there...

Nah! You're right.

Having said that, however, DU is where I get the important news.

And some lively discussions.

[abumbyanyothername]

36. I love getting my news from DU

I wish I could figure out how to do it and at the same time avoid the other 75% of the time I spend here. Or at least put it to better use.

[rd_kent]

50. Yup, thats about right

I see where this could be considered a distraction, but I do keep informed and have good debates here. Its "constructive", as my mom would say.

[CTyankee]

12. I just posted something I got off of DU. Felt I had to spread the word.

I'm wondering if people read the links tho.

Are there real activists on Facebook?

[bigwillq]

15. About as much as on DU.

:) Some are, some aren't.

Regarding activists.

[JanusAscending]

21. Well, I joined recently..............

to keep up with the kids and grandkids. Especially one who just got married.(wedding pics and etc.) :hi: neighbor!! JA

[Posteritatis]

24. FB has 200 million active users. Anyone speaking of it monolithically is insane. (nt)

[T_i_B]

72. Yes, plenty of real activism

All sorts of groups, the causes application and so on.

And on that note here is the obligatory plug for the DU Facebook group!

http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/group.php?gid=2426871461

[susanna]

13. I've wondered the same thing!

My last post was a week ago, an update on some gardening things that friends may be interested in, complete with links.

And the quizzes; will they ever stop?

Of course, I should probably shut up because I am addicted to Farm Town. :-)

[parasim]

20. I disagree.

Oh sure, there's stuff like, "the cat just puked on the carpet" or "I'm going for a bike ride" or whatever, but I just ignore those.

The status updates that talk about my grandson's first steps, or the passing of a relative, or just knowing that my happy-go-lucky son got safely home from a roadtrip or organizing a get together with friends I haven't seen in 30 years, are the ones that I love Facebook for.

So, yeah, somebody does care. Me.

[shanti]

65. no, but the apps DO waste time.

i use facebook to interact with cousins i haven't seen in 20 years or so.

[abumbyanyothername]

7. Myspace is more for advertising to a previously unknown audience.

Facebook is much better for connecting online with people that you know offline.

I live in California but all my family lives in Iowa, Minnesota, Colorado, Missouri, Michigan, etc.

Since Facebook took off, I communicate with all of them MUCH more than before. For better or worse, btw.

[Mari333]

10. Facebook

Myspace is awful. graphics pounding at your face and horrible layout.
Okay I like Facebook, its simple and I like to keep in touch with my family who are all over the place.
just ignore the ads. I do.

[gmoney]

14. the ads on MySpace are just overwhelming anymore

and the way people can "customize" their profiles is usually irritating or illegible beyond belief, or some music player will launch itself or whatever. Facebook reigns that shit in pretty well.

[wyldwolf]

16. The impact of facebook on your social life has potential to be life changing.

... I've reconnected with dozens of friends I'd lost contact with. Just last night, I had dinner with three of my best high school friends. And next spring there is an even bigger reunion planned because we all reconnected on facebook. The impact of facebook on your social life has potential to be life changing. Which may or may not be something you want. But I love it.

[CurtEastPoint]

19. Ditto on FB. Have reconnected w/old friends, classmates, keep in touch w/neighborhood folks, etc.

Yes, I frankly don't give a shit about someone having coffee. You don't have to read it if you don't want to. Sorta like DU!

[quiller4]

55. Just in the last week I've reconnected with an old college friend

and two former co-workers that retired to Florida. I really enjoy Facebook but I'm not using it to network for jobs--just to keep in touch with friends and associates spread all over the globe.

[pipi_k]

33. It really does!

I'm disabled and not able to travel. On Facebook I can "see" my friends and relatives. I've found cousins I never knew I had before. I've connected with High School buddies I haven't seen in 40 years.

I play games and have fun

There are probably lots of other things I could be doing instead, but I'm having way too much fun "socializing" with people.

And I'm starting to get addicted to YoVille

:7

[JerseygirlCT]

68. Finding old friends

and reconnecting - in a way that doesn't necessarily involve big, reunion year events or even a personal approach that could seem too out of the blue.

That and keeping up with family and friends - when you might not have time to do that on a continual basis.

I'm with you - I'm loving it.

[Donnachaidh]

17. facebook is far better

Although my kid is on FB, MS, AND Tumbler. I don't know how he keeps up with it all.

[cwydro]

18. What I always hear, though I don't really know for sure...

is that the youngsters (high school and younger) are on MySpace and FB is more of a college age and older group.

[Mz Pip]

22. I'm on Facebook

You can do as much or as little as you like with it. The quizes can be fun. I am a fan of "Dick Cheney needs to shut the hell up."

Mz Pip

[Inspired]

23. Facebook and there really is no point. n/t

[demoleft]

25. Myspace is more creative. Facebook better for sharing info. n/t

[Xenotime]

27. Both.

[Odin2005]

28. Facebook. Myspace is owned by Murdoch and it's layout sucks.

[Dappleganger]

29. Facebook--my family finally convinced me

and it is fairly easy to use.

[shanti]

66. you got the email too? lol

that's how they sucker you in!

[Quantess]

30. Remember "Three's Company"?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mf4G3OZ0AgA&feature=channel

It's about facebook, myspace, and friendster. Mr Farley is also in it.

[Dont_Bogart_the_Pretzel]

31. I think Myspace is soooooooooooooo last year!

[HughMoran]

32. I'm giving the nod to Facebook

Myspace was too "AOL" for me.

[iris27]

34. I'm too much of a misanthrope to like either, but Facebook is the superior of the two.

Myspace is a sewer - badly written code, virus-infested, hackers who take over accounts and post porn on your bulletin page, etc.

Facebook is cleaner, safer, and you don't get error messages every third time you try to update something on your page like always seems to happen on Myspace. But I deleted my FB account after a former college stalker kept trying to friend me.

[proteus_lives]

35. Facebook.

Better site, better for networking.

[Forkboy]

37. I'm on Myspace for the music.

It's a great way to check out bands before buying. Been into music for decades and it's the best way to discover new bands that I've ever come across. No more tape trading! Do you know what a pain it was to ship tapes back and forth overseas in the old days? ;)

[stlsaxman]

48. Correct- no band can go without a Myspace page.

3 bands of mine have Myspace pages... but for me personally you can't beat Facebook. Everyone I've ever known (seems like) has a FB account.

[Forkboy]

53. I'm slacking on the Facebook thing.

Ever since a woman tried to get me to sign up I've been avoiding it. :)

[JerseygirlCT]

69. My son finds it useful for this, too - and for putting his own music out there.

Easier to do on MS.

[backscatter712]

38. The funny thing about status updates...

People bitch and moan about how status updates are boring. "I just got done doing my laundry."

But as developers for Facebook observe, what do people talk about when chatting in person? "Hey, how's it going?" "Pretty good. I just got done doing my laundry." "Yeah, I've got to do chores too." "Let's get a beer first."

Things that are boring when you're looking in from outside a social circle aren't boring when you're participating in the social circle. And those things that look boring and pointless from outside become conversation starters when they're from people you know.

I generally use Facebook to keep touch with friends and family that are mostly local and that I hang out with in real life - it's good to touch base with them, shoot the bull, have a little fun, bitch about what's pissing you off, and so on.

[Vektor]

39. Have both, WAY prefer Facebook.

Don't use my Myspace too much.

[JI7]

40. i'm not on either, but everyone i know is on facebook

[MineralMan]

41. College vs. High School

[GrantDem]

42. Facebook

[tabbycat31]

43. I refuse to join facebook

since they require and post your last name to everyone. I'd sooner give someone online my phone # than my last name.

[bigwillq]

45. Not my real last name.

Close to it, but not the real thing. Yeah, I'm cool like that! :)

[shanti]

67. no they don't

you can change it to whatever you want.

[JerseygirlCT]

70. I've got friends who use aliases. I don't think you have to use

your real name.

[graywarrior]

51. I been introduced to a lot of amazing musicians that I'd never heard of before on MySpace

so I lean toward that.

[nini]

52. facebook

no contest :-)

[shugah]

56. i have both

i prefer facebook and would have closed teh myspace account, except i got hooked on one of the stoopid games...

FB is a great way to keep up with friends and family near and far.

[Gemini Cat]

58. Facebook

I don't like myspace, it takes forever to load and the layout is bad.
Facebook is fine for me.

[Lorien]

59. Facebook. Too many distractions on MySpace. nt

[otohara]

62. Rupert Murdoch OWNS My Space

there's one really good reason to dump it - besides FB is better

[shanti]

64. facebook

myspace seems more oriented towards teenagers and young adults. me and a few adult family members are on facebook. i like it because i also play the app "farm town" and "fairlyand" on it. great time wasters!

[berni_mccoy]

71. Facebook